Uber is expanding its partnership with on-demand childcare platform Bubble to provide free childcare for over 100,000 drivers across the UK. The move comes after a successful pilot scheme that funded 10,000 hours of childcare for 1,000 drivers, with 96% of participants saying it helped them work more flexibly.
The expansion will see all UK Uber drivers receive 20 hours of free childcare per year, helping working parents — especially mothers — balance family life with earning opportunities.
The initiative is part of Uber’s wider effort to attract more female drivers, many of whom struggle to take on lucrative evening and weekend shifts due to childcare commitments.
Breaking Down Barriers to Work for Parents
Flexible work is a major draw for Uber drivers, with many valuing the ability to choose their own hours. But childcare responsibilities often prevent parents from fully taking advantage of this flexibility.
Uber says its drivers earn an average of £30 per hour when taking trips, but the highest fares are usually during peak hours, such as weekends and evenings — times when childcare is often unavailable or unaffordable.
By offering free access to Bubble’s trusted network of vetted babysitters and nannies, Uber aims to remove this barrier, making it easier for parents to take on more work when it suits them.
Uber UK’s general manager, Andrew Brem, said the initiative was helping working parents to cope with childcare.
“From our conversations with drivers who took part in the initial trial, it’s clear that this extra support can make a huge difference to parents trying to earn while juggling childcare responsibilities,” he said.
“Expanding this support to over 100,000 UK drivers is a world first for Uber, so we hope that it helps in our aim to sign up more parents, in particular mums, to try earning on the app in a way that works around their existing responsibilities.”
Brem added that drivers would “also benefit from a pension, holiday pay and other protections, such as free sickness and injury cover, as we continue to change flexible work for the better.”
Childcare Support: A Game-Changer for Working Parents
For single mother-of-three Tania Naseer, who took part in the pilot scheme, access to free childcare transformed the way she worked.
“Receiving childcare support during the pilot really showed me how much easier things can be when the burden of childcare is shared,” she said.
“It’s not just about the financial relief, but also having access to reliable, trustworthy care for my kids. When I’m driving, I need to focus on the road, so knowing my children are with someone I trust — and who they love spending time with — means everything.”
Naseer added that she wanted to “maximise how much of [my time] I spend with my kids, but I also want to give them the best life possible. Access to Bubble helped me to be far more strategic with my working hours and strike a better balance between work and home life.
“Now that my kids are a little older, I’m looking forward to using the support not only for those higher-paying fares, but also for some time to recharge and focus on myself too. As a single mother-of-three, flexibility is everything. It’s a massive boost to know that this support is here to stay.”
Addressing the UK’s Childcare Crisis
The expansion of Uber’s childcare scheme comes at a time when childcare costs are forcing many parents — most notably mothers — out of the workforce. Research shows that:
- More than two-thirds of working parents have considered quitting their jobs due to childcare costs.
- One in ten mothers have left the workforce entirely due to childcare pressures.
Ari Last, CEO and co-founder of Bubble, pointed to the role that businesses can play in supporting working parents.
“Too often, childcare can slam the brakes on parents’ — particularly mothers’ — careers. Flexible work requires flexible childcare, and businesses can play a unique role in making that possible,” he said.
“By offering childcare support as a built-in benefit, Uber is setting a new standard and sending a clear signal: parenthood and flexible work can go hand in hand.”