Meet the women making a career on the buses in Lancaster and Morecambe

Nationally, only 11 per cent of bus and coach drivers are female.

The proportion is slightly higher at Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire and the company is keen to recruit more women as drivers and engineers.

It is using International Women’s Day on Saturday March 8 to highlight the stories of women who have made successful careers as bus drivers.

Lesley Harris, 56, based at Garstang, joined two years ago. Previously, she drove a private ambulance and before that worked in care for 30 years.

She said: “When you’re female you sometimes put limitations on yourself. I wasn’t sure I could be a bus driver but my partner said, ‘Just try it’.

“The training was quite intense – it’s a big responsibility driving a bus – but it’s a really good job. I wish I’d done it years ago. Having worked in care, I wanted to help the community and by driving a bus you’re doing that.

“All my colleagues are lovely people. We’re all on first-name terms and we have a laugh and support each other. The thing I’d say to any woman thinking about driving buses is give it a go. You won’t regret it.”

Hana Ei, 31, came to the UK from Myanmar in 2019. She also worked in care before joining Stagecoach in Morecambe last autumn.

She said: “I love driving. When I was travelling between care jobs I would see buses and thought ‘I could drive one of those’. My friends said I was too small – I’m only 4ft 11in – but I proved them wrong. The training was tough but my instructor was brilliant. He was such a good teacher.

“Driving a bus around Lancaster and Morecambe you get to see the Bay and the mountains. I really enjoy it. The passengers are great, especially the older ones. They recognise me and talk to me. They’ve become like friends.”

Ann-Marie Allen, 37, has been driving with Stagecoach for 11 years, and like Hana works out of the Morecambe depot.

She said: “My husband Stephen is a bus driver and I thought if he can do it, so can I. I like meeting and helping people and in this job every day is different. It doesn’t come without its challenges – traffic especially – but I love it.”

Ann-Marie has a 15-year-old daughter, Lillie-Mae. She and her husband found it straightforward to juggle childcare when Lillie-Mae was younger by working opposite shifts so one could always be at home when needed.

She added: “When I started, you could count the number of women drivers at our depot on the fingers of one hand. There are more now though, especially in the last five years with more women joining the industry.”

Tom Waterhouse, managing director of Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire, said: “We have made progress in recruiting more women. We have 80 women drivers and 26 female engineers across our five depots.

“All our staff, male and female, do a fantastic job but it is important we reinforce that it’s a great job for men and women, not just men!”

“Drivers like Lesley, Hana and Ann-Marie are great role models and show that women can have a fulfilling career in what has been a male preserve.”

To find out about job opportunities, for women and men, with Stagecoach, visit www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/national/careers