March 28 2024

2024's  Women's History Month, recognises women who are committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.  As a business, Transport UK, London Bus is proud of the women who drive us forward.
The contributions of women at every level of our business make us more able to serve our local communities and our customers. We're proud of the difference that they are making and know that they are the very best advert for a career in the bus industry.
To mark Women's History Month and International Women's Day, we are celebrating some of the brilliant women of Transport UK London Bus.
Who are you, where do you work and what do you do?

I’m Bobbie Enright, Head of Site Safety and Sustainability.

How did you get to where you are today?

I started by covering the Health, Safety and Environmental
Compliance Manager (HS&ECM) role whilst recruitment was
underway for a full-time position. After a few months of
covering the role and realising I liked the challenge I asked to
also apply for the role and was successful. Four years later the
position developed into the current role.

Did you experience any challenges getting to where you are today?

I was not fully qualified so the company had to take a risk on
hiring me, assuming that I could meet the demands of the job
whilst also studying to meet the requirements of the position.
This was slightly delayed by COVID lockdowns interfering with
course applications.

I was put forward to cover the HS&ECM role by a family
member and so I did feel that I needed to work hard to prove
I deserved the opportunity I had been given.

How did you overcome any challenges?
I had worked on and off whilst studying at school and university, so it wasn’t unfamiliar; however, this was the first time that I had a full time job and the studying was the addition to the schedule. I made sure that I prioritised time in the evenings and weekends to work my way through the syllabus.

Luckily for me I am someone who works better with a hard deadline approaching so I could focus on both. I also have a very supportive manager who regularly checked to make sure my workload was manageable. By achieving the qualifications and achieving ISO 45001 certification simultaneously I felt that I hadproved I had earned the role.

What do you love about the bus sector?
I do enjoy the historicity of the bus industry and that we now get to modernise the vehicles and depots whilst still recognising the heritage. Whilst it can be competitive between operators, there is also a
very good working relationship with frequent collaborations which I feel is quite a unique thing.

I do also enjoy the variety of the role, whilst it can sometimes be stressful, no two days are the same. Within our business, the collaborative approach has been so welcoming, and it does not feel like I’ve been here 5 years.

What does a typical day look like?
I don’t think there is a typical day in this role/industry! However, regardless of what is in the calendar or what crops up throughout the day I will be working alongside colleagues from across the business. Very rarely will a full week be spent behind the desk. Each day will allow chances for collaboration, and usually there will be satisfaction in the working towards or completion of a task.

What advice would you give to women thinking about a career in the bus sector?
I can understand hesitancy, but as with any job there will be highs and lows. There can be a stereotypical image of the industry as not being open to women, but that is not true, and that is clearly demonstrated by the wonderful members of Women in Bus and Coach. The industry has a
community feel and it is likely you won’t just find a job but will find a rewarding career.

What has been your career highlight in bus so far?
Seeing the launch of Women in Bus and Coach has been fantastic and I am very excited to be a part of it.

I am also rather proud of finishing my qualifications and achieving ISO 45001 for the business in a reduced period of time, particularly as it showed me the support the colleagues in our business give each other.

What three things could be done to improve the industry for women?
1. Design PPE for women/ provide alternative options.
2. Ensure that facilities are considered from the first and involve women in the planning stages.
3. Call out inappropriate or patronising behaviour; I promise women won’t faint if someone swears in their presence!

Where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I would really love to still be in the industry. It can sometimes be a bit overwhelming to take a step back and look at the responsibility of the role, but equally it is also good to look at the positives. I would hope that in 5 years’ time the business has expanded and we are leading the way with regards to safety and sustainable initiatives. I would also really hope that all projects and meetings have women attending and/or leading as a norm.

Anything else you’d like to share?
This has been the first job where I haven’t dreaded going to work. We can all find positives and negatives anywhere, but the people make this business special.

If you would like to join the Transport UK London Bus team, please see our latest vacancies.