Women in Transport is delighted to announce an eighth consecutive year of our flagship annual mentoring programme, Advance.
The pilot programme was launched in 2017 to support the 100 Years of Women in Transport campaign by providing opportunities for personal development and career progression at all levels. Advance was designed specifically for Women in Transport members by Sonya Byers and Angela Gainsford.
Over time, the programme has evolved based on feedback and input from our mentoring pairs and is now 100% virtual. The annual programme is open anyone who identifies as a woman working in transport, in any discipline and at any stage of their career. Mentors can be manager level or above, working in transport, regardless of gender.
Applications for Advance 2025 are open to members of Women in Transport and, this year, to members of our sister organisation WISTA UK. If you are not already a member of one of these organisations, now is the time to join!
Advance 2025 has been made possible by the generous support of TXM Group, Xanta, Network for Skills, Camilleri Appointments, WISTA UK, DFDS, ALBUM, Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) and Momentum Transport.
This sponsorship allows the members of Women in Transport and WISTA UK to access invaluable mentoring support external to their organisation without any additional costs.
WISTA UK is an international association that promotes gender diversity across the maritime, trading and logistics industries. For 50 years, WISTA UK has been empowering women to lead through their unique perspective and competencies by providing a platform for knowledge sharing, educational activities, networking and collaboration.
“We are delighted to partner with Women in Transport to provide our members the opportunity to have mentorship from a very experienced organisation. We are very pleased to work with our sister organisation and collaborate – we believe we are stronger together.” Monica Kohli, President WISTA UK
"At TXM Group, we are thrilled to be supporting the Advance mentoring program for the eighth year. It’s an honour to be part of such an impactful initiative, both as a company and on a personal level. Mentoring is such a powerful gift. By sharing your time, experience, and insights, you can support others growth, overcome challenges, and reach new heights they previously may not have thought possible . It’s a privilege to be part of this incredible initiative while being part of someone’s journey.” Gary Lincoln, TXM Group
“Xanta has been proud to support Women in Transport, particularly through our sponsorship and participation of the Advance mentoring programme and even more directly with our director Matthew Regan continuing his role as Company Secretary. As an engineering consultancy specialising in transportation we are an Equal Opportunities employer and champion equality, diversity and inclusion in our sector. It is an honour to be able to play our part as an ally to promoting career opportunities for women in the industry, and we are delighted to sustain our ongoing involvement with this outstanding organisation.” Michael Simon, Xanta
“Camilleri Appointments is proud to sponsor the Advance mentoring programme again this year. As a mentor myself, I have seen first-hand the benefits of the programme. Having been on the receiving end of great support from a variety of role models throughout my career, it’s great to be in a position to gift my support back. It’s also insightful as it helps me to remain grounded and to learn through the varied experiences of others. The safe space that Women and Transport have created through this programme is invaluable to so many.” Karen Camilleri, Camilleri Appointments
Momentum have been involved in “Women in Transport Advance” for several years and are pleased to be able to support this important programme. Giving women access to professional mentoring and networking relationships that helps to inspire, build confidence and support career development is a great initiative that Momentum is proud to be part of.” David Hart, Momentum Transport
The Advance programme supports the professional development of our members. It has a positive impact that reaches far beyond the individual pairings. We’ve seen mentors use our toolkit and the confidence they gain to mentor others across transport. Our mentees have also gone on to be mentors themselves. I’m incredibly grateful to our sponsors for supporting us with a vital programme that supports women across transport.” Sonya Byers OBE, Women in Transport
Applications for Advance 2025 are open from Monday 30th September 2024 to Sunday 20th October 2024.
You must be a member of Women in Transport or WISTA UK to apply for the programme. Find out more and apply here.