News Across the Group March 2024

March 2024

3 On a mission to achieve gender equality by 2035

5 Taking the train is up to 12 times greener than driving

6 Go-Ahead London’s menopause champions

Overcoming Adversity

The Inspiring Journey of Nor Harienti Abdul Gani

During a routine breakfast with friends, Nor Harienti Abdul Gani, Customer Service Officer at Go-Ahead Singapore began to lose sensation in her left side, indicating a stroke induced by high blood pressure. This pivotal moment in February 2014 transformed her life forever.

Despite the daunting challenges that followed, Harienti, now 50, exhibited unwavering resilience. Although mobility issues persisted, she re-entered the workforce, refusing to succumb to adversity.

Initially reliant on a wheelchair and facing limitations in daily tasks such as cooking, her passion, she encountered frustration. However, through perseverance and physical therapy, she gradually regained independence. Attending sessions at Serving People with Disabilities enabled her to utilise specialised kitchen tools and eventually resume light cooking at home.

Employment opportunities also emerged through her determination. From administrative roles at Care Singapore to her current position as a Customer Service Officer at Go-Ahead Singapore, Harienti navigated career transitions with grace.

Driving again symbolised another triumph over adversity. While adapting to using only her right hand and automatic cars, she embraced the newfound freedom.

Every milestone achieved is a testament to Harienti’s courage and perseverance. From tentative steps towards mobility to reclaiming her independence, her story resonates as a testament to the human spirit’s resilience in the face of adversity.

Kia Jones, from Go North West’s Bolton depot receiving her Apprentice of the Month award

Welcome

from Miguel Parras

Dear colleagues,

I am proud to share that Go-Ahead Group has achieved a significant milestone in our journey towards sustainable public transport. We are the UK’s market leader in the operation of zero-emission buses. This remarkable achievement underlines our unwavering commitment to environmental responsibility and providing cleaner air to communities nationwide.

In the next two years, we will deploy 201 zero-emission buses across six regional bus companies: Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus, Go South Coast, Go South West, Oxford Bus Company, East Yorkshire Buses and Go North East.

This will bring our total number of zero-emission buses to over 1,100 by 2026, the largest of its kind in the UK. Working with the Department for Transport and local authorities, we will investment over £100 million.

This exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships in driving sustainable public transport initiatives.

Each zero-emission bus deployed by The Go-Ahead Group saves an average of 60 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, significantly contributing to the fight against climate change and enhancing air quality for communities nationwide.

In addition to this remarkable milestone, I am thrilled to see the launch of ‘GoAhead Women,’ a national recruitment campaign aimed at revolutionising our bus operations by fostering gender equality and diversity within our workforce. We are committed to recruiting 1,500 new female drivers across our bus operations, aiming to achieve 50% gender equality by 2035.

Furthermore, our rail company GTR has achieved outstanding passenger satisfaction ratings, with Great Northern securing the top spot nationwide with a 92% satisfaction rate, and Thameslink closely following with an impressive 88%. And, our bus operations, East Yorkshire Buses and Morebus, have emerged as top

performers in passenger satisfaction, scoring an impressive 90% overall satisfaction rate in the latest ‘Your Bus Journey’ survey by Transport Focus.

I have recently had the privilege of visiting three of our exceptional operations, Go-Ahead Singapore, U-Go Mobility in Australia and Flexbuss in Sweden. I was truly impressed by the dedication and professionalism of our team, and it was inspiring to witness first-hand the high quality operations they deliver day in and day out. A heartfelt thank you for making my visit so memorable.

These visits have reinforced my confidence in the strength of our operations of our teams across the globe. Thank you for your continued dedication and hard work.

Best regards,

On a mission to achieve gender equality by 2035

The Go-Ahead Women launch is an initiative to attract and recruit 1,500 new women drivers across its bus operations

The company is embarking on a mission to achieve 50% gender equality by 2035, marking a significant step in the traditionally male dominated transport sector. Go-Ahead is also investing £8 million in upgrading bus depot facilities which includes work to create inclusive working environments where women colleagues have opportunities, feel supported and empowered to thrive. New hires will benefit from a comprehensive 8-week fully paid training program, designed to equip them with the skills and confidence needed to excel in their roles.

GTR has steadily increased gender equality, with 2023 seeing the highest split yet at 40%. Go-Ahead and GTR continue to focus on attracting more women in rail to ensure its workforce represents the communities it serves.

Miguel Parras Group Chief Executive

Miguel visits Go-Ahead Singapore and Flexbuss

Go-Ahead Singapore was honoured to welcome Miguel Parras, the Group Chief Executive of The Go-Ahead Group, to its Loyang bus depot

Miguel and Matt Carney meet with the Flexbuss team at the headquarters in Nybro

The

Go-Ahead Group reaches a milestone with over 1100 zero emission buses

Go-Ahead Group adds 201 zero-emission buses to its fleet at six regional bus companies: Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, Go South Coast, Go South West, East Yorkshire Buses, Go North East, and Pulhams Coaches.

The £112m investment signifies a joint commitment from the Department for Transport’s ZEBRA funding, Go-Ahead Group and its bus companies, and local authorities.

This collaborative efforts underlines the pivotal role of public-private partnerships in advancing forward sustainable transport solutions. By 2026, Go-Ahead’s total zero-emission buses will be over 1,100.

New electric open top tour buses

City Sightseeing Oxford is introducing a new fleet of electric open-top tour buses.

Hayley Beer-Gamage, CEO of Experience Oxfordshire; Enrique Ybarra, CEO of City Sightseeing Worldwide; and Lady Victoria Borwick, Chair of the VisitEngland Advisory Board were able to join us in celebrating this milestone

City Sightseeing Oxford is introducing a new fleet of electric open-top tour buses. With a £4 million investment into our fleet and Oxfordshire’s visitor economy, we’re proud to introduce these zero-emission vehicles powered by 100% renewable energy, making sightseeing in Oxford more sustainable than ever before.

