To mark International Women’s Day (8 March), Carousel Buses has praised its controller Shelley Townsend for championing gender diversity in the industry.
After 10 years as a coach and bus driver, Shelley is enthused to front a campaign to encourage more females into the industry she loves.
The parent company of Carousel Buses, Go-Ahead Group, hopes through its “Women In Bus” initiative to boost its female representation in the workforce to 20% by 2025.
Shelley, who is controller of Carousel Buses’ demand responsive transport service, PickMeUp, in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, has already shown her passion for the cause.
She says: “The bus and coach sector are a wonderful industry and I love every minute of it. It’s so rewarding, I enjoy the interaction with people, especially passengers and colleagues. It’s nice to know we make a difference to people and help them get out and about.
“Additionally, it is interesting and challenging work and there is the opportunity to add value to the company. It is great to see an increasing number of women working in the bus industry and there are so many opportunities available. Put simply, there are no barriers to doing what you want to do.”
Shelley has played a key role in developing the PickMeUp service, including distributing marketing materials and expanding the operating zone to include a school for children with special needs.
Go-Ahead says it is keen to diversify its labour force by offering a variety of different roles and shift patterns.
Luke Marion, Carousel Buses Managing Director, says: “Shelley’s career journey in the bus industry and her positive experiences are a great example of the opportunities that are available for women.
“Shelley has been the driving force behind our launch of PickMeUp in High Wycombe and her passion and determination has been an inspiration to us all. She has become a fantastic ambassador not just for Carousel Buses, but for the bus industry and we’re delighted she is part of our team.
“International Women’s Day is a fantastic chance to celebrate the huge contribution females make in society. One of our core values is embracing diversity and strive to ensure our workforce reflect the diversity of our passengers and communities. We hope Shelley’s experience will serve to inspire more females to join the industry.”
