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Trail blazing all female consultancy to partner with Women in Transport

We are Buzz, an all-female marketing and commercial consultancy who specialise in supporting clients in the transport sector have partnered with Women in Transport, to celebrate and encourage greater levels of advancement for women in the industry.

We are Buzz, based in MediaCity UK in Greater Manchester encompasses Claire Rawlinson, Hannah Connick and Beverley Edwards and supports clients across public transport in improving their commercial proposition and external image.

The team who have over 40 years in house and consultancy experience specialise in commercial and marketing strategy and planning, creative design, event management, project co-ordination and business support.

Managing Director and We are Buzz founder Claire Rawlinson, has worked in public transport throughout her career starting first in the airline industry before modal shifting to bus where she rapidly became the youngest female executive in FirstGroup where she was Commercial Director for First Manchester.

Women in Transport is an organisation focused on the advancement of females, both in number and seniority in the traditionally male dominated industry.

Despite women making up 47% of the overall UK workplace only 20% of the transport sector population is female, with even lower levels in senior positions.

The We are Buzz team have now joined Women in Transport as individual members and will be offering their marketing and commercial expertise to the not for profit organisation to support their growth.

Progress is being made and female talent is being identified and nurtured, but the pace is slow and the transport sector is behind many other UK industries.

We are delighted to partner with Women in Transport and support the amazing work they are doing in addressing the balance.”

As Commercial Director, Claire, was responsible for a large team delivering bus services all over Greater Manchester, with a 900 vehicle operation and one of the most profitable businesses in the UK Bus business.

In 2011, Claire decided that the time was right to start and build her own transport-based consultancy and Buzz was born to support other industry organisations in their commercial and marketing developments.

Hannah Connick, who is Head Designer at We are Buzz, has previously worked for Network Warrington, has a Masters in Digital Marketing and a background in I.T. and computing.

Beverley Edwards, is the We are Buzz Office Manager and is an efficient organiser with a background in international travel and transport for an global manufacturer within the automotive industry.

 

Commenting on the importance and success of women working in the transport industry, Claire said: “We know transport is traditionally considered a male domain and I know from my own personal experience of the challenges women can face from entry level to the board room.

This combination of senior level commercial transport experience, an eye for design and engagement and exemplary project management has led to rapid and consistent growth for We are Buzz, who now support multinational, regional and local operators. Claire and the team have achieved a six -figure turnover with a year on year growth rate of over 32%.

Claire continued:

“Clearly I am an advocate of women in the workplace and my colleagues and I have demonstrated that women have a place and can be successful in transport.

“The industry is full of opportunity and there are so many different and exciting types of roles available.

“The only barriers in transport should be to protect revenue and I’m looking forward to using my experience and hopefully inspiring more women to get into transport whether that is driving a bus or a train or progressing up the corporate ladder.”

We are Buzz clients include FirstGroup, Go North West, Blackpool Transport Services, System One, Omnibus and local MediaCityUK businesses.

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