Bus company’s inclusive recruitment campaign wins award and increases number of women drivers

Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus was among those recognised at the UK Bus Awards on Tuesday, November 19.

A silver Top City Operator award was presented to Brighton & Hove Buses, with judges commending its social inclusion and links with community groups.

Judges praised the company’s recruitment campaign, People Like You, for the way it encouraged people ‘from all walks of life’ to train as drivers.

Paul Waite, of the company’s recruitment and training department, said the campaign has already been effective.

He said: “We’re really pleased at how our recruitment campaign has gone so far. We’ve seen a significant rise in interest from women who want to work with us and this is not restricted to driving jobs.”

Paul says that the company has recently hired another female engineering apprentice at its Lewes Road depot.

Women Behind the Wheel will run in tandem with the People Like You campaign and will see female bus drivers speak to other women about what it’s really like to drive a bus in places like Brighton, Hove, and Crawley.

Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus was shortlisted in five awards categories: Top Shire Operator (Metrobus), Top City Operator (Brighton

& Hove), Top UK Depot (Crawley), Bus and Community (the Brighton & Hove Santa Bus), and Best Marketing Initiative, for the People Like You

recruitment campaign.