Women in Parking Onwards together The BPAs Women in Parking initiative was launched at the annual conference in September, to encourage and support women to develop careers in parking. Louise Parfitt speaks to the Project Centres Nichola Mansfield about why she joined and finds out what is planned next y initial reason to join was purely to expand my own network, says Nichola Mansfield, director of marketing and engagement at Project Centre, a streetscape design, engineering and landscape architecture consultancy. But I think there are going to be some learnings from both sides: things that I can bring and things I can take back to put into practice. Over the summer, Project Centre started its own network to support women because, like parking, design engineering has far fewer women than men, especially in senior positions. A staff survey showed that, although employees felt there was an inclusive culture, more needed to be done to support women, says Mansfield. The Project Centre group has identified four key strands on which to work: communication, culture, career progression and celebration. We want to see females in senior positions because, at the minute across engineering and parking, there is a lack of that. M was great to see male colleagues there, too. Its important to have men involved, to help drive them and show that its OK to support women, she says. It was a productive first meeting: everyone shared ideas and experiences. I spoke about some of the research we have done at Project Centre, and why were keen to develop our own programme. Then we discussed next steps and a more official kick-off meeting in November. The second WiP meeting is scheduled for the end of November (when this issue of Parking News goes to press). Michelle Boshoff-Turner, the BPAs membership and events officer, is helping to coordinate the group, and says the agenda will include a discussion on how the network will expand its reach, as well as a focus on diversity and inclusion. Attendees will be actively encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas in an open forum, to help shape the direction of the group, she says. The passion of the group and the wider parking community is infectious, and I believe we are at the start of something amazing. Mansfield is keen to develop the objectives of WiP so it becomes more than a networking tool. The BPA has access to government and other important bodies, she says, so weve got a real opportunity to drive proper change. Finding their feet The first Women in Parking (WiP) virtual meeting was held in October, via Zoom. It was well attended and Mansfield says it Get involved If you want to join the initiative or find out more, please contact membership@ britishparking.co.uk Women in Parking kindly sponsored by Marston Holdings 42 britishparking.co.uk PN Dec 2020 pp42-43 WiP feature.indd 42 23/11/2020 16:19 British