For many years, women have worked hard to establish themselves as leaders, particularly in traditionally male-dominated industries. In recent years, there has been a welcome shift, with more women stepping up into senior roles where they provide dynamic leadership, are bold decision-makers, drive progress and inspire future generations.
We are delighted to introduce three UKMHA member companies, which are led by women who are thriving in their roles and shaping the future of the industry.
Rachel Moore, Managing Director of Jofson Ltd
Rachel shares her journey from joining the family business in the 1980s to leading it to become one of the UK’s largest Mitsubishi dealers. She reflects on her pivotal career moments, the values that shaped her leadership, and her vision for the future of the material handling industry.
Rachel’s story is one of resilience, growth, and belief in people.
Zoe Ferriday, HFT Forklifts
Zoe reveals her career development path from starting as an apprentice in 1997 to managing the company today. She reflects on her progression, the proud achievements of HFT, including multiple Mitsubishi awards, and the values that drive her leadership.
Zoe’s story is a testament to growth, determination, and the power of building strong teams.
Gillian Reed, Still Materials Handling
Gillian reflects on her career journey from retail banking to the material handling industry, sharing how the transition challenged her and opened new leadership opportunities in a male-dominated sector. Her role on the UKMHA board highlights her commitment to supporting leadership development and inspiring the next generation of women.
Gillian’s story is about building strong teams and creating an environment where talented individuals can thrive.
These inspiring stories highlight an important reality: female leaders bring a wide range of strengths to the table, including clear and effective communication skills, decisiveness, collaboration, inclusivity and empathy. They often combine these with the traits of resilience, emotional intelligence, self-awareness and integrity. These qualities make women highly skilled leaders, able to create a working culture focused on both teamwork and an understanding of the needs of the workers, such as the requirement for flexible working. This delivers not only support for higher team engagement and innovation but also contributes to stronger organisational performance.