TAKING on the role of transport manager in the family coach firm is a big responsibility for a 20-year-old but Carolyn Hazell from Northlew, who started driving buses a year ago, is not lacking in confidence, writes Alison Stephenson.

In an industry dominated by males, Carolyn, believed to be the youngest transport manager in the country, is flying the flag for women and she is very positive about the future.

'I'm going to take over the firm one day so I thought I might as well get the qualifications now,' she said.

Carolyn, whose father runs Carmel Coaches at Northlew, is the first to admit that a couple of years ago she had no idea what she wanted to do with her life.

'My friends are all amazed that I have managed to settle down into a proper job,' she said.

After cutting short a year-long au pair position in America because she was homesick, Carolyn worked in telesales and at MacDonalds but had no long term ambitions.

'I never really wanted to go into the family business,' she said.

'Dad always said it was up to me.

'After I handed in my notice at my last job I went and worked for dad so I could keep paying the rent . . . and I never left.

'I am really enjoying it — I love working here because no two days are ever the same.'

Carmel Coaches, which is a collaboration of the names of Tony Hazell's two children Carolyn and Michael, employs 25 drivers and is just celebrating 15 years of transporting people all over Europe.

As well as being transport manager Carolyn still finds the time to do the school runs to Exeter and Okehampton but as she said: 'In a small firm you fill in wherever you are needed.'

When undertaking a training course and the consequent Certificate of Professional Competence exam in Somerset Carolyn was unsurprisingly the youngest candidate.

'I think the average age was about 40 and there were only three women,' she said.

'A lot of people doing the course had never driven a coach in their life before and as I look about 12 I think they found it quite funny to imagine me behind the wheel of a double decker bus.'

Caroline is now qualified to operate a coach company and dad Tony has no doubt she is cut out for the job.

'She's my right hand woman,' he said.