Women in Taxi event highlights push to increase female participation in UK sector
- Perry Richardson
- 12 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Female leaders from across the UK taxi and private hire industry gathered in Bristol on 6 March for the third annual Women in Taxi event hosted by mobility technology firm iCabbi, where discussions focused on increasing female participation, improving safety and preparing fleets for future technology changes.
More than 70 attendees, including operators, entrepreneurs and industry partners, attended the event which was held ahead of International Women’s Day. The gathering included a gala lunch followed by panel discussions examining gender perspectives within transport and the future direction of the sector.
One of the central issues discussed was the low proportion of women working as taxi and private hire drivers. According to figures highlighted during the event, only around 3 percent of drivers in the UK are women, leaving the profession among the most male dominated roles within the transport sector. Participants debated the barriers behind the imbalance and shared ideas on how fleets could make the profession more accessible to women considering entering the industry.
The first panel brought together speakers including Madison Veck of Women in Transport, Natalie Jones of Apollo Taxi Wrexham, Amberine Nawaz of Pink Ladies and Sonia Nijjar of Cross Street Cars. Discussions explored how gender bias can emerge in transport design and urban planning and how taxi and private hire services can help shape mobility systems that work more effectively for all users.
Industry leaders gather in Bristol ahead of International Women’s Day to discuss recruitment challenges, safety and technology shaping the taxi and private hire trade.
Safety for both passengers and drivers was another major topic raised throughout the session. Operators and industry representatives discussed the role that policy, fleet management and community engagement could play in improving safety and encouraging more women to join the workforce.
A second panel focused on future industry developments, including artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles and the competitive position of traditional taxi fleets in a rapidly changing mobility landscape. Speakers noted that taxi and private hire operators combine local knowledge and community relationships with evolving technology, positioning them between global mobility trends and local service delivery.
The event was sponsored by private hire platform Veezu, whose integration director Amy Tingle said encouraging more women into the sector would be critical to its future workforce. “Bringing more talented women into the taxi and private hire industry is essential to its future,” she said, adding that the event offered an opportunity “to listen, learn and play our part to make the sector more welcoming to women at every stage of their careers.”
During the Bristol gathering, iCabbi also announced a new partnership with Women in Transport that will allow Taxi Alliance member fleets to nominate an employee to join the organisation, with membership costs covered by iCabbi. The initiative aims to provide access to professional networks, mentoring and industry events intended to support the development of women across the taxi and private hire sector.
Sinéad Gillett, CMO at iCabbi, said the aim of the initiative extends beyond recognition of women already working in the trade. Gillett said: “I’m incredibly proud of what Women in Taxi represents. The goal is not simply to celebrate women in the industry-albeit this is absolutely of high value, but to interrogate what we still don’t fully understand about gender perspectives in the taxi and private hire space and how we as an industry can contribute to the wider conversation around urban and mobility planning.
“Whether we’re talking about passengers, drivers or female leaders, there are important questions we should be asking about how different experiences shape the way people engage with transportation. By bringing these perspectives into the conversation, we can help ensure greater equity across the industry while also strengthening the sector itself.”
Amy Tingle, Veezu’s Integration Director said: "Veezu is proud to support the iCabbi Women in Taxi event this year as part of International Women’s Day. Bringing more talented women into the taxi and private hire industry is essential to its future, and this event shines a light on the people already leading that change and celebrating their achievements. It’s also a great chance for us to listen, learn and play our part to make the sector more welcoming to women at every stage of their careers – and to show that this can be a realistic, rewarding choice for many more women in the years ahead."
