As we start a new year, I have been thinking about what is starting to move the dial for our sector. It is not a single initiative or headline moment. It is people. The women who stepped forward. The allies who backed them. The leaders who created space for honest conversations. The colleagues who shared their experiences, challenges and hopes. Every sign of progress came from people choosing to make a difference.
This was clear across Women in Bus and Coach throughout 2025. We took important steps in widening our reach and building a stronger community of support. Our ambassador network grew with five new appointments across the year. Tracy Brabin joined us at the launch of our Northern Region in Leeds. Claire Mann and Elizabeth McKay came on board at the London Transport Museum as we honoured Jill Viner with a blue plaque. Loveday Ryder accepted her ambassadorship at our annual summit, and we closed the year by welcoming Victoria Garcia MBE at our all-party parliamentary group (APPG) reception. Each of them strengthens our movement by bringing fresh energy, insight and commitment.
We also deepened our work to recognise the women whose contributions shaped our industry. Our blue plaque initiative continued to resonate across the sector and beyond, helping to highlight the legacy of women whose stories have often gone unrecorded. These moments of recognition create a bridge between past and present, reminding us why visibility matters to the next generation.
Another highlight was the success of our Period Positive campaign, which received the bronze award in the culture change category at the UK Bus Awards. The recognition underlines how practical action can influence workplace culture. Sometimes progress begins with something as simple as giving people the dignity and confidence they deserve.
Our events programme gave colleagues more opportunities to learn, connect and contribute. The annual summit, built around the theme of driving change, brought the sector together to look honestly at what needs to shift and how we can work collectively to make that happen. The APPG reception ensured that these discussions were heard at a national level too. The appetite for leadership development, confidence building and everyday inclusion grew stronger throughout the year.
As we move into 2026, the challenge is clear. Progress is only meaningful if it continues to improve the experiences of people working across the coach, bus and community transport sector every day. Over the year ahead, we will focus on building stronger workplace cultures, supporting wellbeing and confidence, widening participation and continuing to amplify real stories from across the sector. By doing so, we will keep pushing the dial in the right direction.
The road ahead is not without challenges, but the commitment we saw throughout 2025 gives me confidence. When we back our people, we strengthen our sector. When we recognise their achievements, we build pride. And when we listen to their experiences, we create change that lasts.
