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News Category: People

Go-Ahead Norway appoints new Managing Director with extensive railway experience

17 April 2023

Go-Ahead Norway appoints new Managing Director with extensive railway experience

The Go-Ahead Group has appointed Emil Eike as Managing Director of the group’s Norwegian rail business, which operates long-distance and commuter rail routes in the south of the country.

Emil has more than 30 years of experience as a manager from the Armed Forces, the public transport and mobility industry. His track record includes 12 years at NSB, the Norwegian state-owned railway company.

He has also worked as a consultant advising transport companies on strategy, and he is Chairman of Bybanen, the light rail network in Bergen.

“”
Emil combines extensive experience from the railway sector with a focus on innovation and clear leadership. We are in an exciting period where we are working actively to further develop our passenger rail services. In Emil, we have found a skilled leader who can take that development further.

Magnus Hedin

CEO of Go-Ahead Nordic

Go-Ahead employs 300 people in Norway and began operations in December 2019. The company’s operating contract with the Norwegian Rail Directorate runs to December 2027, with the option of a two-year extension to 2029.

 

“”
Trains are a key part of the overall mobility system in Norway and an important contributor to a sustainable society. Together with the skilled and dedicated employees at Go-Ahead, I am really looking forward to being part of this important social mission,” says Emil. “Go-Ahead was also the winner of the first traffic package in Norway, and I have a great appreciation of courageous and innovative organisations.

Emil Eike

Emil will take on the role on May 1st. Magnus Hedin has been filling the position of Managing Director on an interim basis, remains Chair of the Board of Go-Ahead Norwegian rail company.

Fit for a king: Go-Ahead’s coronation buses take to the road

17 April 2023

Fit for a king: Go-Ahead’s coronation buses take to the road

Go-Ahead has unveiled commemorative buses in London and in the south-west of England to mark the coronation of Their Majesties Kings Charles III and Queen Camilla.

In Devon, a red, white and blue Plymouth Citybus double-decker with festive bunting will take to the streets of Britain’s Ocean City to mark the historic royal event, operating on route 25 which runs around Plymouth Hoe and waterfront.

In the capital, a special Go-Ahead London bus is still in its iconic red colour but  boasts a new design and is decorated in the official emblem of the coronation. The LT511 Routemaster, delivered alongside Transport for London, is in service on Route 11 (Fulham Broadway to Waterloo), which passes Westminster Abbey and Parliament Square.

Go-Ahead’s transport companies are at the heart of the coronation and will be bringing millions of people to festive events over the weekend – including big screens in parks and city centres, community parties and volunteering events connected with Monday’s “Big Help Out” day.

Many of those travelling to central London will be using Go-Ahead services. Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services, is the largest rail operator in the south-east. And Go-Ahead London runs a quarter of the capital’s buses on behalf of Transport for London.

“”
We’re proud to be involved in carrying so many people to celebratory events this weekend – be it the coronation in London itself or to community and street parties across the nation.

In common with the rest of the country, we congratulate the King and Queen on their coronation and we hope these buses add to the buzz across the country over the course of this historic weekend.

Mark Anderson

Go-Ahead Customer and Commercial Director

Ten million Go-Ahead passengers benefit from £2 nationwide bus fare cap

23 March 2023

Ten million Go-Ahead passengers benefit from £2 nationwide bus fare cap

Promotional ticket sales reach £20 million since scheme began in January.

Passenger numbers up by 130% on one Carousel Buses route.

Go-Ahead launches a prize competition to encourage more passengers onto buses.

National low fares scheme has been extended until the end of June.

Go-Ahead’s bus companies have carried ten million passengers at the nationwide promotional fare of £2 since the Government began funding a scheme capping the price of bus travel on New Year’s Day. As of today, Go-Ahead bus companies outside London have sold more than £20 million worth of tickets.

