Irish motor racing legend, Rosemary Smith, takes to the wheel of a Dublin Bus and calls on all women to have a go at driving one for themselves. Boarding the bus so familiar on the capital’s streets, Rosemary helps to launch Dublin Bus’ Give It a Spin recruitment drive. You might have thought the job of bus driver was a man’s one, or just “wasn’t for you”, but Rosemary is here to tell us how wrong that is.

The recruitment campaign is open to female and male applicants, however Dublin Bus is placing particular focus on attracting prospective female drivers to a series of Female Recruitment Open Days which will be held in August, September and October. Dublin Bus aims to increase its number of female drivers by 100%. For further information and to register visit dublinbus.ie.

Speaking about the campaign Rosemary said “I’ve never allowed my gender to limit me in what I want to achieve. From being the only woman driver to win the Tulip Rally outright in a Hillman Imp in the 1970s to being the oldest woman to drive a Formula 1 car a few years ago when I was 79, I’ve always done things which many thought only men could do! I think it’s fantastic that Dublin Bus is looking to recruit new female drivers. I encourage every woman, whatever your age, who has ever thought about doing it to register for an open day and give it a spin.”

The driver role offers a competitive salary, training and mentoring and paid maternity leave. Other benefits include access to a gym, GP scheme and employee assistance scheme with free counselling sessions, and an education support scheme for going back to third level study. 

Vivienne Kavanagh, Dublin Bus Employee Development and Equality Executive, said “At Dublin Bus we have female leaders throughout the organisation, from Engineering to Operations and HR to Finance. Any woman who is interested should join us at one of our Open Days and just give it a spin – try it, you might love it! The package is competitive, the progression opportunities are great. We’re a big family and we need more women in it!”

Employing over 3,500 people, Dublin Bus is a pioneering company in the development of policies and support issues around diversity and inclusion. In 2016 Dublin Bus saw its first all-female class of graduating drivers.

Source: Dublin Bus