Oxford Bus Company and City Sightseeing play an integral role in Oxford’s visitor economy.

Top marks for Go-Ahead’s East Yorkshire

Buses Morebus and Great Northern!

East Yorkshire Buses and Morebus operations have emerged as top performers in passenger satisfaction in the latest ‘Your Bus Journey’ survey by independent watchdog Transport Focus. With an impressive 90% overall satisfaction rate, our commitment to providing high-quality, reliable bus services is shining through. Great Northern also scores the top spot in rail passenger satisfaction nationwide, according to the independent watchdog Transport Focus’ Rail Users Survey.

They have achieved an impressive 92% satisfaction rate from March 24, 2023, to February 4, 2024. Thameslink comes in close with an impressive 88%.

News on the Rails

Thameslink creates a BUZZ!

There’s been a hive of activity at six Thameslink railway stations where wildlife experts have installed 20 new ‘homes for nature’, said to be the bee’s knees for a wide variety of animals.

As part of Thameslink’s biodiversity commitments, the Bee Friendly Trust has built bee hotels for solitary insects and bird boxes at London Blackfriars, Kentish Town, Radlett, Harlington, Flitwick and St Albans stations.

Taking the train is up to 12 times greener than driving

Journeys between London and 10 stations across the GTR network (Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink) reveal a startling saving on carbon emissions compared with a car.

Between the following stations and London:

Bedford up to 4.4 times fewer emissions

Brighton up to 7.4 times fewer emissions

East Croydon up to 7.5 times fewer emissions

Gatwick up to 9.4 times fewer emissions

Hove up to 12 times fewer emissions

Huntingdon up to 4.2 times fewer emissions

Peterborough up to 3.5 times fewer emissions

South Croydon up to 5 times fewer emissions

St Albans up to 5.4 times fewer emissions

Stevenage up to 8.7 times fewer emissions

Angie Doll celebrates GTRs success at the House of Commons

Angie Doll hosted an event in parliament earlier this month to shine a light on the importance of skills and employability in fostering greater diversity of thought at GTR (Govia Thameslink Railway) and across the rail sector.

GTR is proud to celebrate its 10 year partnership with The Prince’s Trust ‘Get into Railways’ programme, assisted by the Launch Group. They are also just finishing its 5th Sector-Based Workplace Academy Programme in partnership with East Sussex College Group. More recently, they have started to work with Career Returners, offering a wide range of apprenticeship programmes. This has encouraged growth in applications from women for roles in engineering and driving, and help people from 18 to 60 to get back into work.

Go-Ahead London’s menopause champions

In a significant move towards fostering inclusivity and support within the workplace, Go-Ahead London has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative by introducing menopause champions across its head offices, depots, and garages. These designated champions serve as points of contact for colleagues, offering a safe space for support and understanding around menopause. They also support colleagues who are impacted by their friends or family who are going through the menopause.

Sensory experience of travelling by bus for pupils

Hedingham and Chambers took a bus to Shorefields School in Clacton, which specialises in learning for children with complex needs from ages 3 to 19. The bus took two groups of children on a loop from the school around Clacton seafront, which proved to be a fun and entertaining sensory experience for the children.

Schoolchildren learn the wonders of bus travel!

Konectbus visited Toftwood Infant School giving two groups of reception children an experience of travelling by bus.

Championing Wellbeing

Most Inspirational Senior Leader of the Year

Richard Stevens, Go South West’s Manging Director receives recognition as the Most Inspirational Senior Leader of the Year at the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards Gala in London.

Paula Dale completes challenge in memory of Patrick Geall

Paula Dale, a driver for Go Cornwall Bus, recently challenged herself to run the 73A route in memory of Liskeard driver, Patrick Geall, who unfortunately passed away from oesophageal cancer. Patrick’s death made Paula realise that life is too short and she needed to get fit, so decided to run Patricks favourite route to drive, which was the 73A. Paula managed to complete the route in about 9 hours, where she had to conquer 5 big hills, as well as sun, rain, and hail!

So far, Paula has raised over £2,210 with more donations still coming in, and all money raised will be going to OPA - Oesophageal and Gastric cancer support.

Lee Peters Get to know...

Go South Coast, Damory operations supervisor

How did you get into transport?

I took a year out 25 years ago after selling our family business and I just saw an ad for bus drivers and thought I would give it a go as I have always loved driving and the rest is history!

What does it mean to you to receive the Unsung Hero Award at the UK Bus Awards?

I was overwhelmed with emotion on the day I received it as I did not think I would get as far as I did. I’m proud to represent Damory and Go-Ahead.

What did you win the award for?

I helped move over 1000 cruise passengers away from a hand grenade which was undetonated near Portland Port terminal. I did what any one would do.

What is your passion and what gets you out of bed?

I love spending time with my partner Gary, walking on the beautiful isle of Portland where we live. I also love a pub lunch overlooking the cliffs across the Dorset coastline.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, I have two dogs, Tyson, a 13-year old Jack Russell and Milo, a 6-month old Dachshund cross with a pug. There’s a never a dull moment with them!

What’s a goal or dream you’re currently working towards?

To be able to retire at 60 so I can travel with my partner around the world in a motor home.

What does your role with Go-Ahead entail?

In my role I am responsible for overseeing operations at our Dorchester depot, ensuring that we fulfil school bus contracts and services for the Portland Port.

Bluestar supports Hamble Youth Football Club

The local bus operator has donated from its community fund, so the club’s under 9s team can buy new training equipment to help enhance the players’ game.