Oxford Bus Company has hosted an event as part of a campaign to increase female representation in the industry.

The initiative launched by Oxford Bus Company’s parent company The Go-Ahead Group is designed to address the long-standing lack of gender diversity in public transport.

The Go-Ahead Group has set a company wide target to increase female representation in its workforce from 11 per cent to 20 per cent by 2025.

Oxford Bus Company held the first regional ‘Women in Bus’ employee network event at Jurys Inn, Oxford, on Thursday to support and empower female colleagues.

The bus company’s managing director Phil Southall gave an opening speech.

READ AGAIN: Latest results from court

He was joined by Claire Mann, Director of Bus Operations at Transport for London, who spoke about her experience.

Five female members of the Oxford Bus Company team then talked about their roles in the organisation.

Go-Ahead’s Women in Bus network provides visible role models to colleagues, and creates a forum for women to raise issues, share experiences and support each other.

Oxford Mail:

The network is a forum for discussion on relevant policies and brings women together to share learning and work experiences.

READ AGAIN: Former teaching assistant drives PickMeUp bus

It is open to both women and men across the business.

Mr Southall said: “We proud are to be part of the first company in the bus sector to create a female colleague-led networking spanning across the whole business.

“The event in Oxford was the first to be held in the regions and was a great success.

READ AGAIN: Campaigners say councillor's expressway motion is wrong

“One of our core values is embracing diversity and we want our workforce to fully reflect the great diversity of our passengers and the communities that we serve.

“There are great opportunities for people to work in our industry and we are committed to working to attract more females into the bus business.”