Accelerate Action! Celebrating International Women’s Day 2025

March 8th marks International Women’s Day, a time to recognise and celebrate the incredible contributions of women in all industries, including those who are shaping East Yorkshire Buses every day. While the bus industry has traditionally been seen as male dominated, we are working hard to challenge this perception. Through active recruitment efforts and highlighting the achievements of our female employees, we are committed to demonstrating that this is a career path where women can thrive.  

This year, the theme of International Women’s Day 2025 is Accelerate Action, a call to drive meaningful change, break down barriers, and create more opportunities for women in all industries, including transport. 

Our Managing Director, Ben Gilligan, shares his thoughts on the progress and challenges within the industry:   

“The bus industry has always been male dominated and has created a perception that it is an unwelcoming place for women. Big heavy buses, working at antisocial hours and dealing with the whole range of the public that we deal with in this job. In addition to this, the canteen culture can be a barrier and create an unwelcome environment. But is this the reality of our business? Jill Viner was the first woman to drive a London bus in service in 1974 and this opened the door for a change that set things in motion for the industry that we work in 50 years on from this momentous change.  

Modern buses are in many ways as easy to drive as a car with power steering and a range of seat adjustment that suits all shapes and sizes of people. We can offer a range of shifts and working patterns that suit not just women but everyone who needs their working life to fit around their other commitments. 

As a leader of the business and a father to a teenage daughter, I am passionate about a workplace that is accessible to everyone, and we have a huge scope to improve diversity and equality for everyone so the opportunities to recruit and retain staff from a range of backgrounds allows us to improve our service to customers. But there is still work to do and although we have made good progress in recruiting women to front line roles, we are still imbalanced as a leadership team with an overwhelmingly male pool of applicants to managerial roles. This is something that we will continue to champion and address and ensure that we make the change that is needed in the business.”  

We asked some of our female colleagues to share their thoughts and experiences about working in the bus industry and the significance of International Women’s Day. Many expressed their enthusiasm and encouragement for women considering a career in transport, with responses reflecting the empowering and supportive environment they have experienced.

When asked what advice they would give to women considering a career in the bus/coach sector, one driver shared: “DO IT! It's the best thing I ever did. Working in a typically male-dominated industry is highly empowering. Plus, a lot of customers love having female drivers. Everyone is so welcoming and supportive.”  Others echoed this sentiment with simple but strong messages like “GO FOR IT” and “I loved driving buses, meeting new people, and working with some lovely people that become great friends.” Another colleague highlighted the importance of representation, stating: “We need more women in roles that are predominantly male. give it a try.”

When reflecting on the significance of International Women’s Day, responses varied but all underscored the importance of celebrating achievements and supporting women. One driver shared: “It means a lot to me. It reminds me of how far we have come, from being able to work and vote to having reproductive rights and autonomy. It’s a celebration of the recognition we should have always had, and it helps women know they’re not alone.”  Others described the day as “a celebration of all achievements women have made” and “a chance to uplift and support women while being proud of the barriers we have overcome.” One colleague, as a mother to a 21-year-old daughter, reflected on how she sees the world as “full of endless opportunities for her.” 

Go-Ahead Women: Creating Opportunities for Women in Transport

Go-Ahead Women is an initiative set up by our parent company, Go-Ahead, with the goal of encouraging more women to drive buses and keep them on the road. A career with us provides the necessary skills and training to drive our buses and support our customers and communities. Your success is vital to us and the people we serve.

As part of Go-Ahead’s broader commitment to diversity and inclusion, this initiative aims to create real change within the transport sector. Go-Ahead has set a target to recruit 1,500 new female bus drivers by the end of 2025, helping to build a stronger, more diverse workforce. These goals reflect Go-Ahead’s ongoing efforts to ensure that opportunities in the bus industry are accessible to everyone, and we are fully aligned with their vision of a more inclusive future.

Driving Change for the Future

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, we acknowledge the progress made in diversifying the bus industry while recognising that there is still work to be done. By breaking down barriers, challenging stereotypes, and fostering an inclusive environment, we can create opportunities for more women to thrive in our industry.

Together, we are driving change and shaping the future of transport. 

Visit our Join the Team page to find out what vacancies we have available.