Generation Go aims to boost the confidence of future bus users, to provide the knowledge and know-how to seize independence and access new opportunities through bus travel.
The project is made possible through Go-Ahead’s community fund which supports projects across operating companies each year. Generation Go reflects our value of caring for our communities.
Go East Anglia have worked with schools and community groups to run Generation Go workshops, primarily focusing on engagement with students in Year 10 ahead of work experience.
In addition, the team at Go East Anglia worked with students in Year 6, introducing them to independent travel and helping to build their confidence in using public transport ahead of their transition from primary school to high school.
Topics in the workshops included the importance of journey planning, how to use online timetables and other resources to ensure students can travel safely and with confidence.
August 2024
3 Encouraging more women behind the wheel
4 Values in action
6 Community projects to share £448,000 improvement fund
Go East Anglia’s ‘Generation Go’ initiative has been shortlisted for Campaign of the Year at the National Transport Awards 2024.
Workshops were delivered to over 100 students at schools across the area that Go East Anglia operate in.
Outside of supporting students in education, Generation Go has also helped customers with disabilities may need further support with travelling by bus.
The workshops have been a great success, inspiring and encouraging the next generation of bus-users. Go East Anglia Generation Go initiative is shortlisted for the National Transport awards in October alongside Go South Coast, Brighton & Hove Buses and GTR.
NEWS ACROSS THE GROUP
Welcome
from Miguel Parras
Dear Team,
I want to begin this month’s “News Across the Group” by reflecting on the tragic loss of one of our colleagues, Derek Thomas. Derek, a dedicated driver for Go-Ahead London at Northumberland Park Depot, tragically lost his life while travelling home from work on 30th July. This heartbreaking event is a profound reminder of the preciousness of life and the closeknit community we have within our organisation. Derek will be greatly missed by his family, friends, and colleagues across Go-Ahead London, particularly those at Northumberland Park. We stand by his family at this incredibly difficult time, offering them our full support, and continuing our commitment to caring for our people who have been affected by Derek’s loss.
Turning to this month’s updates, I am delighted to share some positive news that reflects our ongoing growth and success as a company. We have
expanded our network of UK coach operators with the agreement to acquire Regency Coaches in Sussex which will now be part of Brighton and Hove Buses. This acquisition, alongside our recent purchases of Pulhams Coaches and four other coach companies across North and West Yorkshire, as well as the North East, significantly strengthens our service offering to schools, businesses and local authority partners. With these strategic moves, Go-Ahead is now one of the UK’s largest coach operators, further solidifying our reputation as a leading player in the bus industry across the country.
Our growth is not limited to buses alone. Later this year, we will learn the outcomes of our bids for two prominent rail contracts in London: the renowned Elizabeth Line and the Docklands Light Railway. Both would offer a great opportunity to further expand our brand in the public transport market in London, complementing our success as the capital’s largest bus operator.
I also want to highlight the incredible work our teams do to embrace our five company values. This month, the outstanding team at Go South Coast exemplified our commitment to caring for our communities by raising an incredible £23,000 to support a local children’s hospice.
While our services are a lifeline for many customers in communities, it is equally important that we continue to engage in initiatives such as this that demonstrate our values in action and make a tangible difference to the lives of those we serve.
Lastly, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each of you for your unwavering support and dedication. It is your hard work and commitment that make Go-Ahead and its companies such a great place to work, and I am proud of all that we are achieving together.
Best regards,
Miguel Parras Go-Ahead Group CEO
Driving forward with Go-Ahead Women
Go North West’s first Go-Ahead Women cohort have successfully passed their driving tests. They are now driving buses on the roads, providing an essential service to help keep the community moving.
Go-Ahead announced the target to recruit 1500 women bus drivers and achieve 50% gender balance by 2035 earlier this year. We are investing £7.5 million in an 8-week training program for our Go-Ahead Women cohorts.
By aiming for gender equality by 2035 across our biggest employee population – bus drivers, we will create a more inclusive culture representative of the communities we serve.
Creating inclusive spaces
As part of the Go-Ahead Women initiative, we made a commitment to create inclusive working environments and will invest £8 million to achieve this aim.
We have already taken action and modernised GoAhead London’s 100-year-old garage in Sutton. The garage was built by London General Omnibus Company in 1924 and its facilities needed refurbishment to bring them up to date. There was a tailored plan to improve the garage and it now has enhanced lighting, improved seating, open plan areas and cleaner facilities.
