Stagecoach Manchester’s new campaign encourages women to pursue career in engineering

Credit: Stagecoach Manchester

Stagecoach Manchester has announced that it has launched a new campaign – ‘Engineering Your Future’ – to encourage more women to pursue engineering as a career. The operator aims to address the under-representation of women in both the engineering and transport sectors.

Across Greater Manchester, Stagecoach has 130 skilled engineers who ensure that vehicles are maintained and able to meet the demand for travel every day.  However, only 3.1% of their skilled engineer workforce are women.

The ‘Engineering Your Future’ campaign features three of Stagecoach Manchester’s engineers, Karen, Jess and Chelsea, and sees the women explaining how they had gotten into a career in engineering and what it involves.

Furthermore, the campaign will be used to help promote opportunities through Stagecoach’s engineering apprentice programme and to encourage more women to apply.  Many of Stagecoach Manchester’s apprentices have gone on to be managers and even Engineering Directors after completing their studies, as well as going into employment with the company.

Janine Summers, Regional Director at Stagecoach, said: “At Stagecoach, we are committed to supporting and promoting women across the transport sector, so we would love to see more women starting their careers with us and coming through our ranks. As we emerge fully from the pandemic, it’s an exciting time to join the transport industry and embark on a new career in engineering. The introduction of electric buses adding to the attraction. I’d urge any woman to explore her options and consider engineering as their career path.”

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The launch of the campaign is part of Stagecoach’s wider commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive working environment, aiming to attract, recruit and retain a diverse workforce. The company has set targets of achieving 40% of women in leadership roles and 25% of its workforce identifying as being from ethnic minorities by 2026.

Stagecoach has employee-led diversity and inclusion networks, including those supporting women and in the last 12 months these networks have led on developing new family friendly policies, such as miscarriage, maternity, paternity and adoption leave.

Rebecca Rathore, Operations Director at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “Women have long been under-represented in engineering, especially in the transport sector. Stagecoach Manchester is committed to changing that and helping women achieve their full potential. Working in public transport is enjoyable and rewarding and our depot teams are supportive and friendly places to work.”

Lee Wasnidge, Managing Director at Stagecoach Manchester, said: “Stagecoach recognises that people of all genders and backgrounds are fundamental to its success. We have a duty as a responsible employer to create a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. Gender diversity is a crucial business issue and this new campaign is a real chance for us to change the face of engineering in public transport.”