For International Women in Engineering Day, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate the women helping to shape our industry and, more importantly, inspire the next generation to consider careers they may not have thought were for them.
Across logistics and engineering, we know there is a huge opportunity for more young women to step into roles that are hands on, skilled and full of progression. From what we see as a business, the perception of these industries is still catching up with the reality.
To bring that to life, we wanted to shine a light on someone who represents exactly what this day is about.
For us, the day is extra special, as we celebrate Talia Corless, our HGV Technician Apprentice, who is due to complete her course next month.
We have seen firsthand the passion and commitment she brings to the role every day. Her journey is a great example of where a career in engineering can lead, and why more young women should see it as a real and exciting option.
I always took interest in cars and bikes, and I wanted to have to ability to be able to work on them as well. When I left school, I got into a motor vehicle college course on cars which started my journey to where I am now. So, when I got my first motorbike and id start working on it, I knew that this is what I wanted to be doing. I was lucky to have my dad, who works as a truck driver at Boughey Logistics, tell me about the apprenticeship which I now am coming to the end of.
I think it’s important for girls growing up to know they don’t have to live up to the traditional and stereotypical ideals from the past. We are just as capable as anyone is to do these jobs that have always typically been ‘male dominated’.
This job has genuinely changed my life, the number of skills that you learn in the job alone has given me better life experiences. You’re not just learning how to fix trucks, you’re learning hand skills, teamwork skills, communication, and people skills. It’s all things I do daily and it’s given me so much more confidence in my everyday life. It’s given me purpose to try hard every day and keep improving in and out of work and given me the motivation to get up every morning and keep working towards every goal I have in life. Having a job, I try my hardest in and do well at has made me happier than I’ve ever been. It’s the kind of job that sets you up for life and I couldn’t recommend it enough to anyone.
From our perspective, stories like Talia’s are exactly what International Women in Engineering Day is all about.
We know that many young women may not immediately consider logistics or engineering as a career path. Often, it is simply a lack of visibility or understanding of what these roles actually involve.
But as Talia’s experience shows, these careers are not only accessible, they are incredibly rewarding. They build confidence, create long term opportunities and give you skills that go far beyond the job itself.