Go-Ahead embarks on mission to recruit 1,500 women bus drivers

• Go-Ahead has set an ambitious goal to achieve gender equality by 2035 in its bus divisions
• £8 million (AU$15.5 million) investment will create inclusive environments and training opportunities to attract 1,500 new female recruits
• This initiative follow’s the success of Kinetic’s Women Up Front trainee driver program in Australia

The Go-Ahead Group has launched an exciting new initiative to attract and recruit 1,500 new women drivers across its bus operations, as the company works towards achieving workforce gender balance by 2035.

The ‘Go-Ahead Women' initiative recognises the need for greater female representation in the transport sector, with women making up just 10% of the UK bus industry workforce according to recent data from Women in Bus and Coach.

At present, 11.5% of bus driver roles are occupied by women within Go-Ahead's bus companies.

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 8-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.

Driving gender balance across Kinetic’s global transport network

This initiative has been launched following the success of the Women Up Front trainee driver program at Kinetic, 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 over 100 women getting behind the wheel in the first quarter of this year.

Go-Ahead’s CEO – Bus, Matt Carney, knows first-hand about the impact of Women Up Front—having served as Managing Director, Australia at Kinetic and helping to launch the program.

These learnings are now helping inform Go-Ahead’s own commitment to gender balance in the industry.

"Gender equality isn't just a goal – it's a commitment to building a better future for all,” Mr Carney said.

“By setting an ambitious target to achieve 50% 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."

In Go-Ahead’s UK rail division, the number of women train drivers joining Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) has steadily increased year-on-year, with 2023 seeing the highest split yet at 40 per cent. Go-Ahead and GTR continue to focus on attracting more women in rail to ensure its workforce represents the communities it serves.  

Carolyn Ferguson, Chief People Officer for the Go-Ahead Group said: "We firmly believe that diversity drives innovation and success. 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."

This story was originally published by Go-Ahead.

Further enquiries
Anupa Devi
The Go-Ahead Group
anupa.devi@go-ahead.com