Essex Now – Summer 2015

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now

Summer 2015

The magazine for First people in Essex

MAJOR INVESTMENT

NEWtravelshop ISA BONUS FOR

IN NEW ECO-FRIENDLY BUSES &TECHNOLOGY See Group News PAGE SIX

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now We need to work together to build on achievements

By Interim Managing Director

Alex Jones I’D like to start by introducing myself for those I have not been lucky enough to meet yet. I’ve taken on the role as Managing Director for First Essex as Interim from Adrian Jones who is now Operations Director for First UK Bus. I have come to know First Essex very well since joining 15 months ago after six months in Bristol and 16 years at First in London.

With the experience and knowledge I have of our business locally and nationally, coupled with the fantastic team we have in place, I’m confident that we will be able to continue the hard work we’ve put in to make First Essex successful.

It’s been an extremely busy few months. We’ve successfully installed new VIX ticket machines in all our depots, Real Time Passenger Information is imminent and we have just completed the six week monitoring exercise on punctuality as required by the Traffic Commissioner. A big thank you to all the staff involved.

We’ve recently opened our brand new Travel Centre in Colchester with work also underway at the new Haven Road depot. Basildon Bus Station resurfacing works have also been completed.

The commitment and dedication of our staff continues to impress and we recently staged a long service awards evening. We’ve also seen a number of our drivers achieve Fleet Elite status after maintaining tremendous DriveGreen scores over the year – more evidence of our commitment to the very best standards of service for our customers.

We face some challenges over the next few months, with a restructure of our business in a challenging financial climate.

However, I know that by continuing to work together, we will overcome any problems that come our way.

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Aim is to further improve ratings IRST Essex staff are being challenged to go the extra mile to improve the Passenger Focus Bus Passenger Survey satisfaction score still further.

Up five per cent on the previous year and the highest it has been since 2011, the OpCo recorded an impressive 86 per cent of passengers who were very or fairly satisfied with services in Essex.

Interim Managing Director Alex Jones, in acknowledging a

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fantastic level of recognition, said: “We’re working hard to improve service performance locally.

“We are fostering better and stronger partnerships with our local authority partners and other stakeholders.

“We’ve invested nearly £9 million in 58 state-of-the-art new vehicles over the last two years and our customers are beginning to welcome and recognise the benefits of our mobile ticketing options.

“Our score reflects the talent, commitment and hard work of all my colleagues in Essex and the improvements we've delivered.

“However, while these results are encouraging, we are far from complacent. Our customers remain at the heart of what we do and I am determined to encourage more people to travel on our buses by improving our services. I’m confident our passenger score will rise again next year.”

Interim Managing Director Alex Jones, right, talks with Skilled Engineer Toby Chippett, centre, and Supervisor Nick Ringrose at Chelmsford depot.

Awareness sessions to be rolled out SPECIALIST representatives from Prostate Cancer UK are set to stage awareness sessions at depots, canteens and offices across First Essex now the organisation is the group’s UK Charity of Choice.

They will be handing out information on symptoms, how to get a check up and how the condition is treated. The group is also producing a million credit-card sized Know Your Prostate booklets for staff to share with family and friends.

It comes as First fundraisers gear up to help raise £1 million for men affected by prostate

cancer over the next three years. The charity has created a fundraising toolkit with great ideas like bake sales, barbecues, runs and even sky diving.

The latest charity link-up started in April and follows previous successful partnerships with Save the Children and Macmillan Cancer Support.

Katie Smart, FirstGroup CSR and Community Manager, said: “With your help, we donated more than £1.1 million in cash and kind to Macmillan – so let’s do the same with Prostate Cancer UK.”

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Shop and rest area get thumbs up

StreetLites in service

STATE-OF-THE-ART facilities for colleagues and customers are now open in Colchester while work also continues apace on a new depot for the town.

Three members of staff now run the new travel shop in St Travel Botolph’s Street, selling tickets, Clerk Michelle taking bookings and providing Waterman stocks up the timetables and information. customer information stand The shop also has an open at the new Travel Shop in plan driver rest area complete Colchester. Our cover with a paying in machine, vending machines, two pictures her colleague, microwaves, two refrigerators Travel Clerk Becky and a hot water facility. A Jackson. separate lifelong learning room has also been created.

