With a staggering one in eight people working within the transport and logistics industry (source: Skills for Logistics), there's never been a better chance to champion role models and show other women what vast opportunity there is in this diverse industry.

Launched in 2008 the MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards seek to recognise and celebrate the success of women in transport and logistics. They showcase the diverse career opportunities available, encouraging more women and girls to consider a career in this sector and navigate their path to success - ultimately providing a pipeline of talent and future industry leaders.

Tweet about the awards using the hashtag #tlawards

Ceremony

The 2012 MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards took place at The Savoy, in London on Thursday, 17 May and were a great success. Before the awards got underway, some key figures from within the industry held a roundtable meeting to discuss the landscape for women in the sector.

More influential names and inspirational women, including the brilliant winners and finalists, arrived throughout the morning in time for an awards luncheon, before Norman Baker MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport took to the stage to deliver a keynote address. He was shortly followed by Motor Transport's Laura Hailstone, who fed back some of the topics discussed at the earlier roundtable meeting.

everywoman’s co-founders Karen Gill and Maxine Benson then introduced the ceremony’s compere, TV presenter Amanda Stretton, to commence proceedings. Eight awards were handed out on the afternoon, including the 2012 MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Woman of the Year Award, which was presented to Lynne Watson, General Manager at Wincanton, whose innovative approach and success make her an outstanding role model, encouraging more women to choose a career in transport and logistics.

Take a look at a full list of winners and finalists >>

Following the awards presentation, Karen and Max thanked MAN Truck & Bus Ltd for their full support of the awards over the past five years, and then a charity raffle draw was held in support of the charity partner Transaid. Guests, winners and finalists were then free to continue the celebrations and networking for the remainder of the afternoon at the classy and inspirational London venue.

Read Jenny Barlow's blog about the Awards ceremony >>

Compere

Amanda Stretton

Amanda Stretton is both racing-driver and presenter. Her media career began on Motorsport on 4, followed by Driven and a number of shows for satellite broadcasters. She co-hosted the Goodwood Revival for ITV with Murray Walker, and presents Grand Prix Masters for Sky Sports. On the race track Amanda was the first woman to compete in the ASCAR Mintex Cup, and part of the first all-female team to compete in the British GT and FIA Championships. Unsurprisingly, she then became the first English woman to finish the 24-hour race at Le Mans.

Charity Partner

Transaid

Transaid is delighted to be the beneficiary charity of the 2012 MAN everywoman in Transport & Logistics Awards. Transaid aims to reduce poverty and improve lives through creating better transport in Africa.  It does this by building local skills and knowledge to make transport safer, cheaper, cleaner and more effective, ensuring better access to healthcare and economic opportunities. Funds raised from today’s raffle will contribute to sustaining Transaid projects such as the Professional Driver Training Project (Zambia, Tanzania) and its work to improve access to healthcare for women and children (Zambia, Madagascar, Uganda, Nigeria.) In sub-Saharan Africa, a woman’s maternal mortality risk is 1 in 30, compared to 1 in 5,600 in developed regions.  Transaid is implementing innovative community managed solutions like bicycle ambulances and its emergency transport scheme for pregnant women, which has transported over 3000 women in the last two years. Thank you for your support to this life saving work.  www.transaid.org