Advancing Women In Transport and Logistics Erasmus Project

Project Title

Advancing Women In Transport and Logistics

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for vocational education and training

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Enterprise, industry and SMEs (incl. entrepreneurship); Gender equality / equal opportunities

Project Summary

CONTEXT:
The EU Logistics sector, including transport and supply chain industries, is one of the largest and most developed in the world: fast growing and constantly adapting to new technologies and global business practices. In recent years, the spotlight has been shone on gender diversity across all sectors of our economy, especially the relative lack of women in senior positions in the scientific and technical sectors. Yet in this aspect, the logistics industry is consistently falling behind. The sector is believed to only have 10% of women working at board level, and female participation across the industry currently runs at less than 25%.

This is of significance to Poland where the transport and logistics sector is a €56.9 billion industry, making it the biggest market in Central and Eastern Europe, and the seventh largest in the EU. A 2017 Polish market survey to assess confidence and expectations in the sector, establishes human resources development and retention of human resources as a key challenge to continued growth in the sector.

OBJECTIVE
For these reasons, the objective of Wil Power is clear: to develop innovative vocational education and training that will assist women working in transport and logistics to progress to leadership roles within their companies and organizations.

ACTIVITIES
To achieve this, we develop and deliver three Intellectual Outputs:
IO1: Training Course for Women in Transport and Logistics
The course will target women already working in the sector and includes the development of a unique curriculum, materials development and transfer to a digital platform for standalone online delivery.
IO2: Professional Women in Logistics Network
Will use the principles of women-in-business networks and mentoring programmes, which have been proven to be highly effective, to boost skills and confidence of potential female leaders.
IO3: Good Practice Toolkit for promoting Female Leadership in Transport and Logistics
Aimed at Transport and Logistics companies directly, this resource presents practical opportunities for companies to encourage equal opportunities and diversity in the workplace.

NEEDS & TARGET GROUPS
The project addresses the needs of three target groups:
1. Women working in the transport and logistics sector
Women of all ages in the sector, want to progress but face internal and external obstacles to career advancement. They need guidance on the knowledge and skills needed to progress; this includes industry-specific know-how, a fast track to update skills and knowledge that currently enable career progression, but also the soft skills relating to confidence, leadership and self-efficacy in a male dominated industry.

VET Providers
Vocational training providers, especially membership organisations, have long catered to the industry-wide needs of their members, but this has been gender-blind. They need to develop new gender-aware approaches to VET that better serve female participants in VET.

Transport & Logistic companies
The transport and logistics industry needs a more diverse workforce, not only because of ethical or moral drivers, but because it will improve business performance. Many HR departments recognise they suffer from poor perceptions about career opportunities and poor support for female staff. They need support for the recruitment, development, retention of talented female staff but lack knowledge and budget to invest in bespoke solutions.

RESULTS during the project’s lifespan:
4 Female Network Clubs will be established across partner countries, engaging 64 women in the Transport and Logistics industry and upskilling them in line with desired leadership qualities.
At least 320 women will access the WIL POWER Online Training Course via our online platform and be equipped to become leaders within their field.
At least 600 Transport and Logistics companies will engage with our bespoke Toolkit, resulting in a shift in their mindset about gender equality within the industry.

IMPACT:
The Transport and Logistics’ sector organisations and those who support them will for the first time have access to education on the benefits of female leadership within the industry. By showcasing positive examples of women working in management and leadership roles WIL POWER hopes to create an enthusiastic response from these organisations and incite change within their practices. Updating their practices and policies in line with EU standards can have a positive impact on staff morale, in addition to this business will be viewed as progressive agents for change. There is also the economic benefit which stems from equality in hiring and promoting female individuals. By utilising practical examples, we engage these organisations in a way that they can understand and relate to, by helping them to overcome risk factors and by showcasing the success of others in the industry.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 263875 Eur

Project Coordinator

FEDERATION OF ASSOCIATIONS OF SCIENTIFICALLY TECHNICAL NOTES COUNCIL OF THE ZACHODNIOPOMORSKI REGION IN SZCZECIN & Country: PL

Project Partners

• European Logistics Association
• AKADEMIA POMORSKA W SLUPSKU
• Education Mobility Grid GbR
• MOMENTUM MARKETING SERVICES LIMITED
• CANICE CONSULTING LIMITED