In global news, Kinetic subsidiary Go-Ahead Group has launched a new program where it aims to attract and recruit 1,500 new women bus drivers across its operations.
As part of the company’s goal to achieve workforce gender balance by 2030, the ‘Go-Ahead Women’ initiative aims to introduce greater female representation into the transport sector.
Currently, women make up just 10 per cent of the UK bus industry workforce according to recent Women in Bus and Coach data.
At Go-Ahead, 11.5 per cent of bus driver roles are occupied by women.
As part of a national recruitment campaign, Go-Ahead has recently launched two vibrant double-decker buses in London, encouraging women to get behind the wheel.
The company is also investing £8 million (AU$15.5 million) in upgrading bus depot facilities, which includes work to create inclusive working environments where all colleagues have opportunities, feel supported and are empowered to thrive.
New hires will benefit from a comprehensive eight-week fully paid training program designed to equip them with the skills and confidence needed to excel in their roles. This program underscores Go-Ahead’s commitment to lead the industry in nurturing talent and providing equal opportunities for career advancement.
The initiative has been launched following the success of the Women Up Front trainee driver program at Kinetic in Australia, which is the majority owner of Go-Ahead alongside joint venture partner Globalvia.
Kinetic is targeting gender balance in its workforce by 2030, and Women Up Front is driving the company towards this target by offering participants the support and training needed to be fully qualified and confident behind the wheel.
After a busy 2023 in which more than 270 female drivers joined Kinetic, momentum is continuing to build for the program, with more than 100 women getting behind the wheel in the first quarter of this year.
Go-Ahead’s CEO of bus Matt Carney, having previously served as Kinetic Australia managing director, knows first-hand the impact that a program like this can have on an industry.
“Gender equality isn’t just a goal – it’s a commitment to building a better future for all,” Carney says.
“By setting an ambitious target to achieve 50 per cent gender parity by 2035 and investing £8 million to support women drivers in their work environment, we are taking decisive steps to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace.”
“We firmly believe that diversity drives innovation and success,” Go-Ahead Group chief people officer Carolyn Ferguson says.
“We’re investing in training and development opportunities for women drivers, and by doing this we’re not only enriching our workforce but also paving the way for a more sustainable and inclusive future.”