AFJ Travel’s Aneeka Jalil recently completed her Transport Manager CPC qualification, and calls for more young people to pursue their passions
Fresh talent and diverse perspectives are major elements in the drive to find new members of the coach and bus sector. International Women’s Day in March provided a reminder that the push to attract more women into the industry forms part of that collective effort, and one young person hoping to set an example for others by pursuing a career in this field is Aneeka Jalil of AFJ Travel in Birmingham.
Aneeka, at just 19 years old, recently gained the CILT accredited Transport Manager CPC qualification. It led to her achieving the position of Transport Manager at AFJ. Like other young women joining the industry, she’s determined to break down barriers. routeone takes a look at her journey, the challenges she has faced and the lessons learned along the way.
‘Follow your passion’
While she has been surrounded by the industry her whole life, Aneeka reveals it was only after she completed her A-levels at the King Edward VI Grammar sixth form in Birmingham that she realised university was not the path she wanted to take. Instead, she decided to enter the family business.
She says: “I was offered the opportunity to come into AFJ and started off in admin. I slowly gained more interest in how everything works. If I go into a new job, I want to know the ins-and-outs of everything.”
A Transport Manager colleague recommended the CILT Transport Manager CPC course as a way to gain a comprehensive introduction for a career in transport. “This, I thought, would suit me the most, especially since I’ve been surrounded by it my whole life,” Aneeka adds. “At the time I didn’t understand how we did what we do – but I knew it was something I could learn, and that I’d have the resources around me to help me flourish.”
AFJ Travel, which was established in 2006, specialises in the transport of vulnerable children, and Aneeka says this was a key factor in her desire to join and to be in a position where she understood every aspect of the operation and of compliance.
The business began operating with two vehicles and now runs more than 150 in the home-to-school and private ambulance space. Approximately 90% of its work in the former segment is for special needs schools, comprising some 630 pupils daily. Seeing the business’ growth in that time, and its future potential, was another factor in why Aneeka felt attracted to joining the sector.
“Seeing the people that we help and how we solve problems for special needs children, helping them get to school, and helping provide an education, makes our jobs feel so rewarding,” she adds. “I see a lot of potential for innovation in this industry, and endless opportunities.”
Support for young people key
While Aneeka admits that she was nervous going into the exam – not helped by the added pressure of joining a male-dominated sector – Angelo Cugini, Business Development Director at AFJ Travel, points to how quickly Aneeka learned the skills necessary to complete the qualification; she completed the revision period in less than a month.
It goes without saying that Aneeka also enters an industry dominated by older generations, and that can be intimidating. Crucially, there has been a great deal of support from people around her, and Angelo says AFJ has a focus on empowering younger voices in the workplace.
“Being a young woman, I think the industry wants to see people like me coming into the field,” Aneeka says. “It’s a little different – and I’d like to say women are better at certain tasks! Organisation, attention to detail – there have been a few things I’ve been empowered to change since becoming Transport Manager. I’ve changed the way certain process are done, ensured all the requirements are being met and that compliance is in order – and I’ve received a lot of support. The business is welcoming, and staff appreciate that.”
One area Aneeka has helped improve since coming into the business is the management information (MI) report – her analysis added additional details for stakeholders, making sure the accuracy of data was on point. She also sought out additional data that the company could provide to improve best practice.
Angelo says that, while many changes that new members such as Aneeka may make to a business might seem incremental in the larger scheme of things, the value of those changes should not be underestimated. “Incremental small things are vitally important in the same way, in life, small things matter,” he says. “A change within a company doesn’t have to be something that people perceive as being enormously ground-breaking; a lot of small changes for the better are in of themselves a huge thing. The MI report is a practical example of something that Aneeka did which was very helpful.”
But getting the confidence to make those decisions can be difficult, and Aneeka’s improvements show that a business must play a role in empowering young people to put forward their ideas. “Because I’m new to this it’s very hard to know if I’m making the right decision – I have people around to correct me, and I don’t make big decisions alone,” she explains. “We consult first to make sure we’re doing the right thing. With the support I’m getting it has been a lot easier. If I was going into the deep end alone, I’d be a lot more hesitant.”
Angelo confirms that working in a team can be a balance for staff with a lot of experience and for new joiners. “The important thing, in our experience at AFJ, is that everybody that has an opinion is heard,” he says. “And that the company is looking to support that. Aneeka is going to have some strong opinions and we want to know what they are. We then work as a team to agree the best way forward.
“That’s the environment that we’re trying to encourage and obviously, for young people, that’s an important part of them having the confidence to say to someone who is 30 years older that they don’t agree with something.”
Angelo acknowledges that it is often daunting for young people to enter a new business, which is why inspiring confidence must come from the top down. Much support for Aneeka has come from Senior Transport Manager Terry Johnson, for example.
“We’re trying to encourage a culture for young people to come into the business,” Angelo continues. “We’re working within a team environment, and we want them to flourish within that environment. Part of doing that is saying we want to hear opinions. That can be on significant issues within the business that we discuss, and I see that as an important part of being the senior leadership team – it’s part and parcel of my role as somebody older, and as somebody who has worked on a commercial basis for 30-35 years.”
Angelo says the company wants everybody within the business to feel encouraged to come up with new ideas and to have the freedom to speak out. He views this as important for everyone in the senior team. “If you’ve got that from the top down and if it’s part of your culture, it can encourage young people to come into your business and feel like they can add value, contribute, and be supported and listened to. Hearing the merits of people’s opinions builds that confidence.”
Celebrating diversity
Aneeka recommends that young people considering a career within the coach and bus industry but who may be hesitant should find their passion and stick to it. The Transport Manager CPC qualification that she has completed is, she adds, a great place to start.
Angelo also describes the qualification as a fantastic starting point where young people can then build further on their knowledge with mentoring, coaching, and another key element: Continuing professional development. “This is not a case of one exam but a continuing journey of learning, developing and gaining experience. That’s important for young people – to have their thirst for learning fulfilled.”
Aneeka says it’s also important for new starters to understand their responsibilities. “It’s positive, but you must remember people’s lives are in your hands, and to ensure your vehicles are in DVSA required conditions, if not better. We go beyond the requirements; we use calendars, diaries, CheckedSafe and Outlook calendars – we’re on top of everything. This is a serious responsibility – you must understand how to do it well.”
Angelo concludes by espousing the benefits of specifically bringing young people into a business, for any companies still reluctant. “They bring new ideas, new energy, and new skills – and they’re an absolutely vital part of developing the business in the right way,” he says. “IT is a classic example of where young people often bring new thinking to the table. This is an important part of running any successful organisation – people looking to create and innovate. Aneeka has done. And one of the critical things within the transport business today is innovation and IT infrastructure – how you’re able to deliver the service in terms of information technology.
“Young people and new people coming into the business who bring ideas along those lines in all those areas is a positive. And for any transport organisation out there, greater diversity and inclusion is fantastic – it adds tremendous value to a business and to the stakeholders you represent.”