The initiative, which is part of the Government’s Help for Households initiative, has made bus travel cheaper on all of Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies – which have networks stretching from Cornwall to Northumberland.

The biggest seller of discount tickets in the Go-Ahead network is Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, where more than 2.5 million passengers have travelled at £2.

On certain routes, passenger numbers have jumped significantly. For example, a route in Buckinghamshire operated by Go-Ahead’s Carousel Buses has seen a 130% uplift in passenger numbers since the beginning of the year. Route 102, which runs from Heathrow Airport to High Wycombe via Beaconsfield and Gerrard’s Cross, has proven particularly popular under the scheme.

Initially planned to run until the end of March, the £2 adult single fares offer across England was recently extended by three months to the end of June, backed with an additional £75 million of funding from the Department for Transport.

“”
The £2 fare cap is an excellent initiative to promote bus travel, and it is great news that it will continue. This valuable funding will safeguard hundreds of routes which are commercially challenging but important for local people.

Buses provide vital connections for local communities across the United Kingdom and we’re pleased to be working with the Department for Transport to make them as affordable as possible. A big increase in passenger numbers on services such as Carousel Buses’ route 102 demonstrates how popular this offer is proving to be.

Martin Dean

Go-Ahead Managing Director, Regional Bus

Participating Go-Ahead bus companies include:

Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus

Go South Coast – Bluestar, Morebus, Southern Vectis, Salisbury Reds and Swindon’s Bus Company

Go South West – Plymouth Citybus, Go Cornwall, Go Devon and Dartline

The Oxford Bus Company – including Carousel Buses and Thames Travel

Go East Anglia – Konectbus, Hedingham and Chambers

East Yorkshire Buses

Go North East

Go-Ahead is offering passengers the chance to enter a prize competition by submitting a short video of their £2 bus, journey, route, or destination, with an Apple iPhone for the winner. Videos of up to 1 minute 30 seconds are eligible – the more creative the better.

Shortlisted entries will be shared on the group’s social media channels.

 

More women behind the wheel: female bus drivers up by 20% at Go-Ahead

08 March 2023

More women behind the wheel: female bus drivers up by 20% at Go-Ahead

Female-focused recruitment campaigns yield hundreds of applicants

Award-winning apprenticeship scheme enhances diversity.

Higher pay rates and attractive sign-on packages enhance appeal of driving jobs.

One in eight bus drivers across Go-Ahead’s network are women.

The number of women drivers at Go-Ahead’s UK-wide network of bus companies has risen by 20% in a year following a wide range of efforts to attract more applicants.

Go-Ahead’s bus companies have seen a significant increase in applications for driving jobs from women, following efforts to address the traditionally male dominated image of the industry.

Overall, female representation among Go-Ahead’s 11,000 workforce of drivers has risen from 10% to 12% in 2022, a year in which the industry experienced a chronic shortage of labour, with bus driver vacancies at a high level.

Go-Ahead employs 15,600 people in the UK bus industry. The group is the largest bus operator in London, running a quarter of the capital’s services on behalf of Transport for London. Go-Ahead owns eight regional bus companies outside London – including operations in Devon and Cornwall, Hampshire and Dorset, Brighton & Hove, Oxford, East Anglia, Manchester, East Yorkshire and Tyne & Wear.

Efforts to hire more women bus drivers have included:

Female-focused advertising including a campaign called “we’re hiring people like you” by Go North West in Manchester and a “heroes of the road” campaign at East Yorkshire Buses

A program to build the foundations of culture change across the group which focuses on growing inclusion as a way we do things

A bus driver apprenticeship scheme pioneered at Go-Ahead London

Salaries of £26,000 to £40,000 per year depending on region and experience

“”
Driving a bus is a valuable and rewarding role, providing a vital everyday service up and down Britain.

We want our workforce to reflect the communities we serve, which means a better balance of men and women behind the wheel. I’m pleased that we’re getting more women on board – we’re moving in the right direction but there’s much further to go yet.

