To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, waste management company, Fresh Start Waste, are promoting the roles that women play in the waste industry, including employing who they believe is the UK’s only female bin lorry driver.
Sarah Hobson holds a HGV Class 2 license, and has taken her 28,000kg-capacity wagon out onto the streets of Manchester and Cheshire since joining the company in November 2017.
“It doesn’t bother me at all being the only female driver. I feel accepted by everybody and I’m not treated any differently to the male drivers. I hope that when women see another woman already in this role, then it will inspire them and give them the confidence to try it for themselves.
“No two days are the same, and it can be challenging at times, especially recently with the adverse weather conditions, but I love it!”
Fresh Start’s co-founder and CEO, Nicola McGrath is spearheading a push to encourage women to become more involved in a sector which has been traditionally dominated by men, although she insists that the firm’s policies are strictly meritocratic: “If you are hard-working, resilient and determined to succeed, it doesn’t matter what gender you are in any industry, including waste.”
Women are employed in every area of the business at Fresh Start, and their support of women extends into recognising sporting achievements, too.
Last September they named their landmark 30th bin lorry after Bolton-based 2016 world arm wrestling champion, Agnieska Gorzynska, who works as a security guard at Media City UK, and has been sponsored by Fresh Start for three years.
McGrath explains what kind of roles are available to women wanting to embark on a career in waste: “The waste industry needs to make it clear that there are no barriers to enter this field. As well as being out on the road, jobs in the sector include working in include operations, sales, marketing, finance, H&S/compliance, administration and management.”
