#breakthebias
This year's theme for International Women's Day focuses on breaking the bias. We chatted to our CamperQueens to learn how they're breaking the bias and have continued to do so for over 10 years.
Since the company was established, CamperKing has been championing female empowerment and gender parity by promoting and hiring women into decision-making roles.
We chatted to CamperQueens from across the business and explored their roles and experiences of gender bias in the workplace.
Watch our video on breaking the bias
Jo
Accounts Manager
Day-to-day responsibilities: Managing the accounts across the business for CamperKing
Jo joined the CamperKing Team in August 2013 on a part-time basis.
About Jo
Upon joining the company, Jo's responsibilities included ordering parts, managing eBay listings, processing orders, and looking after customers. After a few months, Jo joined the business on a full-time basis and began overseeing rental and sales customers. With phenomenal success in this role and as the service manager, Jo was promoted to the accounts team in 2019, and charged with managing the increased workload of the accounts team due to business growth.
Have you ever experienced gender bias in the workplace?
"I’ve never experienced gender bias in the workplace from management or colleagues at Camper King – before the Sales Team came on board, Spencer trusted Liz and me to pretty much run the day to day business, from sourcing vans to selling them, to rental customers, to service customers to wholesale dealer relationships and everything in between!"
"However, I was on the receiving end of customer gender bias during my period as Service Manager – on several occasions, a customer would insist on speaking to "someone who knows what they are talking about" which roughly translated to "a man", and they could tell the customer the exact same thing as I did but when they said it, it was then received and understood."
Gemma
Deputy Service Manager
Day-to-day responsibilities: Overseeing the running of the service team which includes managing and booking habitation checks
About Gemma
Gemma started working for CamperKing in August 2019 as a sales administrator. After moving into another admin role, the team quickly realised her potential, and she was promoted to deputy service manager.
Have you ever experienced gender bias in the workplace?
"Not in this workplace but previous jobs certainly. Working in a male-dominated industry teaches you to be strong, resilient, and independent. I have had to fight harder for my career path, try harder to prove a working mum can do it, and show determination to ensure I am considered for roles that males usually do. One thing I have learned is no one is going to fight harder for you than yourself, and only you can go after the goals set. Female empowerment is something I try and do daily. Let’s raise our children not to look at people’s genders, but more the ability to perform in the working environment, whatever the role!"
Hayley
Compliance and Systems Manager
Day-to-day responsibilities: Overseeing the running of the factory office, implementing a new parts system, and managing health and safety across all sites
About Hayley
Hayley has worked for CamperKing for over 7 years and joined the company in an admin role. Proving herself to be a key part of the business, Hayley's skillset and responsibilities have grown with the business, and she has found herself working across multiple departments and being promoted multiple times. In December 2021, Hayley was promoted to the senior position of compliance and systems manager.
Have you ever experienced gender bias in the workplace?
"Being in my 30s and in the time that I've worked, I've been lucky enough not to experience gender bias in the workplace. Yes, I've seen it happen to other people regarding career progression"
Ruth
CNC Operator
Day-to-day responsibilities: Ruth is responsible for utilising CNC machines to accurately cut the plywood needed for campervan flooring, and for crafting the kits for campervan cabinets and cupboards
About Ruth
After completing a three-year cabinet-making course at college, Ruth joined CamperKing to utilise both her woodworking skills, and her knowledge and experience of CNC machining.
Have you ever experienced gender bias in the workplace?
"I've mostly worked with men in woodworking; this is the first time I've worked with another female in the same space. Everyone here treats me like an equal and no one treats me any differently, I feel like I'm one of the lads."
Have you been inspired to join CamperKing?
Contact us at info@camperking.co.uk to find out if your skills can benefit us.