Claire Mahoney

Head of Colleague Experience at The Go-Ahead Group

“One single to the farm, please!” A sheepish looking passenger boards local bus in Brighton & Hove

02 March 2023

“One single to the farm, please!” A sheepish looking passenger boards local bus in Brighton & Hove

When Martine Patey, Go-Ahead Group’s Brighton and Hove bus driver set off to Eastbourne for her first ever Rail Replacement bus duty on Sunday morning, she wasn’t sure what the day would hold. One thing’s for sure, she didn’t think she’d be wrangling a sheep on the A27.

As she approached the A road, Martine spotted a coach stopped with its hazards on – before a flash of white ran out from behind it into the road, causing havoc for passing cars. Animal lover Martine immediately decided to pull over, put on her high-vis and attempt to help the lost sheep out of the road and into safety.

“The sheep was running all over the road,” said Martine. “It was difficult to catch, but then it slipped just in front of me and I was able to get hold of it and to use my handbag strap like a lasso. Two other motorists had stopped to help and together we were able to hold onto it until the police arrived.”

The sheep had a brief trip up onto the bus, with the police asking Martine to take it back to a local farm, before the farmer arrived and it was safely returned to his truck. Martine then resumed her journey to Eastbourne where – and ewe won’t believe this – she arrived only one minute late. All in a morning’s work!

Go-Ahead carries two million passengers at £2 under nationwide fare cap

24 January 2023

Go-Ahead carries two million passengers at £2 under nationwide fare cap

National low fares scheme proves popular across Go-Ahead’s bus networks

Promotional ticket sales reach £4 million in first three weeks of January

Scheme allows Go-Ahead’s local operators to add new routes and services

Go-Ahead’s bus companies have carried two million passengers at the nationwide promotional fare of £2 since the Government began funding a scheme capping the price of bus travel on New Year’s Day.

Under the offer, adult single fares across England are no more than £2 for a three-month period, irrespective of distance. Funded with £60 million under the Government’s “Help for Households” program, the initiative is intended to help the public with cost-of-living pressures this winter. As of today, Go-Ahead bus companies outside London had sold over £4 million worth of tickets.

Participating Go-Ahead bus companies include:

Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus

Go South Coast – Bluestar, Morebus, Southern Vectis, Salisbury Reds and Swindon’s Bus Company

Go South West – Plymouth Citybus, Go Cornwall, Go Devon and Dartline

The Oxford Bus Company – including Carousel Buses and Thames Travel

Go East Anglia – Konectbus, Hedingham and Chambers

East Yorkshire Buses

Go North East

Demand created by the scheme has allowed Go-Ahead bus companies to launch several new routes – including a new route from High Wycombe to Great Missenden run by Oxford Bus Company, and a Konectbus service in Norwich connecting the city centre with the Heartsease Estate.

Bus journeys available for £2 on Go-Ahead’s buses stretch geographically from Go Cornwall’s route 34 from Redruth to The Lizard – England’s most southerly point – to Go North East’s route 19, which links North Shields with Ashington, Northumberland.

The Buses Minister, Richard Holden, launched the national scheme in December with a visit to Go North East’s depot in Gateshead.

“”
The £2 fare capping scheme is the right idea at the right time and we’re pleased that two million people have so far benefited from it on Go-Ahead buses.

Buses are a great value way to get around, wherever you live in the UK. We’re keen to work closely with the Department for Transport and with other operators to promote this scheme, in order to get maximum benefit from it.

Martin Dean

Go-Ahead Managing Director, Regional Bus

Go-Ahead invests in transport skills with target of hiring 1,020 bus and rail apprentices in 2023

19 January 2023

Go-Ahead invests in transport skills with target of hiring 1,020 bus and rail apprentices in 2023

Target includes 700 trainee London bus drivers and 220 rail apprentices

Go-Ahead’s apprentices increase ethnic diversity of workforce

Recruits of all ages wanted: Go-Ahead’s apprentices range from 16 to 65

The Go-Ahead Group, the largest employer of apprentices in the UK transport industry, has set a target of hiring 1,020 apprentices in 2023 to train as bus drivers, rail drivers and engineers.

