Increased female representation at Scottish Transport Awards an encouraging improvement – Alastair Dalton

More women among prize winners at event

Last year, I drew the ire of organisers of the Scottish Transport Awards for writing that the vast majority of those taking to the stage to collect prizes were older, white men.

It was with some trepidation that I arrived at this year’s ceremony, half expecting to be berated for that, if not thrown out.

Thankfully, that did not happen and there was no scene. But much more importantly, it turned out there was a significant change in the gender balance among those receiving the awards, which will go some way to normalising the equal role of women both in the upper echelons of and across the transport sector.

Transport minister Fiona Hyslop addressing the Scottish Transport Awards. Picture: Transport Times

I was also impressed to see, probably for the first, time, a female-led and majority judging panel.

However, not knowing which way it might go on the night, and so I could corroborate my views should there be no improvement, I counted all the winners. By my calculation, while things are by no means perfect, 40 per cent of the 70 people who took turns to pose for photographs on stage with their trophies were women.

I think that change sends an important message to the great and the good of Scottish transport – most of whom are still male – applauding from the floor.

Two of the three individual awards also went to women. Lindsey Reid, of sustainable transport campaigners Transform Scotland, was the frontline employee of the year for leading its #lovemybus campaign to encourage bus travel. The citation described her as a “passionate, caring and committed advocate of buses” to encourage bus travel.

Strathclyde Partnership for Transport chief executive Valerie Davidson, centre, receiving her award from Transport Scotland interim chief executive Alison Irvine, with with Scottish Transport Awards host Grant Stott. Picture: Transport Times

Valerie Davidson, chief executive of the Strathclyde Partnership for Transport (SPT) co-ordinating body, which also runs the Glasgow Subway, was honoured for her outstanding contribution to transport. She has been one of SPT’s top executives for 17 years.

Transport Scotland interim chief executive Alison Irvine observed as she presented that award: “There are not many women in senior roles in transport in Scotland.” However, a very positive signal has been sent by Humza Yousaf – a former transport minister himself – in appointing Scotland’s first all-women transport ministerial team.

While Prime Minister Rishi Sunak went in the opposite direction to his short-lived predecessor in replacing a female-dominated team at the UK Department for Transport with a male-dominated one, the First Minister has both made Fiona Hyslop minister for transport and underlined Mairi McAllan’s existing transport role in Cabinet by adding it to her title.

Stagecoach Bluebird trailblazing towards gender balance with women now 22% of its bus drivers

Lindsey Reid of Transform Scotland won the frontline employee of the year award. Picture: Transport Times

It was perhaps a fitting coincidence then that Ms Hyslop’s first speech in her new role was to kick off last Thursday’s awards ceremony in Glasgow. She made a key point, perhaps lost on those men who focus on the technology and hardware, that people are at the heart of transport.

She said: “Government is all about serving people, and transport is the same. We may get excited by new vehicle innovations or infrastructure. But for me, transport is for the people it serves and the people who provide that service, and people will be at the heart of my approach to this role.”

I wrote last year that I hoped for a much better gender mix at this year’s awards. What I saw and heard suggests we are heading in the right direction.