Breaking the glass ceiling: NET's Managing Director shares advice to inspire future female transport talent

There’s been a 4% rise in female representation in the transport sector workforce since 2023, according to the Women in Transport Equity Index. However, whilst progress is being made, continuing this upward trend remains a key priority for gender equality within the sector.

Sarah Turner, managing director at Nottingham Express Transit (NET)

This International Women’s Day, Sarah Turner, Managing Director at Nottingham Express Transit (NET) - which runs the city’s tram network - has shared her insights, almost two years on from taking on the leadership role. From advocating for greater female representation and challenging stereotypes to sharing her thoughts on the importance of leaning on allies, Sarah discusses the integral components needed to take the necessary steps toward gender equality, not just in the transport sector but on a national scale.

Sarah Turner had been in the transport industry for more than a decade before joining NET, first as a service and safety director, and now as managing director – a role she has held since 2024. Acknowledging that taking this position was a big step up in her career, Sarah noted that leaning on her support network was key to navigating the change.

Sarah said: 

“Without any of my support network in place, I will admit that I would have struggled. Being in a leadership role can be lonely at times – transitioning from being part of a team of peers to being someone those peers now look to lead the way is something that took me some time to get used to.''

“It’s important to surround yourself with people who will lift you up, and a good place to start is with a mentor. I am lucky to say that I have had incredible mentors - both male and female - throughout my career. Each one has pushed me to achieve things, even when I was out of my comfort zone, when otherwise I perhaps would have struggled to. Mentors also offer a place of guidance and advice which a line manager or peer may not always be able to give.”

NET offers a ‘reverse mentor’ scheme, in which managers and leaders of the organisation are mentored by frontline teams, such as tram drivers and engineers, offering a similar experience to others on the team. 

“I am mentored by one of our amazing tram drivers, and the opportunity to hear about his experiences and perspectives is a prime example of being able to learn from others. It is when you open yourself up to different perspectives that you can really grow and develop.” 

Breaking stereotypes and encouraging diversity

Sarah continues to advocate for diversity in the workplace, especially regarding female representation and challenging traditional stereotypes in the transport sector.

“I think it’s so important that females see females doing roles that typically hold certain stereotypes and stigmas. The transport industry is traditionally very male-dominated and lacks diversity, so I want to be that advocate for other women in the sector, or those thinking of entering the sector, while also being someone that they can look to for guidance and inspiration.

“Women make up 27% of the transport workforce and although this doesn’t surprise me, it does disappoint me that it’s still this low, and is not something that the industry should settle for. When you look at successful businesses, you can see that they have diversity at the top of their agenda, which is why it is so important for me within my role to ensure that this is, and remains, at the top of NET’s list.”

Sarah added, “At NET, we have a tight agenda for encouraging diversity, and this includes an increase in women working at NET. Female-focused open days and targeted recruitment drives are great places to start to get us on the way to reaching this goal, and it’s initiatives such as these that I think the industry should be leveraging more.”

As an advocate for knowledge sharing and supporting others, this year's International Women’s Day theme, ‘Give to Gain’, which encourages a mindset of generosity and collaboration, resonates particularly with Sarah. Sarah said:

“The industry needs to come together to push this far and wide – it’s through collaboration, communication and knowledge sharing where true progress can be made. As an active member of the industry body, UKTram, I'm regularly involved in conversations on how to make the sector more diverse. 

“NET sits within the wider Keolis group, which has a very strong agenda for diversity.. There's a big drive at Keolis to champion underrepresented groups, which includes women, and that also means I am pushed in my role as managing director to do what I can to extend this to NET.”

Sarah is proud that NET’s leadership team reflects the gender diversity the wider sector should strive for. With four females sitting within the six-person team, the strong cohort of female leaders within the business highlights the depth of talent across the industry and underscores the importance of creating pathways that enable women to progress into senior roles.

Similarly, Sarah strongly believes that those in leadership positions should reach out to future generations to show them what a career in transport can offer. For Sarah, the fast-paced nature of the sector is what she most enjoys, with no two days the same and a broad range of roles available. Sarah believes the industry has something for everyone. Sarah added: 

“By sharing my story and placing a spotlight on what opportunities are available within the sector, we’re encouraging the future generation to look outside traditional career paths and explore other options, such as in the transport sector. I want to use my role to push this as much as possible, not only at NET but also for the industry, worldwide.” 

James Hammett, Managing Director of UKTram, said:

“Improving diversity across the light rail sector is key to building a stronger, resilient future for the sector. Leaders such as Sarah Turner play an important role in challenging perceptions and demonstrating the wide range of opportunities available across our industry.''

UKTram would like to see continued progress in improving diversity across the light rail sector, recognising the value of a broad range of skills and perspectives. Through collaboration with members, operators and partners, the organisation is committed to supporting initiatives that encourage more women and underrepresented groups to consider careers in light rail and transport more widely.

Find out more about Nottingham Express Transit here.