The seed is being sown for a ‘Women In Fuel’ networking group, bringing together female leaders with new entrants to the industry.
Naomi Short at mobility payments specialist Attenda, and Clare Lafferty from MyAutomate/PetrolPrices app fame, are setting up a WhatsApp-based group.
The idea is that members will meet up sporadically, initially at key industry events to support, share insights, advocate for and mentor females in the forecourt sector.
Short came up with the idea at an industry event where she noticed that there were more women in the room than at the start of her career in petrol retailing 22 years ago.
“There are more women in petrol retailing now than when I started – which is great progress – but access to informal networks and peer support still feels inconsistent,” says Short. “This is about creating a purposeful network, a space where women can connect, share experience and support each other’s progression.
“If we want to attract and retain more women in the fuel retail, visibility and support structures matter. This network is about building both,” explains Short, who joined the industry in a customer service role at Shell.
She worked at the oil giant for six years, then spent three years at Essar, and nearly 10 years at Greenergy, where she was head of retail cards services before leaving to become senior relationship manager at Attenda.
She says that during her career she has come across many “fabulous women” and appreciates having been mentored “by some of the best”.
She adds: “I have always been lucky having mentors and it would be fantastic to create a hub and network of women who have worked hard to get where they are and can now help other people.
”We could come together with break-outs at industry events to catch up throughout the year,” she enthuses.
Clare Lafferty, sales director at MyAutomate says that she is “really excited” that she has been asked to help set up the group. ”I’ve worked in the fuel industry for over 13 years now, which is probably more than I’d like to admit,” she adds.
”I’m really looking forward to seeing the interest in it and shaping how it develops.”
Short and Lafferty hope to bring together an initial cohort of women from across the industry to shape what this group becomes.
The first opportunity to connect with Short is at the Forecourt Show at the NEC when she is visiting on Tuesday, April 14.
If you would like to be involved, please email Naomi.short@attenda.io and clare.lafferty@myautomateapp.co.uk
