All-female, bright pink cab firm expanding

A businesswoman who founded a bright pink cab service with the goal of making travel safer for women and girls is about to grow it.At Pink Ladies Ltd., mother-of-two Amberine Nawaz aimed to change the dynamic by exclusively allowing female drivers. It was prompted by the anxiety she experienced while her small daughter sat by herself in rural taxis with erratic phone signals. The company, situated in Skipton, has a policy of waiting for clients to enter their front door before proceeding to the next project. The bright pink taxis have transported young girls to school, calmed anxious parents with frequent driver updates, and helped both men and women confront their phobias following traumatic taxi experiences.Amberine’s chaperone service has proved popular with elderly customers.She also makes sure her drivers are trained to help those with wheelchairs, disabilities, and illnesses.Just over a year since Pink Ladies took to the roads, Amberine, who moved back to Skipton after living down south, is set to expand into Bradford with a new office on Westgate open from mid-January.

Amberine, who built her business up from nothing, hopes to inspire more women to become taxi drivers.Describing feedback from people online, the former Buttershaw Upper School pupil said: “The messages we had were absolutely amazing, everyone saying, ‘we can’t wait for this to open’."Men say ‘we’re going to have a blue cab and male-only taxis’ - I’ve let other women defend the business idea. It’s unfortunate that we’re in the 21st century and there is a need. It’s a deeper problem and it’s needed.She added: “I’m quite lucky that I’ve not had that experience with any unfortunate experience but I’ve had women telling me what’s happened.

"One said, ‘Why don’t you come sit at the front, the heating’s better at the front’. She thought, ‘Ok I’m a bit cold’ and he’s put his hand on her leg. People are sharing their experiences. “People do share stories with us all the time about what’s happened. It’s needed more than I anticipated.

“It’s been positive. We’re a bit of a counselling role as well when they feel they can open up and talk to us.

“We wait for them to go in the house. Little things like that make such a difference.”