Stagecoach is celebrating its female team after two more of its leaders were recognised in the 2022 Women to Watch Index arranged by the diversity and representation group Women in Hospitality, Transport and Leisure (WiHTL).
Recognised are Group Head of Media and Public Affairs Emma Knight, and Head of Finance Business Partnering Emma Sidlow. Emma Knight, a member of the Group’s Senior Operational Board, provides expertise on communications strategy at the highest level of the business and is a keen advocate for diversity and inclusion. She leads a cross-functional communications focus group to ensure “continual improvements in communications” across the business.
Emma Sidlow meanwhile was nominated for her focus on large business decisions supporting change, commercial, sustainability and technology. She was recently promoted to the role of Head of Finance Business Partnering.
The pair were included in the Index for their contribution to both the bus sector and for wider contributions to society, with each holding a “vital role” in the company’s Giving for Good charity committee. Emma Sidlow is a trustee and Treasurer for the Manchester homeless charity Emmaus, chairing the finance committee to ensure the financial stability of the charity.
The Emmas join two other female Stagecoach leaders who were added to the Index last year – Fiona Doherty, Managing Director for Stagecoach West Scotland, and Sharon Vye-Parminter, Health, Safety and Environment Director for Stagecoach. Also added to WiHTL’s it’s Role Model for Inclusion Index was Carla Stockton-Jones, when she became Stagecoach UK Managing Director.
“I am extremely proud that two more of our female leaders have been added to this Index,” says Carla. “This celebrates and recognises the commitment each of these women have made to ensuring Stagecoach is successful, equal and an employer of choice.
“We actively promote diversity and inclusion through a variety of ways, from strategic objectives such as targeting 40% female leaders and 25% of employees from ethnic backgrounds by 2026 and through our employee-led networks. Diversity and inclusion continues to be extremely important to our business and while we have made some good progress, we know that there is still work to do. The new targets we have set as part of our sustainability strategy will help to make sure that we continue on this positive journey and play our part in helping to transform diversity in the transport sector so that we continue to have a strong pipeline of ‘Women to Watch’.”
