BPA Women in Parking network but I have taken the plunge to resign not only from Southend, but also from local government and go into the private sector, although still within parking. My team at Southend has been one of the best I have ever worked with, but an opportunity came my way that I could not turn down. I can feel like the minority working as a young woman in parking. I do think the past stigma around the industry has a lot to do with this, so its important to remember that you know your stuff and have as much right to be in the room as everyone else What do you enjoy most about your work? Have you encountered any work situations where you felt you had to prove yourself, or that have been more challenging, because you are a woman? GL: That no day is ever the same! One minute you can be dealing with a new solution and the next you are part of a team working on an innovative piece of technology. The role I am in now allows me opportunities to learn something new daily. I really enjoy problem solving and thinking outside the box, so if I was given option A or option B, and neither was what I wanted, I have the passion and drive to find an option C. VN: I enjoy delivering a project through from start to finish, and seeing the positive impact it has on the community. The design and delivery process can be lengthy and complex at times, but there is a real sense of fulfilment once it has been implemented and is working successfully. LP: My favourite thing is the problem-solving element. This aspect isnt necessarily something I can plan on a day-to-day basis, but thats what I like about it. Theres nothing more rewarding than receiving a client request for a local authority or private operator for something that hasnt come up before and finding a solution. Being able to configure, test and go live with the desired functionality is always such an achievement knowing that this benefits not only our client, but all motorists using RingGo. SH: I enjoy making a difference and supporting my officers to achieve their potential. My time at Southend has been challenging, but I have been able to promote several officers within the service, and watching them grow brings me great pleasure. I am not one for hierarchy, and although my leadership and decision-making has been important within the service, I could not have achieved so much without my team. Leaving Southend has been one of the most difficult career decisions I have made. GL: Because I have always been unafraid to question things that havent made sense, it hasnt been much of an issue for me. I have only ever had to prove to people that I am worth taking a chance on when I have had no previous experience in the line of work. I think I have been rather fortunate with the colleagues I have. Many of our departments are predominantly made up of strong, independent female team leaders. How all women carry themselves in this industry, on site and in the office, is commendable. VN: I have been fairly lucky in my career to have received a lot of support, encouragement and trust in my ability to carry out my roles, but I have experienced situations, such as male-dominated meetings, that have not been easy to navigate and that, on one occasion, left me feeling ignored and undervalued. But as I have grown in my career and within myself, negotiating these types of situations has become easier, and it has encouraged me to ensure that my voice is heard. I dont think situations like this will ever truly go away, but there does appear to be positive change. These types of circumstances are not always driven by a male-dominated room; women also have a part to play in creating supportive atmospheres we should all be aiming to lift and support each other. LP: RingGo has a great environment for female mentors and peers, but theres no denying that I can feel like the minority working as a young woman in parking. I do think the past stigma around the industry has a lot to do with this, so its important to remember that you know your stuff and have as much right to be in the room as everyone else. SH: I started my career working in the print industry, which was very male dominated, but I never once felt out of place or that I had to prove myself. When I joined local government, however, I always felt that I had to do more than my male counterparts to prove myself. I feel that the status of women in the workplace has progressed over the years, but in my current role I am still made to feel inadequate by senior management even recently being overlooked for a promotion that could have been explicitly written for me. I have previously run myself into the ground, working seven days a week, but as Ive got older, Ive realised that I am good at what I do and I dont need to prove that to anyone. How important is it to encourage and enable a more diverse workforce into the sector? GL: For me, understanding that parking isnt a male-dominated profession and that there are companies that support women in parking has been so important. Some of the best professionals I know are women working in our operations department, dealing with the more male-dominated civil and electrician teams. The working relationships and respect that they all show each other to get the job done successfully, to achieve customer satisfaction, is what counts. We are all one team. VN: It is extremely important that we support and encourage more diversity into the sector in order to grow, learn and deliver a better service. The perspective of a diverse workforce will allow for a more rounded approach when designing schemes for example, from an accessibility and accountability point of view, especially given the focus on modal shift. These schemes need to work as best they can for everyone, and this can only happen through engaging a diverse and inclusive workforce. 36 PN Sept 2023 pp34-37 WIP 1.indd 36 24/08/2023 11:09