The intake will include 700 apprentice bus drivers for Go-Ahead London, which runs a quarter of the capital’s buses for Transport for London. Some 220 apprentice engineers and train drivers will be recruited by Govia Thameslink Railway, which operates Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express rail. And a further 100 apprentices will work at Go-Ahead’s regional bus companies and in head office roles in London and Newcastle.

Go-Ahead was named as one of the UK’s top 20 apprentice employers recently in a ranking developed by the Department for Education, and as the top provider in the transport industry.

The group’s apprenticeship intake is highly diverse: 61% of apprentices recruited in 2022 were from ethnic backgrounds other than White British, including 78% of those who joined Go-Ahead’s London bus operation. And 32% of new apprentices were aged over 40, including many career switchers who are seeking a new start in transport.

In the bus industry, Go-Ahead London’s Camberwell academy is the first and largest in-house provider of bus driving apprenticeships in the UK and recently celebrated its fifth birthday. The academy uses virtual reality technology to teach driving skills, and trainees alternate over the course of a year between periods driving buses and time in the classroom. Last year 77% of those who started the course completed their apprenticeship and gained a qualification.

Since the training programme was introduced in 2018 the bus company has been able to deliver all aspects of training to their apprentices including offering numeracy and literacy training equivalent to Maths and English GCSEs, and additional support to those with a range of neurodiverse conditions.

A further 466 apprentices are in training at Govia Thameslink Railway, the UK’s largest railway network, working across engineering, driving and customer service roles. In 2022, 184 new recruits began their training- 30% were aged over 40.

“”
We’re proud to be training a new generation of drivers and engineers at Go-Ahead. Apprentices are fundamental to the future of our business and of our industry as a whole – and providing on-the-job learning has helped us to attract people from all walks of life.

We want our workforce and the transport industry to reflect the communities we serve. Our apprenticeships programme is forever expanding, and the vast majority of our apprentices continue their careers with Go-Ahead after their training is completed.

Scott Maynard

Go-Ahead Group HR Director

Luke Marion appointed Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Company

12 January 2023

Luke Marion appointed Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Company

The Go-Ahead Group has appointed Luke Marion as Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Company.

Previously Finance Director for ten years, Luke has been Interim Managing Director since April 2022, replacing Phil Southall who has moved to a role at The Go-Ahead Group’s head office in London.

A chartered accountant by training, Luke qualified at Ernst & Young, and he worked at Reckitt Benckiser before moving into transport. In addition to his role at Go-Ahead, he is a director of Oxfordshire’s Low Carbon Hub.

The Oxford Bus Company comprises Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and City Sightseeing Oxford as well as the Oxford Bus Company network. Based in Cowley, the business employs 600 people and is wholly owned by The Go-Ahead Group.

Martin Dean, Go-Ahead’s Managing Director, Regional Bus, said: “I’m delighted that Luke will be taking on the role of MD permanently in Oxford. He’s done a great job steering the commercial aspects of the business and he’s the ideal person to take the company forward.

“I’d like to thank Phil Southall for his outstanding leadership in Oxford, and to wish him well in his group role.”

Go-Ahead recognised as leading apprenticeship provider

23 November 2022

Go-Ahead recognised as leading apprenticeship provider

  • Recycling at Go-Ahead London increased from 5.5% to 33% within a year
  • Up to 60 tonnes of recyclable waste per month, the equivalent weight of five double decker buses
  • Project Go Eco, in conjunction with waste contractor Biffa, is to be rolled out to all Go-Ahead’s UK bus operating companies
  • The transport company is on track to achieve its Group target of 60% of recycled rate by 2025

Go-Ahead’s largest bus operating company has achieved a 28% increase in recycling since a new initiative, ‘Project Go Eco’ was introduced to separate recyclable materials from all general waste.

