Coach drivers in Cambridgeshire have been sounding the call for more women bus drivers as part of Bus Users UK’s Catch the Bus Month.
The employees of Swavesey-based Whippet Coaches, which has been in partnership with FlixBus for two years, have been using their voice to address the gender divide in the industry. According to the Office for National Statistics, only 11% of UK’s coach and bus drivers are women.
Malgorzata Cieslinska-Skrzypczak, who has been driving coaches for five years – since 2021 for Whippet – says: “It’s seen as a male-orientated job, but I want women to know that it’s never too late to get a licence! I started after my children flew the nest, and it’s been such a privilege to get out on the road and meet new people.
“What’s fantastic about driving for our partner, FlixBus, is that you get tickets to travel for free on their global network during your time off. I love to travel in my spare time – I’m going to Paris on FlixBus with some friends I’ve made here at work for Christmas, and I can’t wait!”
Liubove Simpson, who drives coaches internationally, adds: “You have to love driving, but once you’ve trained, it’s easy to drive a coach. One thing you realise about this job is that people will go off to try other things, but they are always drawn back to driving because they miss it so much!”
Liubove’s husband, James, is also a coach driver and shares the same love of the job. “The office window is constantly changing, and you get to meet so many different people,” says James.
Hayley Russell, FlixBus Team Lead of Operations, also advocates for more women in the industry. She says: “We love to hear the positive stories from Whippet drivers like Meg and Liubove, who both get fantastic feedback from our customers, which shows the importance of women in the driving seat.
“Women can offer a different perspective and understanding about passenger experience, which is great for ensuring journeys feel safe and inclusive for everyone.”
