The all-female team of employees from LeasePlan, preparing for an expedition across Baffin Island in the Arctic Circle, have been training at Iceland Foods Limited in Swindon, Wiltshire. 

The women spent the day under the watchful eye of expedition leader Debra Searle at Iceland’s Warehouse in preparation for the LeasePlan Women’s Arctic Challenge.

The session saw the women test out their expedition kit, erect tents, pull sledges and perform other critical tasks in the deep freeze. 

The LeasePlan Women’s Arctic Challenge is part of the company’s worldwide initiative to challenge how people think about diversity and inclusion.

Led by professional adventurer and gender equality advocate Searle, the team will undertake a 100 kilometre ski-trek across Baffin Island, which is expected to take between ten and fifteen days to complete in temperatures of -15 to –20 C

Searle said: “It’s almost impossible to prepare for the Arctic cold without sessions like this, so it’s essential to put the team through their paces in this environment.”

Steve Moss, HR director LeasePlan, said: “The generosity of partners such as Iceland has been fundamental in making sure the team are as prepared as they can be ahead of the expedition and provides an invaluable experience of just what effect -20C has on an individual both physically and mentally.”