Connected Kerb: The women changing the world for good

This year’s theme for International Women's Day 2025 – inspiring inclusion – is the perfect backdrop for Connected Kerb to celebrate the immense contribution of women to its success so far.??But inspiring inclusion is not just about ticking boxes or paying lip service to diversity. It's something we strive for every day – not just today.??

Changing the world for good, one charge at a time is our ambitious north star. Be in no doubt though, that our mission to bring sustainable mobility to everyone can only be achieved by harnessing the experiences, talents and perspectives of women within our own business and across the wider industry.??

It's the only way we can enable a full switch to electric that meets the needs of everyone.?

Making EVs the transport of choice for women.?

It's well-known that the EV industry has a problem with representation that needs addressing.??

Let’s take a look at EV ownership. As we gradually dismantle the perception that EVs are the preserve of the middle-class, we must overcome the barrier that electric vehicles have until now struggled to attract female interest, despite 49% of driving licences being held by women, according to AutoTrader ’s report ‘No driver left behind: Women and the journey to electric’.

One plausible explanation for this is safety. The report says 65% of female EV drivers think it’s important when buying their next car – compared to just half of male drivers.? Poorly lit charging areas in remote locations and range anxiety can deter female EV users unable to charge at home, although safety is definitely a concern for men as well.??

At Connected Kerb we are trying to address that through our site selection tool. The tool, spearheaded by our super-talented Head of Place Intelligence Susanne Knorr, FRGS suggests optimal locations based on 60 different factors such as street lighting, a key aspect of safety. Mapping crime data?will also in the future be a priority area for the tool.?

But, plenty of female EV drivers remain unperturbed. Connected Kerb’s own Heather K. ’s EV story impacted not just her transport habits but also her career.??

“In 2015, during a routine trip to my son's Beavers camp, my petrol car broke down. Rather than simply replacing it, I decided to embrace the future and bought my first electric vehicle - a Renault Zoe - without doing any prior research.??

“The joy I found in driving my EV was so profound that I founded the Scottish EV Drivers Club, bringing together other EV enthusiasts in Scotland. This experience sparked a deep passion for sustainability within me, prompting a career shift.”??

It set Heather on a career path that brought her to work as an Account Manager for Scotland at Connected Kerb.?

The role of women at Connected Kerb.?

We couldn’t provide a commentary on diversity without our own house being in order. We’re not perfect. We can still do more, and we will. ?

Recently, we?appointed Juliet Davenport as the new Chair of the Connected Kerb Board. Juliet brings unparalleled experience in sustainability, which is already playing a huge role in driving the business forward. We are also chuffed that Vicky Read , our Head of Public Affairs and Policy was voted as a 'Top Woman In EV' in 2023.??

It’s also exceptionally important that we ensure our business is an attractive place for women to work. We have made strides towards this by implementing a menopause policy and family friendly policies, which are all a part of our commitment to building a positive work culture for women. ?

Paulina Kafara-Rajan , Product Manager at Connected Kerb says the company ethos is connected (pun intended) to her personal motivations : "Being a Mum I’m excited to be part of an industry that is pioneering innovative solutions to combat climate change. The fact that we contribute to creating a greener and brighter future for the next generations is incredibly motivating and rewarding."?

Improving female representation in the EV industry.?

This is where we know we’ve got a long way to go. While gender representation across the sector is improving, women are vastly under-represented in senior positions. This is concerning – as a charging industry, we need to have a diverse workforce and leadership to ensure we are best placed to deliver infrastructure that works for everyone. Dr Chris Pateman-Jones , our CEO and also Chair of ChargeUK , the EV charging sector’s industry body, is wholeheartedly committed to boosting diversity within the industry and within ChargeUK itself.

Connected Kerb has already been involved in some great initiatives, and Chris is actively on the look-out for others that both Connected Kerb, and the wider industry, can get behind.?Last year, for example, Connected Kerb sponsored the Top Women In EV Mentoring Network to provide an opportunity for women across the industry to learn and develop from each other’s experiences and from other EV peers, experts and pioneers.

The gender balance of any industry is always impacted by who is entering it. It's a well-worn reality that strategies to get more women and girls into STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects need a bit of a recharge.??

Our team has spent considerable time visiting schools and colleges to demonstrate how our charging infrastructure works and inspire younger generations to take up green careers. But it’s important to highlight that an EV career is not just about engineering subjects as geography, finance and many others can yield equally fulfilling EV careers.??

Demystifying stereotypes about what we do is a big part of life at Connected Kerb. As our Chief Commercial Officer Liz Aab says: "You don't have to be 'into cars' to be working in the EV industry".?

Finding a way forward.?

There is a lot to celebrate but there’s also a lot still to do to inspire inclusion in EV. From pay gaps to breaking down gender stereotypes, another key driver of inclusion is the presence of positive role models.?

"When other women and young girls see people like them rising on their terms, it spurs their ambition.”??- Esther Obisesan, Connected Kerb Project Coordinator

So there you have it.??

From EV drivers to EV industry leaders we all have a role to play in shaping a more inclusive future for our children and their children’s children. If we get it right, then everyone will see the benefit.?

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