Colleagues from Nottingham City Transport share their successes to inspire more women to explore careers in transport.
Transport has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, with women accounting for only 26% of the workforce. As these inspiring women at Nottingham City Transport (NCT) show, that's changing. Whether they've built long-standing careers at NCT or joined from completely different backgrounds, they all share a commitment to their work and a belief that transport is a career for everyone.
1. Natalie, Operations Compliance Manager
Natalie has been a standout contributor to Nottingham City Transport’s success over the past few years, with key highlights being the achievement of Earned Recognition Status, placing NCT in the Premier League of operators, signifying the company’s active compliance with the required processes and procedures at DVSA.
Natalie’s journey towards achieving Earned Recognition Status began with her meticulous work in writing all the Standard Operating Procedures necessary to meet the stringent criteria. This involved extensive consultation and engagement throughout NCT, liaising with departments across the business to understand business processes, refine them and document them as standard procedures for all to follow. Her efforts culminated in an application submitted in January 2023, with NCT passing in April 2023 at an impressive result of 98%!
Natalie also conducts all the quarterly internal audits, ensuring continuous compliance with Earned Recognition standards. She manages all ER 112 reports, which are crucial for ensuring that vehicles return to service promptly and are legally compliant when operating on Nottingham’s roads.
Natalie also chairs internal Operational Compliance Meetings of the company’s Transport Managers on the Operator Licence (of which Natalie is one). These meetings see managers from operations, engineering, training and health & safety review performance and identify further improvements.
Natalie’s commitment to excellence is further demonstrated by her management of drivers’ hours regulations. She manually reports to the DVSA, ensuring that all regulations are correctly met. Her proactive approach in this area prevents potential compliance issues and keeps NCT’s operations running smoothly.
Additionally, Natalie is always looking for ways to improve. Her dedication to continuous improvement and her strategic approach to meeting KPI targets have significantly contributed to the operational efficiency and regulatory compliance of NCT.
2. Zohra, Bus Driver
Zohra joined NCT in January 2018 as a bus driver and is the operator’s most commended driver, known for her friendly nature and excellent rapport with passengers.
This year, she was named Driver of the Year at the NCT Excellence Awards, reflecting her outstanding service and dedication.
Coming from a background where women can face restrictions on professional driving, Zohra is proud to be the first Pakistani woman driver to win this award. She says that she is proud to be in this position and wants to spread the message to encourage anyone considering a career in transport to go for it.
3 Alison, Assistant Operations Manager
Alison began her NCT journey as a bus driver in 1997, when there were only 20-30 female drivers in the company.
Over the years, she progressed through roles as a Service Auditor, Garage Supervisor, and Relief Operations Manager before becoming an Assistant Operations Manager.
She now supports drivers by overseeing performance and behaviour while also serving as a Mental Health First Aider for colleagues across the business. Alison highlights the diversity, equality, and inclusion at NCT, saying, “It will be the best decision you ever make—people don’t just stay for a short while, they stay for a lifetime.”