Annual conference initiative launches Tag teams Women in Parking was one of the initiatives launched at this years virtual annual conference. Louise Parfitt chats to Jade Neville and Hannah Fuller, two of the members driving it forward, to find out why it has universal appeal ts just one of those things that came together beautifully, says ParkingEyes Jade Neville. We were both thinking about it, but unbeknown to each other. Then I thought the time seemed about right, got in touch with Hannah, and we started to see how we could make it happen. And so the BPAs Women in Parking initiative was born. Neville and JustParks Hannah Fuller make a great team (during our interview they finish each others sentences seamlessly and complement each others points of view). Although from very different career and parking backgrounds, they are definitively on the same wavelength when it comes to the matter of supporting women. The new initiative aims to provide a platform for women and supporters of women, Neville is quick to emphasise; there are no barriers to membership and men are welcome to have a voice, feel supported and become empowered to progress and put themselves forward a bit more. Starting off with an I online community platform, it is hoped that, in future, there will be meetings, social-networking events, and even training sessions but, initially, the aim is to start a conversation to find out what people need. Support network Although they have been the ones to get it off the ground, Neville and Fuller are keen that the initiative be community-led, and consist of people at all stages of their career and from all sectors of the industry. We want everyone on board, because we all no matter what we do or how long we have been doing it have an experience or opinion to offer, says Fuller. We have this huge profession made up of people in very different roles, but thats the benefit of it. We can learn so much from each other, and the more we know, the more we can move forward, and the more successful we can be. This is about empowering people to become their best selves within this industry thats really important to me. This is about empowering people to become their best selves within this industry thats really important to me 24 britishparking.co.uk PN Oct20 pp24-25 Annual Conference - Initiative launch.indd 24 23/09/2020 13:19