Alexander Dennis (ADL) has joined the UK’s Women in Transport network as the first bus manufacturer to become a corporate member. ADL will champion diversity and inclusion in the bus industry through sponsorship of a working group, while providing networking and professional development opportunities for team members.
Women in Transport is a not-for-profit organisation that empowers women to maximise their potential. Membership – which will be open to any ADL team member wishing to engage – provides access to a varied events programme, networking opportunities, annual mentoring, a leadership development programme and the All Party Parliamentary Group for women in transport.
The manufacturer will sponsor the Diversity and Inclusion Bus Group, which seeks to promote the benefits of diversity and inclusion and improve perceptions of the bus industry while attracting a diverse workforce which represents the industry’s customer base. The group meets around four times a year, progressing various workstreams and sharing learnings, knowledge and expertise.
Jacqueline Anderson, ADL Group Marketing Director, said: “At Alexander Dennis, we share the transport sector’s ambition to better reflect the country’s demographics in our team. The fantastic work done by Women in Transport resonates strongly with us and we look forward to taking an active role in this vital network. We encourage our team members to engage with the opportunities offered by Women in Transport, and hope they will be a further benefit as we seek to attract the skills and talent we need to lead the transition to zero-emission mobility.”
Sonya Byers, Chief Executive of Women in Transport, added: “I am delighted to welcome Alexander Dennis to Women in Transport. It’s a first for us to have a bus manufacturer join our network, and we’re really excited to meet our new members. We’re here to support our transport peers as they build their professional networks, develop their skills, and look to become the role models of the future.
“The Diversity and Inclusion Bus Group is truly collaborative and has grown so quickly in the last 18 months, so to have Alexander Dennis sponsor this group is a fantastic opportunity. The group is focused on delivering initiatives that really make a difference, and it promotes the sharing of ideas and concepts to help accelerate all aspects of diversity in the industry. I’d like to say a big welcome to our new colleagues from Alexander Dennis.”
