OF OUR INDUSTRY DANIELLA NEDELKOVSKA – PH DRIVER SINCE OCT 2021
“I have been driving with AAA for six months, having sat the course during Covid. The process, with help from AAA, was easy, I found it a very thorough experience. I had so much help and the AAA staff were always available to guide me through each step and anything I needed. Once I became a driver the help and support continued. I have had several issues to deal with including an accident and abuse from a customer for which AAA was on hand throughout the whole process. It has not put me off as knowing I have support gives me the tools to deal with these things. Feeling that the operator and the driver work as a team is the most important thing to me. What I love most about the job is meeting new people and seeing new places. “It is a great job to do.”
EDYTA BIERNAT - PH DRIVER SINCE FEB 2022
I have been driving for a couple of months now, having taken the course a while back. I have had help from other drivers as well as AAA. I found the process easy with the help that I received. During my first week I kept phoning for advice and the staff were so helpful and polite. I feel part of a team
and that support for me is the most important part. “I have found that customers are very happy to see a female driver and I get told this every day! I would encourage other women to seriously consider becoming a driver - don’t be scared or intimidated. “It is very good work and flexible hours to suit different lifestyles.”
All the preceding comments endorse the initiative that Females in the Fleet is addressing. We are looking to put packages into place with females in mind (although all may benefit from them). AAA is currently working with partners, such Safety as a Standard and Collective, to offer additional support to that already provided. The packages provide for funding, additional training in conflict management, sexual harassment, GDPR, first aid as well as remuneration benefits such as hire of a vehicle, sick pay and accident insurance.
Females in the Fleet looks forward to hearing from other contributors or service providers who can enhance the work we have only just started.
Please email
fitf@aaataxis.com for more information or to tell us your story!
Article written by : Rachel Dale Head of Operations, AAA Taxis Herts
CHORLEY MUM IN DRIVING SEAT WITH HELP OF FOUR SIXES
With help from the Four Sixes group, Amy Hodkinson has set up her own female-only PHV firm. The Lancashire Post reports that she is now one of only a few women in the trade, with research from Bloomberg showing that in 2020, only 2% of Eng- land’s taxi and PH drivers were female. Amy said: “I started driving a PHV in December 2014, after maternity leave with my son. Someone told me a local firm was taking on drivers and I didn’t need long to think about it because of the flexibility and the fact I’d be getting paid to drive. I love driving, so it was a no brainer.” But when lockdowns hit in 2020, she was forced to find alternative work at Morrisons and then as a delivery driver.
MAY 2022
Thinking she would never go back into private hire, her luck changed when Four Sixes offered her some weekend work, and she struck up a conversation with MD Shaz Malik. Keen to empower women and to better serve customers who feel more comfortable with female drivers, Mr Malik offered Amy the chance to run one of the sister compa- nies of Four Sixes, C&S Travel, which specialises in airport transfers. She said: “Shaz did this just because I had told him the struggles I’ve had with driving taxis for other companies being a woman.” Amy said that now word is spreading that she is a female driver, there’s been a uplift in requests for her services at weekends. She says she’s often asked if
she’s scared being a lone female driver, but the answer is always no. She said: “We’re all fully tracked the entire time we’re on shift, we have a way of raising attention to any poten- tial problems with the panic feature on our PDA, but most importantly, I know I’ve a whole family of drivers who’d be there in a heartbeat if I need them!” She added: “Shaz has shown massive support to me over the last few months, he is clearly motivated by see- ing other people happy and achieving.” Mr Malik said: “Women in the industry should definitely get more recognition. Operators across the country should be supporting women and there should be a special day given to the women taxi drivers around the world.”
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