Uber has introduced the nationwide enlargement of its pioneering childcare help scheme, providing greater than 100,000 drivers throughout the UK entry to free, versatile childcare by means of a partnership with on-demand childcare platform Bubble.
The transfer follows a profitable pilot launched in 2023, which offered 1,000 drivers with a complete of 10,000 hours of absolutely funded childcare. Constructing on that constructive response — with 96% of taking part drivers saying the help made it simpler to work extra hours — Uber will now provide 20 hours of free childcare per yr to all UK drivers.
The initiative is designed to help working dad and mom, notably moms, who usually face obstacles to incomes throughout peak hours similar to evenings and weekends resulting from childcare duties. By enabling drivers to entry reliable, versatile childcare by means of Bubble, Uber hopes to assist extra dad and mom make the most of higher-earning fares whereas additionally enhancing work-life stability.
Bubble, the UK’s main on-demand childcare service, connects households with vetted, native babysitters and nannies, obtainable each prematurely and at quick discover. By means of the Uber partnership, guardian drivers can e book help that matches round their unpredictable or versatile schedules.
“Receiving childcare support during the pilot really showed me how much easier things can be when the burden is shared,” stated Tania Naseer, an Uber driver and single mom of three. “Having access to reliable care means I can drive without distraction, earn more, and still be present for my children. It’s not just about work — it’s about wellbeing, too.”
Uber drivers at the moment earn a median of £30 an hour when taking journeys on the app, with many citing the flexibleness as a serious profit. Nevertheless, childcare duties can restrict when and the way lengthy dad and mom can work, affecting their incomes potential. The corporate hopes the expanded profit can even appeal to extra dad and mom — particularly girls — to the platform, serving to tackle gender imbalance and promote better workforce participation.
“This is a world first for Uber and a major step forward for flexible work,” stated Andrew Brem, Uber UK Common Supervisor. “By extending free childcare to every driver in the UK, we hope to remove one of the biggest obstacles facing working parents and show that flexibility can work hand in hand with meaningful support.”
The announcement comes amid rising concern about the price and accessibility of childcare within the UK. In line with current knowledge, greater than two-thirds of working dad and mom have thought-about quitting their jobs resulting from childcare prices, and one in ten moms have left the workforce fully.
Ari Final, CEO and co-founder of Bubble, stated: “Flexible work requires flexible childcare. With this partnership, Uber is setting a new standard — one that understands the realities of modern parenting and working life. Trusted, quality childcare shouldn’t be a luxury; it’s a necessity. We’re proud to be helping parents get back to work on their terms.”
Along with childcare help, Uber drivers within the UK now profit from a variety of protections, together with vacation pay, pensions, and free illness and harm cowl — a part of the corporate’s broader technique to enhance circumstances for versatile staff.