With over 2,300 buses across 17 depots, Go Ahead London sites accumulate up to 60 tonnes of recyclable material per month – including paper, cardboard, and other recyclables left behind by passengers – equivalent to the weight of five double decker buses. Due to its success, the project in conjunction with waste contractor Biffa is to be rolled out to all Go-Ahead’s bus companies.

The project involved collaborating with colleagues to change behaviour towards waste management and working with Biffa to provide segregation bins for recyclable materials to increase recycling rates. In its first year, the project was trialled at Go-Ahead London, Go South Coast and Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, helping the Group towards its target of 60% recycled rate by 2025.

Go-Ahead’s Climate Change Strategy outlines the company’s commitment to waste reduction by implementing new initiatives.

The Group’s Climate Change Strategy also aims to achieve:

  • A Zero-emission bus fleet in the UK by 2035
  • A 25% water usage reduction by 2025
  • 17% carbon monoxide emission (CO) reductions by 2025

Mark Anderson, Group Customer and Commercial Director, said: “Keeping buses clean and tidy is a huge undertaking at a company the size of The Go-Ahead Group. Every day, passengers leave behind thousands of newspapers, magazines, and bits of packaging, many of which can be recycled.

“We’re actively looking for ways to improve sustainability and we’re proud that we’ve been able to take a significant step forward in increasing the amount of waste we can recycle, supporting the circular economy. This not only helps the planet – it saves us money on waste disposal, too.”

 

Go-Ahead hosts bus driver recruitment open days for Ukrainian refugees

07 November 2022

Go-Ahead hosts bus driver recruitment open days for Ukrainian refugees

A Go-Ahead Group bus company is working in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions to help Ukrainian refugees to become bus drivers. A change in government legislation has resulted in Ukrainian refugees receiving immediate settlement status and the opportunity to work in the UK straight away.

The UK has suffered a shortage of drivers across the entire transport industry and the bus sector is no exception – the Confederation of Passenger Transport estimates that 9% of bus driver roles are vacant across the country.

In Sussex, Go-Ahead’s Brighton & Hove and Metrobus have been campaigning non-stop for new drivers to join their team since the country came out of lockdown to support passenger demand. Even though the company has seen an increase in candidates coming forward and new drivers appointed, it still isn’t enough.

Ukrainian bus drivers can exchange their bus driving licence for a UK licence under a current standard EU agreement. Previously bus drivers from countries other than the UK had to wait a year before they could apply for jobs at Brighton & Hove and Metrobus. However, with a new company policy and a special training programme in place the company can support Ukrainian refugees back into work.

On Thursday 10 November 2022, Brighton & Hove and Metrobus will invite Ukrainian refugees to its recruitment open day. Those who attend have been assessed by the Department for Work and Pensions on the basis of having a driver’s licence and a good understanding of English written and verbal communication skills that are essential for the positions offered.

Anita Pain Employer Advisor for Brighton and Hove Jobcentre, said:” It’s terrific how businesses have come together to support the Ukrainian community. We are delighted to have been a part of this innovative and fast paced approach to fill vacancies in our city”.

At the open day the Ukrainian refugees will find out what jobs are available at the company including driving, engineering and customer services. They will learn more about the training processes involved and career progression.

Ed Wills, Managing Director of Brighton & Hove and Metrobus said: “We provide a first class bus service for our community. We want to help local people live their lives to the full whether that’s driving them to work, school or to meet up with friends and family. As a company we also have the ability to offer jobs to people from the Ukraine who are here to start a new and more peaceful life. I look forward to having more recruitment events like this in the future.”

Bus driver salaries in Brighton have increased by more than 10% this year. Drivers can now expect to earn a basic salary of £31,000 plus overtime after training.