Tracy Brabin Calls for Greater Gender Equality in the Transport Industry

West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin has urged transport organisations to take stronger action to improve opportunities for women, arguing that meaningful progress will only be achieved through collective commitment across the sector.

Speaking at a Women in Transport event held in Leeds and organised in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Brabin addressed an audience of transport professionals, policymakers and industry leaders. While praising the efforts of organisations already championing change, she emphasised that responsibility for improving gender equality must be shared more widely.

Brabin highlighted the importance of understanding the specific barriers women face throughout their careers in transport. She said that recognising these experiences is essential to creating a more inclusive industry and inspiring future generations of professionals, from drivers and engineers to senior executives and decision-makers.

Recent findings from the Women in Transport Equity Index demonstrate that significant challenges remain. Although women now hold 36% of leadership positions across the sector, many organisations continue to struggle with pay inequality. According to the report, 59% of organisations have a gender pay gap of at least 11%, while nearly two-thirds have no formal strategy in place to address the issue.

Questioning the lack of action, Brabin argued that accepting persistent pay disparities is no longer acceptable in a modern workplace. She also pointed to shortcomings in family-support policies, noting that many employers continue to offer limited paternity leave, restricting progress towards a more balanced and inclusive working environment.

The Mayor further expressed concern that women remain underrepresented in key operational and technical transport roles, with only 36% of female leaders working in core transport functions. However, she suggested that devolved powers and local leadership can play a vital role in accelerating change and creating more equitable workplaces.

Brabin also used the event to highlight the Weaver Network, West Yorkshire's new integrated transport system. The initiative aims to bring together buses, rail services, cycling routes, walking infrastructure and future transport options under a single publicly controlled brand.

She described the network as a reflection of the region's heritage and diversity, while also serving as a blueprint for a transport system that is connected, affordable, inclusive and safe. Safety, she noted, remains a particularly important issue for women, influencing everyday travel decisions and limiting mobility when services or public spaces feel unsafe.

According to Brabin, concerns about personal security can force women to alter their travel choices, creating what she described as an unfair burden that must be addressed. Improving safety across the network, she argued, is essential to ensuring equal access to transport for all residents.

Looking ahead, she pointed to West Yorkshire's plans to bring bus services back under public control, with a fully franchised network expected by the end of 2028. Brabin said this transition offers a valuable opportunity to improve working conditions across the sector, including the design of uniforms, support for pregnant employees and those experiencing menopause, and the creation of workplaces that better reflect the needs of a diverse workforce.

Through these reforms, she believes the region can help set new standards for equality, inclusion and employee wellbeing within the transport industry.