UKTram attends Women in Transport’s ‘From Intent to Impact’ event in Leeds
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
As part of Better Transport Week 2026, UKTram attended Women in Transport's From Intent to Impact – Advancing Equity for Women Across Transport event in Leeds. Attending on behalf of UKTram were Marketing and Communications Manager, Chelsea Branch and West Midlands Metro Managing Director and UKTram Board Member, Sophie Allison.
The event explored how the transport sector can continue to create more inclusive workplaces and strengthen career pathways for women, with discussions centred on practical actions to drive impactful, lasting change.
Delegates also heard an inspiring keynote address from Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, who highlighted the progress already being made across the region, including ambitions for mass transit and the role of trams in connecting communities. Encouraging the audience to continue opening doors for future generations, she reminded attendees that "if you can't see it, you can't be it."
Panel discussions, moderated by Women in Transport CEO Sonya Byers OBE, highlighted both the progress being made and the work still to do, with a strong focus on turning good intentions into meaningful action.
A recurring theme throughout the afternoon was the role that individuals can play in creating change. Panellists encouraged delegates to reflect on the decisions they make every day and how those choices can help create a more inclusive transport sector.
The discussions were informed by the 2025 Women in Transport Equity Index, which reports that women comprise 27 per cent of the transport workforce and 36 per cent of leadership roles. The report also notes that, despite ongoing gender pay gaps, many organisations lack formal action plans to address them.
Reflecting on the event, Chelsea said:
"The phrase 'if you can't see it, you can't be it' really stuck with me. One audience member spoke about the importance of a multi-channel approach to engaging people in our sector and I couldn't agree more. That’s something we want to do more of at UKTram: helping more people discover the opportunities within transport, especially women and younger generations who may not have considered a career in the light rail industry."
Sophie Allison, Managing Director of West Midlands Metro and UKTram Board Member, said:
"The energy in the room was fantastic and it was great to hear so many honest and practical ideas about how we can continue to advance equity across transport. There's already some brilliant work happening across the sector, but events like this remind us how important it is to keep challenging ourselves and creating opportunities for the next generation. Of course I couldn’t help but mention the importance and role Light Rail can play!''
UKTram continues to support initiatives that promote greater inclusion and representation across the transport sector and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with industry partners. As a proud supporter of Better Transport Week 2026, we encourage everyone to discover the events taking place throughout the week and celebrate the positive impact that sustainable transport has on people and places.
Comments