The number of women drivers at Go-Ahead’s UK’s network of bus companies across the UK has risen in the past year following a wide range of efforts to attract more applicants.
Overall, female representation among Go-Ahead’s 11,000 workforce of drivers has risen from 10% to 12% in 2022, a year in which the industry experienced a chronic shortage of labour, with bus driver vacancies at a high level.
Go-Ahead employs 15,600 people in the UK bus industry, is the largest bus operator in London, and also owns eight regional bus companies outside London.
Efforts to hire more women bus drivers have included female-focused advertising including a campaign called “we’re hiring people like you” by Go North West in Manchester and a “heroes of the road” campaign at East Yorkshire Buses.
There has also been a programme to build the foundations of culture change across the group which focuses on growing inclusion.
To mark International Womens’ Day earlier this month, Go-Ahead shared a video focusing on women returners who have come back to the workforce after maternity leave, examining their experience as they re-adapt to working in an office or depot.
Claire Mahoney, Head of Colleague Experience at The Go-Ahead Group, said: “Driving a bus is a valuable and rewarding role, providing a vital everyday service up and down Britain.
“We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve, which means a better balance of men and women behind the wheel.
“I’m pleased that we’re getting more women on board – we’re moving in the right direction but there’s much further to go yet.”