Go-Ahead have refurbished the driver and engineering locker rooms, changing rooms and toilet facilities for men and for women. In the engineering department, a purpose-built changing room has been created for women, with cleaning facilities and storage areas.
The refurbishment programme to create more inclusive spaces continues across the group.
Encouraging more women behind the wheel
Go-Ahead’s recruitment drive continues to deliver the ambition of the Go-Ahead Women initiative.
All Go-Ahead operating companies have held womenonly recruitment days to support the Go-Ahead Women initiative. Representation of women in driver roles is continuing to grow across our business with several Go-Ahead Women cohorts successfully passing their training in recent months.
Left to right: Tracy Rice, Zsoka Benczur, recruitment and training officer Anthea King, Molly Hughes, Sinead Winnard
Values in action
Brand-new express bus route 1X arrives in Brighton & Hove
Brighton & Hove Buses recently launched their new express bus route, the 1X. It operates between Mile Oak and Brighton Marina, offering residents faster connections in the city. Customers are able to spot a 1X bus stop instantly by the bright pink bus stop poles across the city.
A launch event was held in Brighton City Centre, with Olympic Gold Medallist, Sally Gunnell. Members of the public were able to talk with the Brighton & Hove Buses team about the new route, board one of our new buses, and test their speed against Sally for the chance to win prizes.
Supporting travel training for Guide Dogs for the Blind
We care for our customers and ensure that all services are welcoming. At Go South West, Jason Beverley, Customer Experience Manager leads the company partnership with Guide Dogs for the Blind, providing ‘Travel Training’. The aim of this training is support the familiarisation process of travelling by bus for young people with sight loss or visual impairments.
Go-Ahead Dublin LGFA Skills Camp a huge success
For a second year running, Go-Ahead Ireland were the title sponsors of the Dublin LGFA Skills Summer Camps. 200 players are attending the advanced ladies football skills camps, which are directed by current and former inter county Dublin footballers, as well as high-level inter county coaches and mentors. Dervla McKay, Managing Director and Adam Harvey, Marketing Manager, both from Go-Ahead Ireland visited the camp to see first hand how the sponsorship benefited the communities we serve.
Bluestar helps shine a light across Southampton
Bluestar has supported ‘Light the South, a large scale public art event that has taken place in Southampton and Cowes over the summer this year. The spectacular free art trail features 40 lighthouses, each standing 8ft tall. In addition to the main trail, there are 40 smaller sculptures called Little Lights, designed by local schools and community groups, creating a family-friendly trail of discovery and adventure. Afterwards, the sculptures are sold, raising money for Southampton Hospitals Charity to support Southampton Children’s Hospital.
Left to right: Ed Wills (Managing Director), Sally Gunnell, Councillor Muten (Brighton & Hove City Council)
Hop On-board the 280 to tackle loneliness
Go-Ahead bus companies tackle loneliness across the UK with the ‘chatty bus’ scheme – a unique initiative to help both passengers and colleagues. Loneliness is one of the UK’s biggest public health challenges, with research indicating that 3 in 10 Britons go one day a week without speaking to anyone close to them.
Oxford Bus Company’s Chatty Bus was back on the road in August. Team members, along with representatives from our partners Age UK Oxfordshire and Oxfordshire Mind were on-board to spark conversations and make introductions.
Go-Ahead named as leading transport employer for apprenticeships for third year running
We are proud to be listed as the top apprenticeships employer in the transport industry for a third year running in a ranking accredited by the Department for Education. Go-Ahead was recognised as the 7th top apprenticeships employer in England overall. Go-Ahead has taken on nearly 1,000 apprentices in the last 12 months through its award-winning apprenticeships programme, recruiting people into roles including bus drivers, train drivers and engineers in bus and rail.
Greenwave 2024
Launch of the Go-Ahead Singapore Recruitment Centre
The new Go-Ahead Singapore Recruitment Centre recently opened at Pasir Ris Bus Interchange. Aimed at establishing a presence within our community spaces and making it convenient for potential candidates to walk-in for a bus captain interview, a new centre is now open to members of the public to speak to our HR colleagues and find out more about the job opportunities available.
Go-Ahead Singapore partnered with Our Pasir Ris – the Punggol community at Greenwave 2024. The event was bustling with eco activities and students showcasing their creativity using sustainable materials.
