On International Women in Engineering Day 2025 (23 June), we celebrate the women powering innovation, sustainability, and reliability in the coach, bus and community transport sector. These women are not just maintaining vehicles — they’re helping to shape the future of the industry.
Engineering is the backbone of the coach, bus and community transport sector, ensuring that vehicles run safely, efficiently, and in line with evolving environmental and technological standards. From electrification to real-time diagnostics, today’s engineers are responsible for keeping fleets on the road and moving towards a cleaner, smarter future. Yet despite the vital role engineering plays women remain significantly underrepresented in these roles.
It’s crucial to highlight the contributions of the women who are driving change within our industry. Women who are breaking barriers, inspiring colleagues, and shaping the future of transport engineering
Spotlight on Liz Eades
In October 2024, Liz Eades, Workshop Manager at Stagecoach’s Dover depot, was honoured with the Best Woman in Bus award at the Women in Bus and Coach (WiBC) Summit. Her journey from bus driver to workshop manager exemplifies the kind of dedication, resilience and leadership that is moving the industry forward.
Liz joined Stagecoach in 2011 following a career in the armed forces, where she built up her mechanical engineering experience. She began her Stagecoach career as a bus driver, then transitioned into the engineering department in 2015. Her drive to learn and progress saw her rise to Workshop Manager by 2021, where she now leads a team, ensures fleet reliability, and fosters a culture of continuous improvement.
Working in a male-dominated environment hasn’t always been easy, but Liz has consistently demonstrated that leadership, innovation and collaboration transcend gender. Her commitment to advancing inclusion in engineering has earned her admiration across the industry. She is a role model to her colleagues and an inspiration to others considering similar career paths.
Liz emphasises the importance of seizing opportunities, supporting one another, and championing a workplace culture where everyone can thrive. She believes that unity, visibility, and shared success are key to breaking down barriers and opening more doors for women in engineering.
The bigger picture
As of 2024, only 16.5% of engineers in the UK are women, with even fewer represented in the coach, bus and community transport sectors. This underrepresentation is not just a workforce issue. It’s a missed opportunity. A more diverse engineering workforce brings broader perspectives, greater innovation, and stronger problem-solving capacity.
The industry is changing. New technologies, particularly in electric vehicle systems, zero-emission infrastructure, and data-driven diagnostics, are creating exciting career paths that didn’t exist a decade ago. These developments are not only transforming the nature of engineering but also creating new entry points for women and individuals from other underrepresented groups.
Driving progress
WiBC is proud to support and advocate for women in engineering roles. But we can’t do it alone. We encourage employers, training providers and industry leaders to work with us to create inclusive pathways into engineering.
Together, we can drive meaningful change — ensuring the future of the coach, bus and community transport industry is not only innovative but also more equitable, diverse, and sustainable.
