Mayor, Councillor Jim Montgomery and Deputy Mayor, Councillor Noreen McClelland recently visited social enterprise, Transport Training Services (TTS) to hear about their new initiative ‘Women in Wheels NI’.
Funded by the Department for the Economy’s Apprenticeship Challenge Fund, and in partnership with marketing company, Genie Insights, the campaign is aimed at promoting careers in the transport, logistics and automotive industries to females in Northern Ireland. As well as promoting the work of women already working in automotive and transport, TTS hopes to engage with and inspire young women who may consider a transport, logistics or motor industry apprenticeship.
Mayor of Antrim and Newtownabbey, Councillor Jim Montgomery commented,
‘I would like to congratulate TTS on setting up this excellent new initiative. Women are highly under-represented in the transport, logistics and automotive sectors and it is therefore important that these career opportunities are promoted to them. I would encourage our female residents to check out the ‘Women in Wheels NI’ Facebook page to hear about the experiences of women who currently work in these sectors and also to find out more about the possible job opportunities available to them.’
Pamela Dennison, a Trustee of Transport Training Board for Northern Ireland, the charitable organisation that TTS is a subsidiary of, holds a large goods vehicle licence and is a strong supporter of women in these under-represented sectors. Pamela commented,
‘Logistics is critical to every industry and business sector throughout the UK and the rest of the world – retail, life sciences, fashion, technology, construction, transport and so on. This means that in addition to needing drivers and warehouse operatives, there's also a requirement for business development and customer-facing personnel with expertise in the industries in which customers operate. The logistics industry is working to make changes to attract a more diverse workforce and in doing so, will be able to attract the right talent, overcoming its perception issues by better promoting the scope of opportunities available. We are able to do that in Northern Ireland through Women in Wheels NI, so what is stopping you? Come and join us, get involved!’
For more details on the Women in Wheels NI initiative visit www.facebook.com/groups/womeninwheelsni