March 06 2026

CPT President Kathryn Pulham reflects on the industry's progress and priorities for International Women's Day.

International Women’s Day brings a welcome focus on women’s contribution, progression and leadership. But it should also prompt something more important and more lasting: a renewed commitment to action. 

One of my pledges, as CPT’s new President, is that we will continue to listen, to engage and to champion meaningful change. By giving our time, advocacy and commitment to supporting women across our sector, we strengthen the whole industry. 

Ours is a profession built on keeping Britain moving. It is time we ensure opportunity moves just as freely. 

This year’s International Women’s Day theme, Give to Gain, speaks to something our sector understands instinctively. Progress does not come from guarding opportunity. It comes from sharing it. When organisations give generously of their time, knowledge, visibility and support, the whole industry benefits. 

A sector that delivers, and must do better 

Bus and coach is sometimes seen as   neglected forms of public transport, despite being present in virtually all communities across the country. Similarly, our industry often steps forward when the country needs us most – whether for rail replacement, airport disruption, school transport and national events. We deliver, calmly and competently, every day. 

And yet, when we look across our depots, engineering bays and boardrooms, we know representation does not yet match the communities we serve. Women remain underrepresented across our industry. In many family firms, men have traditionally taken on the external, deal-making roles, while women have managed administration and compliance. Those contributions are vital, but they should not define the limits of anyone’s opportunity. 

I have been fortunate to see firsthand the fantastic work of Women in Bus and Coach. When women connect across roles and regions, confidence grows, opportunities open, and ambition feels more attainable. Women are not asking for advantage. They are asking for access. 

Safety is equality in practice 

As we look ahead to International Women’s Day, we also need to be honest about the barriers that sit outside job descriptions, but shape women’s working lives and travel choices every day. 

At the 2026 CPT Conference, the panel “Women’s Safety on Buses ” reinforced the scale of the challenge. CPT has recognised that 72% of women are concerned about sexual harassment on public transport, while over half of girls and young women aged 11-21 say they do not feel safe using public transport on their own. If women and girls do not feel safe using bus services, we lose journeys, we lose trust, and we restrict opportunity. 

The discussion was also clear that there are practical steps the industry can take. Training is vital, particularly with the new focus introduced through legislation, but it must not become a box-ticking exercise. Training is only effective when it is part of wider cultural change, reinforced daily by managers and modelled by leadership. 

The panel also pointed to the importance of the environment around services: safer-feeling bus stops, better roadside infrastructure, and clear messaging so passengers know what behaviour is unacceptable and exactly how to report incidents. Consistency matters too. A coherent approach to reporting across networks can reduce the burden on victims and make it more likely that incidents are challenged, recorded and acted on. 

What giving looks like in 2026 

So, what does Give to Gain look like in practice for bus and coach this year? 

  • Give time by mentoring a new female driver, engineer or supervisor, and by supporting progression with intent 
  • Give visibility by celebrating women in operational roles, not only in corporate functions 
  • Give fairness through transparent progression, honest feedback and equitable pay 
  • Give space for open conversations about maternity, parenting responsibilities and women’s health as normal parts of working life 
  • Give confidence to passengers through clearer reporting routes, consistent messaging and environments that feel safe 
  • Give leadership, including from male allies, because this is not solely a women’s issue 

International Women’s Day should never be a single day of celebration followed by a return to business as usual. It should be a marker in the calendar that reminds us to measure progress, share what works, and keep moving forward. 

Because when we give in these practical ways, we gain a stronger workforce, better decision making, greater trust from passengers and policymakers, and a sector where tradition never limits who gets to lead.