Step forward all you girls

18th October 1980, Page 31

18th October 1980

Page 31

Page 31, 18th October 1980 — Step forward all you girls

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D YOU KNOW any bright )ung women who are looking ound for an interesting career here they won't be hampered sex discrimination? Then iggest they consider freight rwarding.

Not enough women are enterg it even though there are 'LAI opportunities in the indusy, I am told.

Businesswomen working for -ansflash McGregor Ltd who tended a conference at the )mpany's headquarters in radford felt that to the few hool-leavers who had heard of le industry, it seemed to anjure up images of rows of eople sitting at wooden desks, iriting with quill pens.

Commented New-York-based arilyn Davies: "It is about time oyes were made in schools to form pupils about careers railable in the shipping and eight forwarding industry. For omen seeking a career that Ffers challenge, responsibility -Id a chance to travel, then eight forwarding will interest lem."

"We are not getting enough J itable young people applying )r training," said Monica hoesmith, personnel officer.

kpplicants for the company's )mmercial trainee project need ve 0-levels, which should inude Maths, English Language, eography, and one language, referably French.

"The course, which involves rvo years with the UK-based ompany and six months overeas, includes one-day release ach week to study at a local ollege for the Institute's examiation," she said.

All the women at the confernce felt there was no discrimiation between the sexes in the Idustry, the only criteria being le ability to carry out the work successfully. They said that many of them received a mixed reaction when asked what type of job they had, "I tell people that freight forwarding and shipping is the 'wheel of industry' ensuring the safe delivery of our imports and exports," said Gail Smith.

Women who hold senior positions in Transflash McGregor, part of the Oceon Group, include a depot manager, personnel officer, regional sales manager and US marketing manager.