Women in Bus and Coach welcomed at House of Commons

The All-Party Parliamentary Group for the Road Passenger Transport Industry has welcomed the new Women in Bus and Coach initiative. Its formation has been celebrated at an event hosted at the House of Commons.

Women in Bus and Coach is the first national network created to support women in the bus and coach industry. It is supported by representatives from across the profession and celebrates and encourages women and allies working in the bus, coach and community transport industry across the whole of the UK.

A wrapped Women in Bus and Coach bus was also displayed at Parliament to commemorate the House of Commons event. The wrapped bus can be seen servicing London bus passengers on route 94 for a short period, running from Acton Green to Charles II Street.

During the exclusive event, the attendees which included prominent senior leaders in the bus and coach industry, together with MPs and political figures from across all parties, heard from members, supporters and allies of the Women in Bus and Coach initiative. The speakers provided an insight on how they will work with operators, manufacturers, community associations and other key stakeholders in the industry to effect real change that will encourage, represent and support more women to work in the bus, coach and community transport industry at every level. This will help deliver a more inclusive profession and services that better meet the needs of women.

The initiative is made up of industry leads and will provide a collaborative forum to share expertise and develop solutions to make sure a career in the bus, coach and community transport industry is attractive to women of all ages, backgrounds, and ethnicities.

Women in Bus and Coach will also work with bus and coach companies to challenge and eliminate barriers currently faced by women in the profession, creating a more inclusive service that is representative of our customers. The organisation wants women, whatever their background, to have equal access to a career in the industry and a workplace designed around their needs.

At the launch of Women in Bus and Coach at an event in Birmingham on 8 November, key stakeholders signed up to the Charter – agreeing to challenge industry policies and practices that do not adequately support women, and to set, review, and publish targets for women in all roles throughout the industry.

“We still have a lot of work to do to challenge and eliminate barriers currently faced by women in the profession” – Louise Cheeseman, Director of Buses at Transport for London, and Chair of Women in Bus and Coach

Louise Cheeseman, Director of Buses at Transport for London, and Chair of Women in Bus and Coach, said: “The bus, coach and community transport industries provide incredible opportunities for a varied, challenging and rewarding career. All women should have equal access to these opportunities and a workplace designed around their needs.

“Today’s event was a unique opportunity to both gain cross party support for the Women in Bus and Coach initiative and showcase how we’ve made significant progress in recent years in recruiting more women into the industry.

“We still have a lot of work to do to challenge and eliminate barriers currently faced by women in the profession, I can’t wait to continue working with the bus and coach sector to achieve both a professional environment and culture, and a bus and coach service that works for a wealth of diversity- we are better together.”