FEMALES IN THE FLEET
footwell in the back. The driver took the dog to the office where they looked after it until it was claimed six days later – John says ‘everyday is different in the taxi industry’!
WHAT CHALLENGES HAS MI TAXIS AND HIS FEMALE DRIVERS FACED?
John is frustrated about how poor the perception can be from some outside the industry. He quotes how many of his female drivers are shocked that passengers do not think it is a good place for women to work. He makes the point that drivers are expected to be everything to everyone: caretakers, social workers, therapists, couriers, the eyes and ears of the community to report concerns and often the only contact that some isolated people have on a daily basis.
He mentions that when people act outrageously on a flight it makes headline news yet drivers deal with that type of behaviour regularly and it goes under the radar. He consistently works hard for his drivers taking matters to the council, secular authorities and services yet often has to wait months for a reply.
John supports the work FITF is doing to raise awareness of the need for national safety and security and would encourage all to sign the petition for the House of Commons to debate safety and security for all drivers and to provide national guidelines.
You can support the petition here:
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/628761
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE FOR THE INDUSTRY GOING FORWARD?
Being recognised as fourth emergency service drivers worked throughout covid and are now being used instead of ambulances to get passengers to hospital and never go on strike. He would like to see taxis and private hire drivers and the industry included in the transport network with trains, planes, buses and ships and to receive the same recognition as these industries. He would like to see quicker and more efficient police responses. John points out that the taxi and private hire industry supports the police and these other sectors.
John thinks a zero tolerance policy adopted by the operator and posted in the car (like PHTM’s No Excuse for Abuse stickers), is necessary and would encourage everyone to report all incidences online so that we have a more accurate landscape of the number of assaults and attacks on drivers.
PHTM JANUARY 2023 FEMALES IN THE FLEET SPONSORS – 2023
Following on from raising awareness, we were delighted to be supported by industry suppliers. The following understand the issues that face operators and want to do what they can to help. All are of the same mind that we need more drivers and we need safety and security for current and new drivers. 2023 sees the start of a national advertising campaign via radio, newspapers and media to reach out to women who may not have considered the benefits of the taxi industry before.
To that end, to support operators who may not have the resources the following sponsors have pledged to provide funds to
help an under-represented
demographic, women, get funding for training, licensing and support in 2023.
Cordic: Idris Davies did not hesitate to support the initiative. Cordic has pledged to provide funding for several females through its operators.
Autocab: If you are an Autocab operator looking for help please join the FITF iniative. Thank you to Jon Smith and Nadia Ali for supporting us and pledging to fund several females.
iCabbi Taxi Alliance: Led by Bob Nixon, supported by Sinead Gillett and Richard Smith, see the benefits of supporting their operators onboarding female drivers and have pledged. Patons Insurance: Chris Pracey, Jamie Ludwig, Amalia Stevenson and Joanne Noonan have pledged support to sponsor a female driver. Patons also offers great rates and vehicle opportunities to FITF sponsored drivers. Eazitax: Gary Jacobs, David Nagler and the team have not only pledged to sponsor female drivers but provide excellent training material for all new FITF sponsored drivers starting out. Operators who are signed up to the FITF charter and want to work with us can access this funding. With the sponsorship funding and the support of ambassadors we will be working towards encouraging more females to join the industry and dispelling myths about the trade.
If you are an operator struggling to recruit female drivers please contact
www.femalesinthefleet.com to learn more.
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