Midland Expressway Ltd, the operator of the M6toll, has launched a national campaign to encourage more women to join the haulage profession and become HGV drivers.
The campaign, titled ‘HerGV’, launched at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC, in partnership with the Road Haulage Association (RHA) and Pertemps.
Female motoring journalist, TV presenter and Le Mans driver Rebecca Jackson and celebrity trucker Kara Rouse will be representing the initiative as campaign ambassadors.
The HerGV campaign will run until September 2017 and will see one female winner benefit from a prize package of up to £3000 – including HGV driver training, courtesy of Pertemps, and a work placement at a haulage company local to the M6toll road.
Entrants are encouraged to post a short video to the campaign’s website (her-gv.co.uk) stating why it’s their ambition to pursue a career in the haulage industry. From there, a panel of industry experts will shortlist a group of finalists who will be invited to a family fun day, where the winner will finally be selected.
“We at the M6toll are only too aware of the current driver shortage being experienced within the haulage industry,” said James Hodson, director of motorway operations & facilities at the M6toll. “Women are grossly underrepresented and the industry definitely needs to be more proactive when it comes to encouraging women into the profession.
“It is for this reason that we have launched the M6toll HerGV competition in partnership with the RHA. Through our campaign, we hope to highlight to women that there are lots of benefits to having a career as a HGV driver – including an attractive salary and flexible working hours. We hope the HerGV campaign encourages women from all walks of life to apply for our competition.”
Campaign ambassador Rebecca Jackson said: “I understand what it’s like for women embarking on a career in a male-dominated environment, through my own experiences as the owner of an automotive sales business and as a racing driver.
“Helping inspire women to consider driving as a career, whether it is in a lorry or any other form of transport, is something that is high on my agenda. I am proud to be an ambassador for women all over the UK looking to ‘take on the boys’ and demonstrate women can also succeed in the haulage and transport industry.”
Government statistics show that by 2022, the HGV industry needs to recruit 1.2 million more people to maintain growth.
