As reported in recent issues, the Women in Bus and Coach (WiBC) initiative was launched with a number of high-profile events in Birmingham and London, and marks a significant stride towards gender equality in the UK’s transport sector, representing a powerful advocate for change, championing a future where diversity and inclusivity are not mere ideals but tangible realities. The Community Transport Association (CTA) was represented at the WiBC Parliamentary launch and WiBC National Launch Event by Caroline Whitney, its Director for England, and other dedicated women from the Community Transport Sector, and says it shares WiBC’s goals to make the sector more diverse.
WiBC’s mission is to dismantle longstanding barriers and challenge entrenched stereotypes within the bus and coach industry. Echoing the sentiments of WiBC, Caroline emphasised in her speech at the event: “Our commitment at CTA is to explore what makes our sector an attractive place to work and how we can share our insights with colleagues across the bus and coach industry,” she said, underscoring a shared vision of creating an environment where women’s contributions are celebrated, their potential realised, and their professional growth nurtured.
The CTA says the community transport sector is integral to the UK’s transportation ecosystem, and as such mirrors the diversity and inclusivity goals championed by WiBC. Caroline highlighted the significant female representation within this sector, stating: “We anticipate following the voluntary sector’s trend, with 67% women contributing to our workforce.”
Achieving gender equality in the transport sector involves overcoming deep-rooted stereotypes and biases, and Caroline’s speech addressed these challenges head-on: “We are hampered by outdated stereotypes and perceptions of the services we deliver, our passengers, our workforce, and the role we should have in transport,” she said.
Reflecting on the welcoming nature of WiBC and its inspiring impact resonates with this vision, Caroline added: “This has been refreshing and it is inspiring us at CTA and the sector to focus on gender equality and start to come together with the rest of the bus and coach sector.”
The Women in Bus and Coach initiative is expected to be a pivotal movement towards a more inclusive and equitable transport sector. As Caroline put it: “Let’s continue to advocate for all women in our sector, ensuring that their voices are heard, and their contributions recognised.” The CTA has created a ‘Women in Community Transport’ working group, to bring together the experiences and stories from women in the community transport sector; more details can be found via its website.