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.
Today we focus on and find out about:
Evie Carroll
Zero-Emission Bus Development Manager
Transport for London (TfL)
What is your role?
I work as a Zero-Emission Bus Development Manager for Transport for London (TfL). The Zero Emission team is working towards transitioning the London bus fleet to zero emission by 2034 with the potential to accelerate to 2030 with additional funding. I work with an extensive range of stakeholders both internal and external to progress towards our milestones.
How did you get to where you are today?
I started my career working on the First Bus operations graduate scheme across the UK. At First Bus I learnt a considerable amount about the industry and was exposed to countless operational roles. I also got the opportunity to obtain my bus licence and drive customers in service. The skills and experience I acquired in these frontline roles regularly influence my day-to-day decision making when tasked with decisions on how to improve TfL’s bus services for both drivers and customers.
Following the First Bus graduate scheme, I then progressed to work in a commercial project role for First Bus, which was focussed on introducing new innovations and exploring ways of increasing revenue and driving down operational costs. I then took some time away from the sector to work in supply chain for Asda before working in a market development role for bus scheduling software firm ‘Prospective’ prior to joining TfL.
At TfL I worked as a Bus Business Development Manager where my role was focussed on improving bus services for customers and drivers across the capital and introducing new innovations. Following this I then moved into my current role in the TfL zero emissions team.
Did you experience any challenges getting to where you are today?
Being a woman in the industry can sometimes be challenging. There can be barriers affecting recruitment, retention, and inclusivity within the industry, particularly in frontline roles. The macho culture in garages, stereotypical comments and access to facilities are areas I’ve found particularly challenging. Despite this I have worked with many male and female allies who have pushed me to challenge myself and have supported me and continue to support me in my endeavours.
What do you like about the sector?
The ‘down to earth’ nature of this sector and the vast variety of the roles you can be exposed to is what really appeals to me. It’s also a great feeling to see the projects you implement come to life on the network and feel proud of the difference you’ve made. I took a couple of years out of the industry to work in a supply chain role and realised I really missed the bus industry and had to return.
We’re at a point where the pace of change is moving ever quicker as each year passes and the sector is more open than ever to new innovations and being customer and staff focussed – the possibilities are what make each new day and each new role exciting.
What does a typical day look like?
In my current role as we transition the London bus fleet to zero emission I work with operators, manufacturers, suppliers, and internal teams spanning across finance, commercial, engineering and contract management. I really enjoy the breadth of stakeholders I engage with daily.
What advice would you give to women thinking about a career in the bus and coach sector?
I would recommend speaking to Women in Bus and Coach or anyone that works in the sector to learn more about the job roles on offer. From the outside people may assume jobs are only operational or engineering focussed, but there are so many more. From project management roles to data analysis to marketing and finance.
There is so much opportunity for innovation within the sector at present and I anticipate that the next decade will continue to be just as exciting.
What has been your bus or coach sector career highlight?
Obtaining my bus licence and driving in service is something that will stay with me throughout my career. After training in the driving school for several weeks, I felt proud to then drive passengers in service.
The high-profile projects that I’ve managed across First Bus and TfL also stand out. They’ve challenged me and continue to challenge me. Everyday I’m always learning new things which progress my industry knowledge.
What three things could the Bus and Coach sector do to improvement the industry for Women?
- Never interrupt colleagues when they are talking or presenting ideas. My TfL colleagues are respectful to all opinions which is very refreshing.
- Speak out and challenge behaviours and attitudes which appear disrespectful or belittle someone’s abilities.
- Support women to try out work experience elsewhere within their organisation. It may encourage retention within the industry.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years’ time?
It’s difficult to say where I see myself in 5 years’ time. When I started my career in buses decarbonisation across the industry was a very new thing and companies certainly weren’t holding themselves to specific milestones as they are today – whereas now my current role is based solely around decarbonisation.
The industry is constantly changing and improving, with new innovations, technology, and strategies. With this in mind, my goal is to keep learning and adapting in this evolving field and to keep an open mind about future opportunities.
Thank you for sharing your story Evie you are truly an inspiration!
To find out more about who Evie works for, and career opportunities visit: https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/careers/
