Uber announce Bubble partnership delivering access to childcare

Uber have announced a new partnership with Bubble to provide drivers access to on demand childcare.

A recent poll of 10,000 Uber drivers showed that the rising cost of childcare is preventing many parents, especially women, from earning flexibly through Uber.

According to the global ride-hailing firm, Uber drivers earn on average £34 an hour in London and £30 across the rest of the UK, with the highest earnings usually available at weekends and evenings, which often prevents some parents from accessing these earning opportunities.

Uber’s partnership with Bubble is designed to remove that obstacle and, by supporting flexible working, enable more women to return to work on terms that are more easily compatible with family life.

Andrew Brem, General Manager, Uber UK, said: “Over the last year I’ve spoken to many ambitious and hardworking drivers who told me that support with childcare would help them to earn more. The cost of childcare is often a barrier for women in joining Uber, which is why we have launched an innovative new pilot for drivers.”

Sarah Hesz, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Bubble, said: “We know that lack of access to flexible, affordable childcare is holding women back. Bubble is thrilled to join forces with Uber, a business leading by example and investing in childcare as a catalyst for gender equality.

”The lack of flexibility in our childcare system means that two thirds of parents have turned down work - with parents losing out on £15,000 a year income due to childcare challenges. We know that it is mothers who are taking the hit and the number of women leaving the workforce is increasing at an alarming rate. Figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that last year 43,000 women left the workforce to look after family in the last year, a 3% increase on the previous year.”