The end of an era for one of Barnsley’s most prominent business women.
- Sue Hayes, Operations Director at Stagecoach Yorkshire retires after 49 years of service.
A popular local business woman is retiring after almost 5 decades of keeping South Yorkshire’s buses moving. Stagecoach Yorkshire Operations Director, Sue Hayes has been a leading figure in driving and modernising local public transport for the last 49 years.
Sue has seen many changes over the years, from starting her career as an Engineering Clerk in 1973 for Yorkshire Traction, to today where she leads all driving and operations teams across 5 busy depots in South Yorkshire and North Derbyshire.
Sue said: “The bus industry now is a world away from what it was when I started in 1973, and it’s for the better. It’s always good to look back and reflect on how things have evolved.
When I started, there were no women bus drivers, let alone a female Operations Director in charge of every driver in the company. I am proud to have been one of the women leading an industry wide change to see more women represented in public transport.”
In 2018, Sue spearheaded a national campaign within Stagecoach to revolutionise how driving roles were recruited, aiming to attract a more diverse pool of applicants and to change the perception of a ‘typical bus driver’.
Sue’s efforts have made a great impact and Stagecoach Yorkshire now boasts a higher percentage of female drivers than in previous years, as well as a strong representation of women in the senior management team.
In addition to being a huge part of the public transport industry, Sue is widely respected in the local business community too. Since the early 90’s Sue has worked with the Barnsley Chamber of commerce to understand the needs of local business and make Barnsley and surrounding areas a better place to live and work.
Looking back on her career, Sue remembers some of her fondest memories:
“Being invited to the Garden Party at Buckingham Palace was a real honour. In 2015 when the Queen attended the Maundy Thursday service in Sheffield, we provided transport to the congregation attending the service. After the event, I was invited to the Garden Party which was a very special memory.”
In 2016, Sue was back in London when she was invited to 10 Downing Street for a special event to celebrate the transport industry’s heroes and heroines that worked hard to ‘keep Britain moving’.
Sue said: “It was wonderful to be singled out and invited to the event. To walk down that famous street that you’re so used to seeing on the television while representing the company and the industry was an honour.”
But one of Sue’s most proud achievements over the last 5 decades was the work she did as part of the team that made the 2017 Special Olympics in Sheffield possible. “This was a really special project to be a part of. We worked really hard to make sure that the athletes, their families and all of the supporting team were able to move around the event locations with ease.
“It was a huge operation, but a very rewarding one that many of our team look back on with pride. It is certainly something I am very happy to have been a part of.”
Matthew Kitchin, Managing Director of Stagecoach said: “Sue’s long career has been one of passion and dedication and her presence, influence and unparalleled leadership has inspired and left a lasting impact on so many.”
“After forty-nine years, she has certainly earned her retirement. We would all like to say a huge thank you for all Sue has done and wish her a long and extremely happy retirement.”
Sue added: “I am lucky to be able to say I have genuinely enjoyed my career. For me this is not just a job, it is a passion, and a passion I hope I have spread to others throughout my time in this industry.”
“Looking back at where it all started, it is hard to believe how much has changed. I think I can say that my impact on the industry has been positive and I hope it will be lasting.”