July/August Issue 62 - Flipbook - Page 11
NEWS
EMPOWERING WOMEN IN THE VEHICLE RECOVERY INDUSTRY
Call Assist and its direct brand,
Start Rescue are proud to work
with
independent
recovery
operators which are based
throughout the UK and the
majority of which are family run
businesses.
A market leader when it comes to
innovation, the team at Call Assist
actively promotes the important role
women also have to play in providing
vehicle recovery services and seek
to break down any stereotypical
views of the industry which aren’t
necessarily correct.
Beki
Poppy
dealership. In 1976 we started our
own garage when he worked in an
old Blacksmiths at Liftondown. In
1980 we managed to get planning
permission and opened our purposebuilt garage with an MOT Station in
In celebration of International the back garden of our bungalow.
Women’s Day, we caught up with
women who hold important roles Prior to the opening of our new
within our Recovery Operator premises, one of the larger
network to find out what it’s really breakdown companies used to
like to work in our industry from a bring cars to us for repair. Looking
to the future, we later became an
woman’s perspective.
agent for other breakdown service
The women who participated in our providers carrying out attendance
for breakdowns and recovery in
interview are:
the local area. Our son, Michael,
Beki, Owner of MPW Recovery, joined the company, carried out
Poppy, Control Room Office an apprenticeship, obtained his
Manager at Roys Autos, Tracey, certificates, and became an MOT
Director of Lionheart Garage, Tester and Breakdown/Recovery
Brenda, Director of Liftondown assistant. – Brenda
Garage Ltd, Ashleigh, Controller
at Stortmill and LAR Recovery, and I had previous experience working
Bella, Director of RTA Recovery for a taxi service and within
logistics. I’ve always enjoyed the
and Garage Services Ltd.
organisational aspect of working in
How did you get into the Vehicle the logistics industry, so when I saw
Recovery Operator industry? the job advertised I immediately
applied and 6 years later I’m still
My dad started the company when I here! – Ashleigh
was born, and I started working with
What has been the biggest
him 21 years ago. – Becky
My husband and I started our own challenge that you have faced to
get where you are today?
business, which has certainly been
a career highlight! – Tracey
Keeping up with all the legislation,
I married the late Fernley Pike obtaining and keeping loyal staff
who was a motor mechanic and and giving good customer service.
later, service manager of a local – Brenda
Tracey
Bella
To get other Regional Managers to
accept they can talk to me, a female,
as they often assume I am just a
secretary who has no knowledge of
the industry. – Bella
What do you like about working
in the Recovery industry?
I really enjoy the vast variety of work
that we do. No day is ever the same.
– Becky
Each day brings a different
challenge, Tons of variety and
always an opportunity to provide a
practical helpful solution. – Poppy
There’s
something
different
happening every day. – Tracey
It is difficult to say. I just enjoy
helping people who are broken
down and getting them back on the
road as quickly and stress-free as
possible. – Brenda
What qualities do you feel are
required to succeed in this
industry?
Patience, perseverance and an
ability to keep others around me
calm. – Poppy
Dedication, being honest to our
breakdown partners about the
situations as they arise and giving
the best service where physically
possible. – Brenda
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