Aim
The Fuirich Transport Development Partnership (FTDP) has been established to champion the case for the inclusion of more women in the transport industry in Great Britain.
Background
The industry has, for too long, suffered from an image of male dominance almost entirely based on long standing perceptions,attitude and culture.
The stereotypical view of the majority of the industry as being "unsuitable" for women due to the dirty, noisy environment and strength related work has caused many women to be reluctant to even consider a career in the transport sector. And unfortunately these stereotypical images are fixed in the minds of others both within and outside the industry.
It is often peer group pressure, careers teachers or parents who influence the choice of girls and young women wishing to make a career for themselves within the transport industry.
The FTDP project aims to change this perception both for the benefit of women and the industry itself which, if it does not diversify, will face difficulties in meeting the challenges of modern society.
Objectives
- Creating a resource for Young People to raise their awareness of the motor industry and passenger transport industry.
- Creating resources and trialling methodologies to raise the awareness of the opportunities in the motor and passenger transport industries for careers and guidance professionals.
- Increasing the profile of the diversity and equality agenda with the relevant Sector Skills Councils:
- Go Skills,
- Skills for Logistics
- Automotive Skills.
- Similarly raising the status and profile of diversity and equality with employers and training providers: BMW, Arriva, Kwit fit, Remit, and EMtec national training providers. – motor industry. Raising the status of transport professions.
Main Outcomes
As a result of the EQUAL programme, modules are being prepared on diversity and equality for NVQs and apprenticeships within the national qualifications framework in Motor Vehicle – Fast fit. These generic modules are being piloted with Kwikfit trainees which could be used by any other sector. The EQUAL project has established that there is a need for a suite of interactive CDs of various careers for use in Prison service to help prepare women for the world of work after release.
Pilot work with Automotive Sector Skills Council has shown the value of presenting hands on type presentation of career opportunities to IAG professionals locally. Automotive Skills intends to carry on this work by engaging with 300-400 IAG professionals in each of the 9 RDAs. There is a need to do this also with the 2 other relevant sector skills councils – GoSkills and Skills for Logistics
Implementing a mandatory equality and diversity module in NVQs would have a great impact on attitudes and practices in the motor and transport industries. Embed the training within the Young Apprenticeship Arogramme and Apprentices Programmes at L2 and above. In Lanarkshire, Scotland, there is an initiative to make completing an Equality and Diversity module a compulsory part of the payments schedule for apprenticeship trainees. The module will thereby become the 15th milestone.
