With the International Women’s Day celebrations upon us, two trailblazing, successful women have explained how they have their sights set on continued growth and success in a male-dominated industry in 2025.
More Driver Solutions (MDS) was founded in 2008 by Emily Cooper and Nicola Tilley. The duo had cut their teeth in the logistics recruitment sector, finding drivers to fill temporary roles. They loved working with drivers and built a glowing reputation across their sector.
Many senior executives in the logistics recruitment industry had approached them about going into business together, seeing their drive and potential. Emily and Nikki knew they had a brilliant rapport with their clients and each other, always coming up with new ideas to improve the business they worked for.
So, they went solo with MDS, now part of More Recruitment Group (MRG) along with sister company More Recruitment Solutions (MRS).
As two women in their early twenties, Emily and Nikki faced their fair share of prejudice early in their career.
“We had to spend a lot of time fighting against people’s assumptions about us,” said Nikki. “It was extremely common for people to look down on us or ask who was backing us.”
Emily added: “I don’t think we really realised how many brick walls there were at the time. It’s only in retrospect that we can see the extent of the prejudice we faced. Thankfully, we were always able to articulate what we wanted out of our business relationships, which commanded a certain respect, even if that was sometimes caveated with a ‘oh you actually know what you’re talking about’ from an old guard executive. It still allowed us to break some glass ceilings as we grew the business.”
The sector has changed significantly since MDS began. Regulations around driver safety and certification have grown over time, with compliance requirements becoming more complicated. MDS has always stayed one step ahead of the curve, often implementing processes to fulfil requirements before legislation demands it.
“As we grew the business, we had to ensure we were ticking every box and going the extra mile to provide important services that made our clients’ lives easier,” explained Emily. “As younger business owners, we really put in the effort to be knowledgeable and reliable on compliance in order to build trust with our clients.”
Today, there are many more women in the sector at all levels.
“There are more business owners in their twenties and early thirties too,” said Nikki. “When we started out, we were definitely in the minority. International Women’s Day gives us a chance to reflect on how hard we had to fight to be respected and our achievements in spite of prejudice, but also to celebrate how far the sector has come.”
“You can do whatever it is you want to do, as long as you have a good support network,” said Emily, emphasising the importance of the people around you.
“Don’t sweat the small stuff!” added Nikki, “Sometimes, trying to deal with small problems can be immobilising, only to be put into perspective by a bigger problem that requires your full attention. It’s about getting things done, so just try to get things over the line as best you can.”
Looking to the future, Emily and Nikki are optimistic about opportunities for women in the sector and their business’s further growth.
Emily said: “Our goals for 2025 are all about expanding the area our business covers. We’re currently building out our geographic reach and recruiting to facilitate that, while maintaining our high standards and upskilling our existing staff.”
Find out more about More Driver Solutions by clicking here.
