The Women in Bus and Coach “Spotlight On” initiative shines a light on the incredible contributions of women in all roles across the bus, coach, and community transport sector. From professional drivers and engineers to human resources experts and CEO’s, ‘Spotlight On’ will highlight the diverse talents and achievements of women in this dynamic industry.
In support of International Women in Engineering Day, today we focus on and find out about:
Kerry Davey
Engineering Manager
Thames Valley Buses and Thames Valley Bodyworks
How did you get to where you are today?
I started work in logistics with trucks and trailers many years ago and after a short change of career I relocated and started work with Reading Buses 20 years ago fulfilling a variety of roles within the engineering department before taking up my current position.
Did you experience any challenges getting to where you are today?
There are many challenges facing a woman in a male dominated field especially when I knew I wanted to progress. There is an intrinsic gender-based bias that put enormous pressure on me to prove myself and my capabilities time and again. Being a small voice in a busy loud environment it’s easy to feel unseen and overlooked.
Some challenges I faced were my own internal ones, while juggling home life, motherhood and career progression the little voice questioned if I really had what it takes and the energy needed to sustain all areas without dropping the ball.
If so, how did you overcome then?
I trained as a coach, NLP practitioner and cognitive behaviour therapist which gave me the tools to develop my own sense of self and what I needed to work on to effect the changes I needed to make.
Along with self-development, trust was the major contributing factor, when I kept my focus tight, blocked out the noise and trusted the process opportunities began to present themselves and I was ready to take them.
Having two senior leaders see me and guide me along the way gave me the confidence to believe in myself and keep moving forward.
What do you like about the bus, coach and community transport sector?
I love the ever developing technologies and the constant strive for better.
I love that despite the size it feels like a community of people all in it together to provide the best service possible, from drivers to CEOs, operations, marketing and all the supporting roles.
There is always someone at the end of the phone to turn to when troubleshooting problems across the various sectors within the industry.
What did a typical day look like?
No two days are the same, but they start with a debrief of repairs in progress, ensuring all parts required or contract labour is being dealt with. Checking in with supervisors from both sites to see what support they need, if any, and set us up for a productive and positive day.
The focus is always on safety, compliance, reliability and preventative maintenance which drives many of the decisions that need to be made during the day.
Managing the departments budgets and performance requires scrutiny of much collated data from various sources to ensure efficiency and targets are being met.
And the development and growth in collaboration with suppliers is something I enjoy and is endless, building a network of people who share the same passion.
What advice would you give to women thinking about a career in the bus, coach or community transport sector?
Go for it, there is a place for you and you have something to offer that is unique and needed within the industry.
Don’t compare yourself to others, stay focused and steady and keep striving. Take every opportunity as an opportunity to learn and if it doesn’t go your way first time, see what lessons can be learnt and what you need to do differently to get where you want to go.
Make connections, be real, don’t be afraid to be vulnerable, bring your own version of feminine strength and never give up.
What has been your bus, coach or community transport sector career highlight?
Gaining my transport manager CPC was a massive achievement for me and something I am very proud of.
What three things could the bus, coach or community transport sector do to improve the industry for women?
- Acknowledge that gender bias exists and actively seek to call it out and promote change
- Offer support and coaching tailored to women juggling motherhood, life and career
- Make it more inclusive and inviting for women to join engineering roles
What changes have you seen since in the sector since you joined?
There are more women are in senior positions throughout the industry than when I first started and there is more recognition for the need to continue recruiting and retaining women than there was 20 years ago.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
I would really like to see myself as an advocate for women in the industry, promoting female led departments and coaching.
Anything else you would like to share?
Any initiative that promotes women in the workplace will always get my support, women bring amazing insight and perspective to an industry that is forever evolving and will give 110% when they feel valued and heard.
Thank you for sharing Kerry, stories like yours make a real impact.
To find out more about who Kerry works for, and career opportunities visit: https://www.thamesvalleybuses.com/careers
