Women in Transport

What Women in Transport does

Women in Transport is a UK not-for-profit professional network, founded in 2005 as the London branch of the Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS), headquartered in London. It operates a membership-based community serving women across the UK transport sector — spanning rail, bus, coach, haulage, aviation, infrastructure and logistics — alongside transport employers, corporate partners and government bodies. Its core offering centres on a £60/year individual membership that grants access to monthly networking events, in-person and virtual gatherings, and a portfolio of professional development programmes (Lead for leadership development, Advance for mentoring, and Grow for coaching, launched June 2026). It also runs an annual Equity Index research product, thematic programmes on Women's Safety, Intersectionality and 'Inspire the Next Generation', a podcast spanning three seasons and 28+ episodes, and a D&I Bus Group.

Revenue is generated through three principal streams: individual annual memberships at £60, tiered corporate partnership packages (Leader, Advocate, Advance, Ambassador) that provide employer branding and talent-pipeline access, and fee-based professional development programmes. The organization has eight active volunteer-led regional hubs across the UK (North West England, South West England, Yorkshire, Scotland, Wales, West Midlands, East Midlands, and London & South East) and serves as Secretariat to the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Women in Transport, which was reformed on 12 February 2025 into its 10th consecutive year.

Technology assets are limited to standard digital infrastructure: a website (womenintransport.com), blog/CMS, email newsletters, social channels (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram) and a podcast distributed on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Audible and YouTube. There is no proprietary technology product, no AI/ML capability, no patents, and no funding rounds. The organization employs 11–50 staff, is led by CEO Sonya Byers OBE, and is governed with President Jo Field and an executive support team; no parent company or external equity ownership is disclosed.

Name

Women in Transport

Legal name

Women in Transport

Website

https://womenintransport.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Women in Transport is a UK not-for-profit professional network, founded in 2005, that supports women across the UK transport industry through a £60/year membership, professional development programmes (Lead, Advance, Grow), regional hubs, research and an APPG secretariat role.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Annual Membership: Individual membership provides access to monthly networking events, professional development programmes, and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport. Annual membership is priced at £60 per year.
2. Corporate Partnership Packages: Organizations can purchase corporate partnership packages at various tiers (Leader, Advocate, Advance sponsors) to support the organization and align with their equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives. These packages provide visibility, access to talent pipelines, and association with the organization's mission.
3. Professional Development Programmes: Revenue generated through professional development offerings including the Lead leadership development programme, Advance mentoring programme, and Grow coaching service. Some bursary opportunities such as the Rees Jeffreys Road Fund Leadership Bursary offer funded places.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Women in Transport is a UK not-for-profit professional network that sells individual annual membership (£60/year) and tiered corporate partnership packages to transport-sector employers. Members gain access to monthly networking events, the Lead leadership development programme, the Advance mentoring programme, the Grow coaching service, eight regional hubs across the UK, research and advocacy outputs (including the Equity Index), and the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport.

Product overview

Women in Transport is a not-for-profit professional network offering membership-based access to a portfolio of professional development programmes (Lead, Advance, Grow), a podcast with three seasons, research and reporting (Equity Index, whitepapers), advocacy programmes (Women's Safety, Inspire the Next Generation, Intersectionality), and policy engagement through the All Party Parliamentary Group. The organization operates eight regional hubs across the UK and provides monthly networking and events. The core offering centres on empowerment, equity, and advocacy for women in transport through community building and professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Individual Annual Membership Annual individual membership at £60/year for women working in UK transport, granting access to monthly networking events, the Lead/Advance/Grow professional development programmes, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Women in Transport, regional hub events, and the Women in Transport Podcast.
• Corporate Partnership Packages Tiered corporate partnership packages (Leader, Advocate, Advance, Ambassador) for transport-sector organisations seeking to support gender diversity in transport, access the female talent pipeline, gain visibility with the Women in Transport community, and associate with the organisation's APPG and parliamentary work.
• Lead — Leadership Development Programme A leadership development programme designed by Women in Transport for women in transport. Provides transformational content helping participants develop leadership skills; included with individual membership and accessible via corporate sponsorship, with bursary-funded places available.
• Advance — Mentoring Programme A mentoring programme focused on building confidence, leadership skills and supportive networks for women in the transport sector. Matches mentees with senior women in transport and is sponsored by corporate partners including Brighton & Hove Buses.
• Grow — Coaching Service A new coaching service for women working across the transport and infrastructure sector, providing structured coaching support for professional development as the third leg of the Lead/Advance/Grow development pathway.
• Women in Transport Podcast A standalone podcast series featuring candid conversations with women shaping the transport sector, exploring challenges, triumphs and allyship. Three seasons covering allyship, menopause awareness, Black History Month, Pride, infertility awareness, maternal mental health, intersectionality, generational change, women's safety and the motherhood penalty. Distributed on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible and YouTube.

