As International Women's Day (IWD) approaches on Friday, March 8th, we embrace the theme of 'Inspire Inclusion.'

In celebration of this significant occasion, we've engaged with two inspiring women who are pioneering paths in the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of international trade. Their stories and insights spotlight the invaluable contributions of women in shaping global commerce and underscore the importance of fostering inclusivity within this sector.

Business West is also hosting a panel event on 8th March for IWD to celebrate the region’s female entrepreneurs and women in business, focusing on the importance of embracing equity in the world of work. 

Catherine Stephens

Head of International Trade Service, Business West

Catherine Stephens, Head of International Trade Services, Business West, at the International Chambers of Commerce, Paris

Catherine is Head of International Trade Services here at Business West and is a graduate of the Institute of Export. She leads a team of 20, who process various types of trade documentation, and her role involves supporting her team and also looking after our international trade clients, developing &implementing new services and promoting our international trade services. 

“I have been very lucky to have had the opportunity to travel with my job, having attended the World Chambers Congress in Italy, Dubai and Switzerland and I have just returned from a 3-day training workshop on Genesis at the ICC offices in Paris, an exciting new digital verification product we are launching later this year.”

We asked Catherine about why she thinks it’s important to celebrate IWD within the international trade business. She said:

“The world of International Trade has historically been a male-dominated environment. But thankfully women in business have come a long way since the very first International Women’s Day in 1911 and women now have so many more opportunities so this should be celebrated. I have experienced first-hand when years ago someone from an overseas country, refused to deal with me because I wasn’t a man. Thankfully those days are mostly behind us.”

“It's great to see the increasing presence of women in leadership positions. Our strength is magnified when we unite and support each other to work together to further advance and empower women in the workplace.”

We also asked Catherine what her advice would be for women just starting in the international trade business.

“The world of International Trade is constantly changing so you need to keep abreast of any changes. International trade can be complex and costly if you are not up to date with current procedures and regulations, so make sure you know your subject. Get a recognised International Trade qualification and be confident in your knowledge. Create and develop good relationships with others in the same industry, so you have a good support network.”

Julie Knight

Export Documentation Co-ordinator, Spirax-Sarco Engineering

Julie is an Export Documentation Co-ordinator at Spirax-Sarco Engineering, a British manufacturer of industrial and commercial steam systems.

Julie Knight, Export Documentation Co-ordinator at Spirax-Sarco Engineering

“My background is working for manufacturing companies in exporting. At my previous company, I worked in exporting for over 23 years, and I have been working for Spirax Sarco for 14 years. I really enjoy what I do, and I was lucky and fell into my career in exporting”. 

We also asked Julie why she thought it was important to celebrate International Women’s Day in the world of work, and International Trade in particular.

“Women deserve recognition for their hard work and dedication. We excel in multitasking, and tackle challenges head-on. In today's complex landscape of international trade, every day we engage wholeheartedly, navigating its intricacies with skill and achieving excellence. Without which exported goods would not get to where they need to be!”

We also asked Julie about what advice she would give to other women beginning their careers in international trade. She said:

“Exporting is a challenging but rewarding job. No day is the same and you get to deal with all corners of the world, which I find so interesting.  It’s a great career, which I have done now for 37 years and would encourage anyone to have a career in international trade.”

When we asked Julie about a career highlight, she responded:

“Interacting with exceptional individuals worldwide—be it customers, freight forwarders, courier services, or the excellent Bristol Chambers of Commerce—has been incredibly rewarding. What I love most about my role, however, is managing Certificates of Origin and EUR1s, which are key international trade documents for moving goods around the globe".

Catherine’s career highlights were many, but here’s one she shared:

“A standout experience was unexpectedly meeting the late Queen at a Buckingham Palace garden party in May 2019. As President of the British Chambers of Commerce, her attendance made our invitation special. Despite no initial plans for introductions, a fortunate conversation with a royal household member led to an unforgettable meeting with the Queen herself, where she inquired about our work with the Chamber network. It was her final garden party before the pandemic, making it a truly magical and fortunate encounter."

#InspireInclusion

The theme of this year’s IWD is Inspire Inclusion, which seeks to inspire others to understand and value women’s inclusion, to forge a better world. When women themselves are inspired to be included, there’s a better sense of belonging, relevance and empowerment.

We spoke to Julie and Catherine about their thoughts on Inspiring Inclusion.

Julie said:

“I feel that women are more recognised now in International Trade as a whole and rightly. It is important for women to be represented. From my experience, I have observed a predominance of women in the export documentation roles in the companies I have worked.”

Catherine said: 

“Representation in international trade varies by sector, with some areas showing significant progress and others lagging, particularly at senior management levels. While women are prominently involved in roles like Export Documentation (my team is 75% women), fields like Freight remain less represented. However, the shift towards agile working has greatly benefited women, offering the flexibility to balance work and family life. Despite an increase in female participation at industry events, the challenge remains to enhance women's presence in higher-level executive positions.”

For more information about International Women’s Day and #InspireInclusion, head to the IWD website.

 

Are you looking to export overseas?

Business West is one of the UK’s leading Chamber of Commerce in the UK for providing International Trade documentation services.

We process over 15,000 International Trade documents and helped over 700 companies export over £11bn worth of goods in the last year. 

If you need support with export documentation for trading overseas, please get in touch.

If you would like to find out more about our ATA Carnet services, please visit our ATA Carnet webpage or email the team.