Gender diversity gains momentum

Mike Nigro, Managing Director - UK & Ireland

Since the last edition of Drive, I am pleased to report a wave of fresh energy and innovation that have underlined a very successful period for our diversity strategy at Enterprise. You can read more about some of these in our corporate update.

Our diversity programme is gaining momentum and I welcome this wholeheartedly.

I always know when something is working well within the business when I hear people across the organisation, in different roles and at different levels, playing back to me messages and objectives that had only ever been discussed in UK99. This is now happening with gender diversity.

It’s the moment that the desire to achieve change and improvement shifts from senior management to the wider company, that progress and change will happen. Wider ownership across the business and a shared commitment to driving success is necessary.

In the spirit of this team effort, it is with great pleasure that I am handing over the editorial seat of this edition to Joanne Vickers, one of our strategic account managers and now also the chair of our newly appointed Women In Leadership board here at UK99.

Joanne leads a remarkable team of determined women on this new board. Formed earlier this year, this board has developed a clear and decisive plan of action to promote diversity at our new European HQ. I am delighted to welcome the team to their new role and wish them the best of success.

I am also very pleased that this edition features three stories of women who are managing to combine a career in our branch rental operation with a family.

The perception that it is impossible to work in rental and juggle the needs of being a mother remains a key issue in achieving our diversity goals. This point has been recently debated in management development and Talking Talent maternity coaching sessions and it is one that I am totally committed to addressing together with our teams.

Reading Zoe, Nichola, Rachel and Helen’s stories this month about alternative work arrangements and job sharing is fantastic. There is still a lot of work to do in these areas but their stories strongly reinforce the message that it is possible to be successful in a rental or revenue generating role and have a family.