NEW PROGRAMME AIMS TO GET MORE WOMEN BEHIND THE WHEEL OF LONDON’S PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES
Addison Lee and Think Pink Launch Initiative to Bring More Women into Private Hire Driving
Private hire operator Addison Lee has announced a partnership with Think Pink, the female-led initiative powered by the Rosie May Foundation, aimed at increasing the number of women working as private hire and taxi drivers in London.
The collaboration comes as the UK’s private hire sector continues to face a stark gender imbalance. Women currently account for fewer than seven per cent of private hire and taxi drivers nationwide, with the figure dropping to less than 2.5 per cent in London.
Through the partnership, Addison Lee and Think Pink will introduce training, mentoring and industry guidance programmes designed to support women entering the profession. The initiative aims to equip aspiring drivers with the practical knowledge, licensing support and confidence needed to establish careers in the private hire sector.
The launch of the partnership was marked with an event at Addison Lee’s fleet hub in West Drayton, where representatives from the company, the Think Pink initiative and government gathered to highlight the need for greater gender diversity within the industry.
Patrick Gallagher, Interim Chief Executive of Addison Lee, said the programme forms part of a broader effort to make the profession more inclusive.
“The private hire profession needs to become more accessible for everyone. This partnership with Think Pink will build on the community of female drivers already working with Addison Lee by widening access to coaching, networking and practical support to help more women join – and thrive – on the road.”
Industry leaders say encouraging more women to join the sector could help address both workforce shortages and longstanding perceptions that private hire driving is a male-dominated occupation.
Mary Storrie, Chief Executive of Think Pink, said the partnership is designed to create lasting change across the transport industry.
“Through this partnership with Addison Lee, we aim not only to empower more women to become professional drivers in London, but to embed long-term change across the transport sector by reinforcing supportive pathways, dismantling historical gender barriers and creating a stronger community within private hire driving.”
Government representatives also welcomed the initiative as a positive step toward expanding career opportunities in the transport sector.
Lilian Greenwood, Minister for Local Transport, said: “It’s fantastic to see an initiative which makes a career in private hire vehicle driving more accessible for women. This partnership not only opens doors to rewarding careers but also offers the practical skills and confidence to aspiring drivers so they can succeed.”
For many women considering the profession, flexibility remains one of the main attractions.
Xhejsi Xhony, a driver currently working with Addison Lee, said the role had allowed her to achieve a better work-life balance.
“Becoming a private hire driver has given me a career that works around my life, not the other way around. Stepping into this profession can feel daunting at first, particularly when you don’t see many women doing it, but Addison Lee has always been incredibly supportive. The partnership with Think Pink reinforces a clear message that there is room for more of us and that we’ll be supported along the way.”
Mindy Ryait, a London-based air hostess who is training to become a licensed PCO driver, said the initiative had made the prospect of changing careers more attainable.
“After years of working in cabin crew, I reached a point where I wanted more control over my time and my future. Becoming a private hire driver offers the flexibility to build a career around my life, rather than adjusting my life around a rota.
“Partnerships like Think Pink and Addison Lee help make the transition feel achievable. Knowing there’s a network in place to guide and encourage women like me gives me the confidence to take this step and work towards being my own boss.”
Advocates say programmes like this could play an important role in reshaping perceptions of the private hire industry while opening new economic opportunities for women across the capital.
If successful, the initiative could also serve as a model for improving diversity within the wider UK transport workforce.