Quantifiable outcome

• Sector leadership representation by women increased from 26% in 2023 to 36% in 2025
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• York & North Yorkshire Combined AuthoritysecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026New partnership announced June 2026 to advance women in transport across the York and North Yorkshire region.
• UKTramsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Partnership renewed for the fourth year. UKTram supports the tram and light rail sector's involvement in Women in Transport activities.
• All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Women in TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 February 2025Women in Transport serves as Secretariat to the APPG for Women in Transport, a cross-party group of MPs and Peers launched in July 2016 to tackle the under-representation of women in transport. The APPG was reformed on 12th February 2025 for its 10th consecutive year. Chair: Ruth Cadbury MP (Labour). Vice-Chair: Baroness Jenny Randerson (Liberal Democrats). Officers include Baroness Margaret Prosser, Lilian Greenwood MP, and Sir Peter Bottomley MP.
• Transport for London (TfL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTfL is a Leader partner of Women in Transport. TfL was awarded WTS London Employer of the Year Award in 2015 and 2016 for commitment to gender diversity. TfL operates the 100 Years of Women in Transport campaign with over 8,500 members across 270+ organizations.
• KiersecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerKier is an Advocate partner and collaborated on the Motherhood Penalty whitepaper (2024) with Women in Transport and Kier Transportation. Kier's Women's Network and diversity initiatives are supported through the partnership.
• LothiansecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLothian is an Advocate partner supporting Women in Transport's mission to advance women in the transport sector.
• Road Haulage Association (RHA)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerRHA is an Advocate partner. RHA collaborated with Women in Transport on the RHA Wellbeing Charter launching July 2026 for the coach, van and haulage sectors.
• Transport for Wales (TfW)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTfW is an Advocate partner supporting diversity and inclusion in Welsh transport.
• West Yorkshire Combined AuthoritysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Yorkshire Combined Authority is an Advocate partner.
• Network RailsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork Rail is an Advance sponsor. Their Cultural Fusion race equality network actively participates in Women in Transport activities, with representatives like Nafisa Nathani serving as Southern Region Lead.
• Turner & TownsendsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurner & Townsend is an Advance sponsor supporting Women in Transport's professional development programmes.
• Manchester Airport GroupsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerManchester Airport Group is an Advance sponsor.
• CalMacsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalMac is an Advance sponsor and has launched a Women's Network in August 2025 that has grown from strength to strength.
• FM ConwaysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerFM Conway is an Advance sponsor supporting Women in Transport.
• TXM RecruitsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTXM Recruit is an Advance sponsor.
• Momentum Transport ConsultancysecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerMomentum Transport Consultancy is an Advance sponsor and was a sponsor of the Scotland Hub anniversary celebration.
• Network for Skills Ltd (NFS)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork for Skills Ltd is an Advance sponsor.
• Xanta RailsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerXanta Rail is an Advance sponsor.
• Camilleri AppointmentssecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCamilleri Appointments is an Advance sponsor.
• Taylor WoodrowsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership renewed under Ambassador package for another year. Taylor Woodrow is a prominent leader in UK infrastructure and civil engineering, contributing to energy transition, highway network enhancements and rail infrastructure. Committed to sustainability and fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce.
• Transport ScotlandsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransport Scotland is a sponsor of the Scotland Hub and contributed to research on Women's and girls' views and experiences of personal safety when using public transport.
• AecomsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerAecom is a sponsor of the Scotland Hub anniversary celebration.
• Brighton & Hove BusessecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partnership commenced August 2019, sponsoring corporate membership for 30 women across the business and supporting the Advance mentoring programme.
• Women in MaritimesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sector collaboration to promote networking and recognize overlapping goals in gender diversity across transport industries.
• Women in Aviation and AerospacesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sector collaboration to promote networking and recognize overlapping goals in gender diversity across transport industries.
• Women in RailsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint events with Women in Rail, including the East Midlands Summer BBQ 2026. Cross-sector collaboration to promote networking and gender diversity.
• Railway Industry AssociationsecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCross-sector collaboration to promote networking and recognize overlapping goals in gender diversity across the rail industry.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Women on Boards UK: UK organization campaigning for gender balance on corporate boards. Comparable in its mission-driven, advocacy-led structure and similar membership/partnership operating model.
• 30% Club: UK-led cross-industry campaign for greater female representation on boards and senior leadership. Comparable as a professional network advancing women in business, though with a broader cross-industry remit than Women in Transport's sector-specific focus.
• Women in Engineering Society (WES): UK-based not-for-profit supporting women in engineering, including transport and infrastructure engineering. Comparable professional-network and advocacy structure; relevant as Rachel Skinner (past WTS London President) was named to the Top 50 Women in Engineering list.

Direct peers

• Women in Rail: UK-based not-for-profit professional network for women working in the UK rail industry. Comparable mission, structure, and audience, with Women in Transport explicitly collaborating on joint events (e.g., East Midlands Summer BBQ 2026).
• Women in Maritime: UK organization supporting women across the maritime sector. Closely comparable mission and operating model; explicitly named as a cross-sector collaboration partner of Women in Transport.
• Women in Aviation and Aerospace: UK professional network advancing women in aviation and aerospace. Same membership-led, advocacy-driven model as Women in Transport and an explicit cross-sector collaboration partner.
• Women's Transportation Seminar (WTS International): The international parent organization from which Women in Transport originated in 2005 as the WTS London chapter. Both are professional networks advancing women in the transport sector, making WTS International the closest functional and historical peer.

Broad incumbents

• Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT): Established UK professional body covering highways and transportation with a broader remit than gender equity. Comparable as a membership-led UK transport professional institution serving overlapping audiences.
• Railway Industry Association: UK trade association representing the rail supply industry. Comparable as a UK transport-sector membership organization; explicitly partnered with Women in Transport on cross-sector collaboration.

Regional players

• UKTram: UK trade body for the tram and light rail sector, with whom Women in Transport has renewed its partnership for a fourth year (June 2026). Comparable as a UK transport-sector association, though focused on a narrower light-rail niche.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/transportwm
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLMWPvHMSgqLOyIwJYJtuVduehfI4qWbUX
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/women-in-transport
• Instagraminstagram.com/transportwmn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Women in Transport