CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AT KINAXIA

Two female colleagues demonstrate how the inclusive culture of the business has helped them develop their careers in logistics.

To mark International Women’s Day, we chat with two female colleagues with very different roles at Kinaxia, both demonstrating that the inclusive culture of the business has helped them develop their careers in logistics.

 

Julie Evans has followed in her father’s footsteps by becoming a lorry driver and says she loves working in our business.

 

Previously, Julie ran her own cleaning business for more than a decade, then worked in the care sector before deciding to take up a new career behind the wheel.

 

“I’m definitely not an office person, and I love being out on the road,” she says.

 

“My dad was a lorry driver and it’s something I’ve always wanted to do too, so when the opportunity arose to join Kinaxia I was delighted. If I can do it in my 40s, any younger person can give it a try. I’d certainly encourage them to do so.”

 

After gaining her HGV Class 1 licence, mum-of-two Julie came aboard at Kinaxia in September 2023, and her role sees her drive the length and breadth of the country in a range of vehicles up to 44 tonnes.

 

“There’s a lot more to the job than just the driving, including checking my vehicle and loading and unloading pallets,” she says.

 

“It keeps me fit, and I enjoy a bit of manual work too. It also helps that everyone is really supportive at Kinaxia. I’ve always found everyone to be so obliging.”

 

Barbora Slodicakova is our national warehouse safety manager. She joined in October 2023 in a newly-created role and has worked in the health and safety sector for several years.

 

Working across all of our sites, her job involves overseeing training for our colleagues as well as working with them to implement new technology and policies and procedures to help reduce the number of lost time incidents and vehicle and personal accidents. 

 

Barbora, who is from Slovakia and came to the UK in 2020, loves her role and says: “I am very lucky to have the best team. They are mostly men and older than me, but have been really welcoming and unbelievably supportive.

 

“I suppose I am not a typical health and safety manager. My favourite thing about working in logistics is supporting the breaking of gender and social barriers. I believe we all should match our specific job roles with our unique skillsets and personalities as human beings and individuals, rather than as males and females.

 

“Let’s just continue embracing people who are good at their jobs no matter their gender, cultural background or industry they work in.”

 

Kinaxia’s people services director Debbie Blackwell added: “Logistics, and particularly road transport, is an industry that was typically associated with male employees, but that’s been changing over the years and the inclusive culture in our business, combined with our efforts on diversity and equality, means that Kinaxia is a welcoming workplace for people of all genders and backgrounds.

 

"All our colleagues have access to the support, skills and encouragement needed to ensure they can meet their full potential and develop long-term careers with Kinaxia.”