\u00a0 \u00a0 Women in Bus and Coach said the event had marked a significant step forward in championing gender diversity and fostering allyship within the industry. It saw participation from key industry figures, including local transport minister Simon Lightwood and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Lothian Buses CEO Sarah Boyd, Transport for Greater Manchester chief transformation officer Anne Marie Purcell and Transport for London COO Claire Mann.\u00a0<\/p>\n Several initiatives were launched at this year\u2019s summit, setting a new direction for women in the industry.<\/p>\n These include the Trailblazer Blue Plaque Initiative, a recognition programme to honour women who have made exceptional contributions across bus, coach and community transport. The inaugural recipients announced were Mary Curry, who qualified as the first woman bus driver for Hants & Dorset in October 1973 and who was present at the summit, and Jill Viner, the first woman bus driver in London, who qualified in May 1974. This initiative aims to preserve the legacy of industry pioneers.<\/p>\n The event also marked a significant milestone with the launch of the organisation\u2019s Period Positive Campaign, an initiative to promote menstrual equity within the industry. This groundbreaking campaign aims to foster a supportive and inclusive working environment, ensure that facilities and policies are in place to accommodate women\u2019s needs.<\/p>\n We\u2019re not just recognising the trailblazers; we\u2019re creating a platform for the next generation of women leaders to thrive in this industry<\/p>\n Women in Bus and Coach also announced expansion into new regions. Last week\u2019s event saw the official launch of an Irish branch of the organisation, established to provide a dedicated platform for women working in Ireland to connect, collaborate, and champion equality in the sector. Another significant development is the establishment of a new Coach Sub-Group, which will provide crucial support and advocacy for women working in the coach sector. This initiative aims to address the unique challenges these women face and foster collaboration.<\/p>\n In a highlight of the summit, the inaugural Women in Bus and Coach Awards winners were announced (see below), celebrating outstanding individuals who have made significant contributions to the industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n Louise Cheeseman, chair of Women in Bus and Coach, praised the industry\u2019s efforts in promoting gender equality and the summit\u2019s success: \u201cThis summit is a testament to the incredible women who are transforming the bus, coach and community transport sector every day. With the launch of new initiatives and regional branches, we\u2019re building a stronger, more inclusive future. We\u2019re not just recognising the trailblazers; we\u2019re creating a platform for the next generation of women leaders to thrive in this industry.\u201d\u00a0 <\/p>\n Best Woman in Bus Award, sponsored by Backhouse Jones<\/strong> \u00a0 DON\u2019T MISS OUT \u2013 GET YOUR COPY! \u2013\u00a0click here to subscribe!<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The post Summit puts spotlight on women in bus sector<\/a> first appeared on Passenger Transport<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u200b\u00a0<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Women in Bus and Coach event champions diversity \u00a0 The Women in Bus and Coach Summit \u00a0 The second annual Women in Bus and Coach Summit was held in Manchester on October 8, bringing together industry leaders, stakeholders, frontline operators and advocates to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women across the bus, coach and community transport sectors. Women in Bus…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":8484,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[60],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camcab"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8483"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8483"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8483\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/camcab.co.uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe Women in Bus and Coach Summit<\/em><\/p>\n
\nThe second annual Women in Bus and Coach Summit was held in Manchester on October 8, bringing together industry leaders, stakeholders, frontline operators and advocates to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women across the bus, coach and community transport sectors.<\/p>\n
\nA northern division has been established in England, recognising women\u2019s growing presence and influence in the region\u2019s bus, coach and community transport operations.<\/p>\nWomen in Bus and Coach Awards 2024<\/strong><\/h5>\n
\nLiz Eades<\/strong>, Workshop Manager, Stagecoach South East
\nBest Woman in Coach Award, sponsored by IntSol Recruitment<\/strong>
\nJulie Hartley<\/strong>, Sales Director, Irizar UK
\nBest Woman in Community Transport Award, sponsored by Dawsongroup Bus and Coach<\/strong>
\nKimberley Ward<\/strong>, CEO, Lothian Community Transport Services
\nThe Peter, Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill Allyship Award, sponsored by The Go-Ahead Group<\/strong>
\nRichard Grey<\/strong>, Managing Director, Greys Travel Solutions
\nWoman of the Year Award, sponsored by MCV Group<\/strong>
\nJulie Hartley<\/strong>, Sales Director, Irizar UK<\/p>\n
\nThis article appears in the latest issue of\u00a0Passenger Transport<\/em>.<\/strong><\/p>\n