Press Release

STAGECOACH WINS NATIONAL TRAINING AWARD

27 November 2006

• UK Bus team recognised by Scottish Qualifications Authority
• Judges praise contribution to getting more people on board buses

Stagecoach has won a national award for the high standard of its UK Bus training team.

The company took the Centre of the Year Award for training providers and employers at the Scottish Qualifications Authority Annual Awards 2006 held in Edinburgh.

Stagecoach UK Bus employs more than 12,000 driving staff in 113 locations throughout the UK. It beat off competition from a wide variety of training providers and employers, including the other shortlisted finalists, East Renfrewshire Council’s Training Employment Unit and Thistle Training Services.

Training and assessment at Stagecoach’s sites were restructured and a manager appointed with responsibility for Scottish and National Vocational Qualifications to share best practice and develop standard systems.

Improvements included:

• Reduction in time staff spend producing forms and documents
• Production of high quality printed portfolios
• Recruitment of a full-time scheme coordinator, as well as a group of assessors and advisors to ensure local support
• Development of specific training materials, including a customer service DVD featuring Stagecoach staff

Since its introduction, the programme has awarded more than 6,000 S/NVQs. It has also contributed to annual growth of 1.5% in the number of people travelling by Stagecoach bus services against an industry-wide reduction in passenger numbers.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “We are delighted our training team has been recognised for its high standard and contribution to attracting more people to bus travel. Stagecoach is a people business and it is down to our highly-trained and committed employees that we deliver first-class bus services day in, day out.”

The awards judges looked for good practice, innovation and unique initiatives in the delivery of SQA qualifications. They also considered the use of new technology, qualifications for candidates with special needs, links and partnerships with the wider community, and the contribution to business growth.

Tom Drake, SQA's interim Chief Executive, said: "I'm delighted to congratulate Stagecoach on this win. Like all of our finalists, they have shown outstanding commitment to the use of qualifications and learning, and in particular they have also shown clearly that training can be a positive influence on commercial performance and customer satisfaction - well done.”

It is the latest in a string awards for Stagecoach, which is one of the biggest bus operators in the UK.

Earlier this month, Stagecoach was named Britain's best bus operator for the second year running for excellence at its West Scotland operation. It is the first time in the 11-year history of the UK Bus Awards that the same company has won the top honours two years in a row.

Stagecoach employee Ben Trotter (20), a bus body fitter at the company’s depot in Worthing, West Sussex, won the Transport Engineering and Maintenance Apprenticeship category of the 2006 GoSkills Passenger Transport Apprenticeship Awards.

In October, Sarah Longair (26), Operations Director at Stagecoach West Scotland, received the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) Young Manager of the Year award last month.

 

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