The D&I Bus Group — part of Women in Transport
We’re a community dedicated to bringing together like-minded individuals to share their experiences and perspectives in an open and safe space. We provide a platform for thought-provoking discussion, with the aim to inspire and motivate others in the quest to accelerate diversity and inclusion throughout the bus industry.
We meet four times a year (virtually), inviting guest speakers to share their expertise. Our mission is to support and encourage meaningful change through collaboration and shared insights.
Collectively we’re driving progress.
Your voice. Your impact.
Women working in bus and coach play a vital role in keeping services running and communities connected. But what is it really like to work in the sector?
In early 2026, Women in Transport and Women in Bus and Coach ran a short, anonymous survey to better understand your experiences — what’s working well and where barriers remain.
Driving Change Together is our landmark research report into women’s experiences of working in bus and coach, launched for International Women’s Day 2026.
Some of our members
Upcoming meetings
Our virtual meetings for 2027 will appear here soon.
If you would like any further information, please email us at bus@womenintransport.com.
Our work together in 2026
Thanks to all our speakers this year, who shared so much expertise and knowledge as part of our work in 2026:
Susan Leadbetter, WSP
Women and girls’ safety, including progress through the Women in Transport Women’s Safety Group.Angelita McCann, First Bus
Violence against women and girls, including partnership working with White Ribbon and Strut Safe and the wider cultural change needed across the sector.Sharon Vye-Parminter, Stagecoach/CPT
The 2026 agenda for women and girls’ safety and how the sector can collectively support and influence progress.Sonya Byers OBE, Women in Transport
Driving Change Together. Key insights and recommendations from the report and opportunities for collective action.Sarah Chambers, Lothian
Driving Change Together in practice. How the report’s recommendations can be translated into action.Sarah Taylor, Lothian
Driving Change Together in practice, alongside Sarah, sharing Lothian’s approach to putting recommendations into practice.Anne-Marie Purcell, Bus Reform Strategic Advisor
Bus reform and franchising, bringing a franchising perspective to the Driving Change Together discussion.Rachel Birrell, Transport for London (TfL)
Inclusion and bus safety. The latest evolution of TfL’s Bus Safety Standard and work to make London’s buses safer for passengers, drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.Georgie Rogers, Senior Consultant, SYSTRA
Women and Girls’ Safety on the UK Bus Network, a closer look at SYSTRA’s latest report on women and girls’ safety on the UK bus network, supporting the group’s 2026 focus on violence against women and girls.Sue Terpilowski OBE, Women in Transport
The Equity Index, taking the group through the Equity Index and its relevance to equality, diversity and inclusion across the transport sector.
Our focus areas
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We will strengthen our position as a leading voice for diversity and inclusion in the bus industry. We will continue to influence, inspire and champion progress by working closely with our key partners.
We will continue our involvement in the UK Bus Awards and deeper engagement with other industry recognition schemes.
This year, we will work with Passenger Transport magazine to showcase the stories of mentors and mentees across the sector, highlighting the individuals who are shaping a more inclusive future for bus.
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We will further deepen collaboration with Women in Bus and Coach by aligning our efforts, sharing expertise and resources, and supporting each other’s initiatives.
This enhanced partnership will enable stronger knowledge exchange and amplify our shared goals for advancement.
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With a renewed focus on Women’s Safety on Bus, we will shine a light on the excellent work already happening across the industry and amplify it. This is our moment to learn more and amplify more!
We know significant work is already underway, and we aim to bring operators together to share insight and learn from one another.
By doing so, we can identify what works, build on best practice, and collectively raise standards for women’s safety across the network.
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Inspired by Sarah Hope MBE, across the UK there is a need for a consistent and compassionate approach to supporting both the public and colleagues following serious incidents.
Informed by a ‘commitment to openness’, we are exploring the potential to develop a model that mirrors best practice and can be adopted widely across the industry.
Our ambition is to influence the creation of a framework that promotes transparency, support and consistency.
To underpin this, we will undertake a survey to map existing support structures, learn from best practice, and shape recommendations for an industry-wide approach.
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The shift to franchising presents a chance to embed diversity and inclusion more deeply across the sector and to enhance the development and progression of women in the industry.
We will work to influence this space by ensuring that franchising frameworks, training requirements, cultural expectations, and development pathways all support a more inclusive environment; one that actively role models inclusive behaviours, builds diverse talent pipelines, and creates routes for all underrepresented groups to succeed.
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Women in Transport’s Equity Index remains a vital tool for driving change across our sector.
In 2026, we will refocus our efforts to ensure all our members are playing a part.
All member organisations of the D&I Bus Group will be encouraged to complete the Equity Index survey, an initiative that provides meaningful data to benchmark progress and identify areas for improvement.
Latest updates