Go-Ahead supported the event by providing two-way complimentary shuttle service for guests and participants to the event venue. We also had the honour of presenting our green electric and solar panel buses to our MPs for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Mr Teo Chee Hean, Senior Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security, Dr Janil Puthucheary, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Communications and Information & Ministry of Health, and Mr Sharael Taha.
Go-Ahead London’s recent Graduation event at The Kia Oval
GTR’s approach to railway safety features in BBC documentary
GTR featured in a recent BBC documentary ‘Why trains crash’, which is now available on BBC iPlayer. The documentary focuses on a devastating crash a year ago in India.
The documentary explores what could have caused this disaster and, using case studies of other train accidents, unpacks the science and engineering behind them. It also investigates the pressure put on railway services by maintenance budgets, the greater need for upgrading ageing infrastructures and the significant impact of climate change.
Great Northern Driver Jelena Talbot explains how across our Thameslink and Great Northern routes, we are modernising the signalling systems with our Class A safety system –in-cab signalling, known as the European Train Control System (ETCS).
GTR launches travel guide to help city canines explore beaches and countryside
Whilst humans use the Blue Flag guide to visit beaches around the UK, GTR is sharing its ‘Blue Wag’ travel guide exclusively for dog owners. With around 60 destinations to visit along the south coast, as well as access to the South Downs and other dog-friendly country parks – GTR’s train services offer the quickest and easiest way to get out of the city with four-legged friends.
Community projects to share £448,000 improvement fund
GTR has awarded grants totalling £448,000 to 37 organisations who are launching community projects close to stations served by GTR.
The charities and community groups were chosen from over 200 applicants who bid for support from GTR’s “Your Station, Your Community” fund last summer. Funding support ranges from £300 to £40,000, with larger awards split over two years.
Projects funded last year generated an estimated £150 million in social value, and GTR is aiming for an even higher figure from this year’s increased investment. Almost half of the winning projects will involve and enhance local communities in East and West Sussex, and Brighton & Hove. They include schemes aiming to tackle mental illhealth, homelessness and anti-social behaviour, and to improve the environment, sustainability and accessibility.
New targets to combat climate change
GTR has joined a group of companies worldwide that have set targets to help keep global warming below potentially dangerous levels. The targets have been validated by climate action organisation Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) that is fighting to keep global warming to a 1.5C rise by 2030. Fewer than 5,800 companies worldwide have this accreditation.
More than 1,500 solar panels on the rooftops of train depots at Streatham Hill and Bedford, with still more to follow at Three Bridges and Selhurst
Jason Elgey Get to know...
Head of Engineering
What does your role with Go-Ahead entail?
Reporting into Matt Carney, I lead and take overall responsibility for all Go Ahead Bus Group Engineering related matters. I’m supported day to day by our central engineering team and collaborate closely with each of our Operating Company Engineering Directors and their wider respective teams.
My primary role is to develop and implement a standardised Engineering Fleet Management strategy and help operating companies improve their fleet reliability and raise engineering quality & safety standards.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
It was great to visit most of our operating companies during my first few weeks at Go-Ahead and it was impressive to see our teams in action. Thank you all for the warm welcome! I’m also currently enjoying the challenge of leading the development of our new Quality framework under the Go-Ahead Way. With all the experience and skills across the Go-Ahead Group, it’s impressive to see our Engineering teams working together to develop standardised ways of working to benefit and achieve engineering excellence across the group.
How did you get into the bus industry?
This is my very first role in the bus industry following a diverse 33-year career in Aviation. Originally starting my career as an aircraft engineer in the Armed Forces, I’ve recently held comparable senior engineering & quality leadership roles at easyJet, Jet2.com and Willis Aviation Services Ltd. The opportunity to move into the bus industry with Go-Ahead was perfect timing as I was ready for a fresh new challenge away from aviation.
How does the bus industry with Go-Ahead compare to your experience within Aviation?
I would describe it as being wildly similar yet wildly different at the same time! From an engineering perspective, both industries are laser focused on providing safe and reliable transport services to their passengers and primarily achieve this through high quality maintenance standards and proactive fleet management programmes. Aviation is highly regulated to a different set of standards due to the increased safety risk, but many similarities still exist. It’s great being part of the Go-Ahead
team as we strive to develop our own best in class maintenance standards and fleet management programme.
How do you relax away from work?
I stay very active enjoying family time with my five children, ages ranging between 3 and 22. The energy (& chaos) they bring is invigorating! I also enjoy visiting the theatre and would recommend Stranger Things at the Phoenix Theatre, London if you get the opportunity.
