Amber Taxis wait for green light

Story: Rob Smith

The idea of Sheffield’s first all-female private membership taxi services is being brought to reality by Margaret Bamberry of Earl Marshal Close.

Margie explained that Amber Cars South Yorkshire aims to create a safer service for women and has taken over two years of preparation and market research.

“I went to college to gain my business access qualifications, City and Guilds and Inland Revenue PAYE. My main idea is to run a safe, exclusively female taxi service, operated strictly by women drivers and controllers.”

Initially, the Council’s Taxi Licensing Section questioned the research and justification for a women-only service.

“After seeking advice, I approached the Council to justify the need for this service under the Sex Discrimination Act.”

The Act allows discrimination in recruitment in certain limited circumstances where services can most effectively be provided by a member of a specific gender.

“There is only one other firm of this kind in the country, and Amber Taxis South Yorkshire would become an elite firm dealing with the transportation of women clientele only. This idea has already received a very positive response from various local and citywide women’s organisations: sheltered hostels, faith, religious and cultural groups.We are also negotiating contracts for the nightly transportation of female staff working at ‘30 Plus’ and other city centre bars and clubs. Social services have also been in contact expressing a keen interest in the service we are going to offer.”

More complications

Having secured the tenancy to the old DB Taxis site on Andrew’s Lane, Margie has come up against planning problems due to the building’s listed status. However, Margie hopes to overcome this and any other obstacles that may prevent this Burngreave-based initiative getting off the ground.

Danger to women is a sign of the times and the Messenger agrees with Margaret, that there are many agencies and local organisations as well as women themselves, that will benefit from the development of Amber Cars South Yorkshire.

Jobs available

For information regarding Amber Cars vacancies for fully-licensed female taxi drivers (ref: CVD22665) and female radio controllers (ref: CVD22666), visit your local JobCentrePlus.