‘Women in Bus and Coach’ initiative launched in UK to support women in industry

Credit: Women in Bus and Coach - Louise Cheeseman, Director of Bus for Transport for London and Chair of Women in Bus and Coach launches the Women in Bus and Coach initiative to a launch summit at the NEC in Birmingham, UK.

The first national network to support women in the UK bus and coach industry launched on 8 November 2023, followed by a parliamentary event on 20 November 2023 to celebrate its formation at the House of Commons. Representatives from across the bus and coach industry came together to celebrate the launch, which celebrates and encourages women and allies working in the bus and coach industry across the whole of the UK. The national launch follows on from the success of the London launch of the network earlier in 2023 at an event hosted by Transport for London (TfL).

The ‘Women in Bus and Coach’ initiative will work with operators, manufacturers, community associations and other key stakeholders in the bus and coach industry to effect real change that will encourage, represent and support more women to work in the bus and coach industry at every level. This will help to deliver a bus and coach service 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 and coach 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 initiative 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 the initiative, 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.  

Louise Cheeseman, Director of Buses at TfL and Chair of Women in Bus and Coach, said: “The bus and coach 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. We’ve made significant progress in recent years in recruiting more women into the industry, and I can’t wait to continue working with stakeholders to launch this charter and achieve both a professional environment and culture, and a bus and coach service that work for women.”