Scottish
organisations excel in short-list for UK Bus Awards
Bus companies throughout Scotland have plenty to celebrate today
after hearing they have been short-listed in an impressive eight categories in
the prestigious UK Bus Awards. The short-lists have been selected from a record
210 entries from around the country, and the winners will be announced at a
glittering ceremony in London on 12th November.
City transport company, First Glasgow, is in line for two awards - City Operator
of the Year and Winning New Customers. On top of these, local manager Rosie
Stewart - a graduate of the FirstGroup's Senior Management Training Scheme - is
one of just four youngsters from across the UK short listed for the Young Manager
of the Year Award.
East Scotland and Fife in particular has nominations in
three categories. Stagecoach in Fife is in line for the coveted Shire Operator of
the Year award, and Fife Council is short listed in the Integration category
for its high quality facilities.
Stagecoach East Scotland's operation across Fife
is nominated for Express Coach Operation of the Year.
Stagecoachgold is in the Bus Marketing Campaign of the Year for its elite
new concept in bus travel, developed locally in Perth but is now set to launch across the
UK.
John Owen, chairman of the UK Bus Awards Management Committee, was
delighted with the standard for 2009. He commented: "We've
had a fantastic response this year with a record entry of 210 and we're hugely
impressed by the commitment to quality and innovation shown by the industry,
especially against such a harsh economic background.
"The standard of the entries is once
again extremely high, and has generated one of the toughest first round judging
sessions in the 14 years that UKBA has been running.
And he
added: "The final decision is going to be very difficult indeed and I wish all
the nominees every success at this year's event in November."
1.
UK Bus Awards was founded in
1996 and is run by an independent special purpose not-or-dividend company.
2.
The UK Bus Awards Scheme is
designed to recognise and reward excellence and good practice in a wide range
of disciplines associated with the operation, design and promotion of bus
services. Its mission is also to use the inspiration of the winning projects to
inspire others to emulate the winning schemes, projects or organisations.
3.
The 2009 UK Bus Awards will be
presented at a lunchtime ceremony on 12th November 2009 at the London Hilton.
4.
Before deciding the winners,
finalists in the operating categories will be checked by "mystery travellers"
to ensure that service delivery is up to the mark.
5.
The short-list for the
competition was announced today at a ceremony at Homerton College, Cambridge which
will see the launch of a revolutionary guided bus lane later this year. The
announcement formed part of the UKBA Annual Conference, which offers bus
industry representatives an opportunity to hear more from those who are leading
the way in quality and innovation, including winners of previous years' Awards.
6.
Further details of the short-listed entries in the Scotland for the 2009 competition are shown
below.
Stagecoach Group plc
AWARD CATEGORY: Bus
Marketing Campaign of the Year
ENTRY TITLE: Stagecoachgold
Description of Entry
Stagecoachgold is an elite new concept in
bus travel. The product was originally known as Goldline. It was initially
developed to extend the bus product life cycle at grass route level as well as
attracting the notoriously impenetrable AB Social Class segment, unrelenting in
their pursuit of travel
by private car. Services are currently
running in three operating areas, Warwickshire, Perth and Aldershot.
The product is now undergoing a
rebranding exercise, to become a recognised brand within the Stagecoach
portfolio, with a view to national rollout: the next phase is planned for Cheltenham in September 2009.
First Glasgow
AWARD CATEGORY: City
Operator of the Year
ENTRY TITLE: Taking back
the City
Description of Entry
First in Glasgow has
undergone a radical transformation from being the focus of media campaigns in
support of bus re-regulation to an integral part of the solution to achieving
modal shift across Glasgow and the west. With network expansion, greater choice, improved
performance and patronage growth, it is both a high quality transport provider
and an employer of choice.
Stagecoach East Scotland
AWARD CATEGORY: Express
Coach Operation of the Year
ENTRY TITLE: Stagecoach East Scotland Express Network
Description of Entry
Stagecoach East Scotland Express services
carry 95,000 people per week across Fife and as far as Edinburgh,
Glasgow and Dundee. The routes are designed to encourage modal shift
and connect
various towns of Fife. With 29 brand new vehicles introduced in late
2007, many of the
buses have leather seats and Wi-Fi access. Fife - Edinburgh routes also
became carbon neutral in 2008.
Fife
Council
AWARD CATEGORY: Integration
ENTRY TITLE: Fife's Transport Hubs
Description of Entry
In creating a network of transport hubs
to serve the people of Fife and beyond, Fife Council has established high quality facilities
offering multi-modal integration. The featured hubs - Ferrytoll Park &
Ride, Inverkeithing Public Transport Interchange and Fife Bus Stations - offer
excellent examples of this and illustrate how strategically located and well
served facilities can increase public transport usage and enhance its image.
Stagecoach East Scotland
AWARD CATEGORY: Shire
Operator of the Year
ENTRY TITLE: Stagecoach in
Fife
Description of Entry
Stagecoach in Fife have invested heavily in
improving the fleet, introducing 55 new vehicles totalling £7.7m.
Customer service initiatives ensure that Stagecoach in Fife are in
touch with
passengers, exceeding their needs and expectations. The company's
environmental
concerns are a high priority, with a carbon neutral network in express
services, new energy management systems and trials to improve fuel
efficiency.
Stagecoach Bluebird
AWARD CATEGORY: Shire
Operator of the Year
ENTRY TITLE: Stagecoach
Bluebird
Description of Entry
Aberdeen's Stagecoach Bluebird carries around 12 million passengers a year and
operates over 18 million miles and has seen an increase in patronage of 3.11%
over the last year alone. Passenger growth has been achieved on key routes
through continued investment, close working partnerships, improvements to
existing routes, effective marketing, innovation and identifying opportunities
within existing and new markets.
First Glasgow
AWARD CATEGORY: Winning
New Customers
ENTRY TITLE: Fancy a Spin?
Description of Entry
An
innovative approach to the launch and development of an all-day high-frequency
express bus service in the Greater Glasgow area has seen a dramatic increase in
passenger numbers, modal shift in an area where traditionally the car is king,
and improved satisfaction and customer loyalty.
Rosie Stewart - First Glasgow
AWARD CATEGORY: Young
Manager of the Year
ENTRY TITLE: A ‘Rosie'
Future for the Bus Industry
Description of Entry
Rosie
Stewart is a dynamic young manager who is passionate about the bus industry,
having been bitten by the bug at just 17 years old. A graduate of FirstGroup's
Senior Management Training Scheme, she faces challenges head-on and delivers
time and time again. She is a terrific ambassador for the bus industry and has
a very bright future ahead.
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