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Bridging the gender gap
Page 66
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An SfL pilot scheme is admirable, but far from enough
A fine missive this week from SKills for Logistics (SfL) boasting that the gender gap in haulage is soon going to become what it calls an urban myth. It explains that the government is providing £1.65m of funding for a pilot scheme to achieve this end.
While we'd hate to be seen knocking an initiative like this which is fundamentally a good thing, as the industry needs more women drivers we feel that SfL ,s being a tad optimistic.
OK, so the SfL scheme is only a pilot programme. But the fact remains that the 400 new drivers it will train are a drop in the ocean compared with the 100.000 or so currently working in the industry (about 0.4% if the office calculator is to be trusted).
With female representation currently at 22% according to St L's figures, there is an incredibly long haul ahead if it is to reach the national average of 46%.
In the meantime, nothing has been done to address the other barriers to female representation such as a lack of facilities for women drivers and the long hours culture.
So, urban myth or sad reality? Unfortunately all the glowing press releases in the world won't change this reality