Staff Manager Gerry Mullery being just a minute from the bus said: “Everyone’s loving it. It’s station.” such a big area people feel lost Building work on the new in it but the facilities are Quayside depot in Haven Road fantastic and it’s even better remains on schedule for an

A total of 16 new StreetLite buses costing £2.7 million are now in service across First Essex. Hadleigh and Basildon have seven each with a further two operating out of Colchester.

Another 17 StreetLites will be delivered this year. The micro hybrids all come with low floor access, leather seats and free WiFi. First Essex General Manager Nikki Alder said: “We’re delighted to introduce these new buses into our Essex fleet.

“They’re part of a significant investment to improve the service we bring to our customers.”

August or September move from the current depot in Queen Street. The redevelopment of facilities in the town is costing First Essex £3.5 million.

New facilities boost

lifelong learning Driver Don Golding with two of the Lifelong Learning awards which have been presented to the Colchester Centre.

OP quality education is on offer now lifelong learning has a new home and is no longer based in a shared Portakabin at Colchester depot.

Trade Union Learning Rep Russell Brand has wasted no time in gauging what people want after the St Botolph’s Street classroom opened for business.

Russell, a Driver for 30 years, said: “The old Portakabin was stuffy, not very enticing and we always had a conflict of space whereas our new, dedicated room, is fantastic.

“We’ve got four computers, desks, cabinets and a notice board. Our previous learning rep had built up a collection of shields, trophies and prizes over the years so they’re on display and that makes it homely. Everyone’s really impressed.

“I’m already doing needs analysis on what type of courses people want. I’m being asked about NVQ qualifications and there’s a lot of interest in foreign languages.

“The new facilities have galvanised us all so I’d like to thank Lifelong Learning Programme Project Worker Debbie Knight and General Manager Nikki Alder for their help and support.”

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Katy meets the teams GROUP Communications Assistant Katy Soar spent a day on a whistle stop tour of the Chelsmford and Colchester depots. She met colleagues at the driver training school, travel shops and engineering.

She said: “It was wonderful to meet so many people in different roles who all help to look after the communities we serve.”

Reporting made easier INCIDENT reporting has been made easier and quicker now drivers no longer have to fill in the UK Bus Incident Report form.

Drivers now have to phone in just like they do with a collision when reporting passenger incidents, bus on bus collisions, vandalism and collisions within depots using the Freephone number 0800 028 1098.

Group art competition BUDDING artists and talented photographers are being urged to take part in a group wide competition and support Prostate Cancer UK in the process.

Staff should speak to their Trade Union Learning Rep who will have all the details about the competition called 12 Months in the Bus Lane.

SUMMER 2015

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now WIN

OUT of town driving and the fact the route takes him past his own house makes Service 25a from Southend to Basildon the favourite route for young Driver Frank Fordham...

£50 worth of vouchers in FUN QUIZ Love2Shop vouchers worth £50 are again up for grabs in our latest competition – with all the answers really easy to find because they are in the pages of this issue of Essex Now. All you have to do to win is correctly answer the following questions:

1

How many years long service by 51 First Essex staff was recognised at a special celebration evening?

2

Clacton Driver Paul Wilson drummed for which two legendary bands?

3

Name the two Presentation Team Leaders based at Chelmsford depot?

4 5

The Passenger Focus Bus Passenger Survey gave the company what satisfaction score?

Muddy marvellous colleagues took part in what famous annual charity race?

Night teams deliver

crucial services

Helping raise hospice funds

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SUMMER 2015

NSOCIAL working hours are not for everyone but depot Presentation Teams across First Essex turn up come hail, rain or shine to graft late into the night and the early hours of the following day to prepare the fleet for service.

The 10-strong team of vehicle quality operatives, deep cleaners, shunters and fillers at Chelmsford work seven days a week on a cycle of 4pm to midnight, 4.30pm to 12.30am and 5.30pm to 1.30am shifts. Led by Team Leaders Jack Atkins and Ryan Crowle, they refuel, carry out internal cleans, external washes and then park up between 95 and 100 buses at a time.

Mick Crowle is the Facilities and VQO Manager for both Chelmsford and Braintree, where a team of five led

by Supervisor Ian Thorpe carry out the same crucial role. Mick said: “It’s an often thankless task working in a Presentation Team but its a vital part of run in and run out. Our teams work in all weathers, making sure our buses are refuelled and ready to go for our drivers and spotless for our customers.

“It’s a real behind-the-scenes task because of their working hours and many go unnoticed by their colleagues. They can feel a little ignored so I started an Employee of the Month and the team at Chelmsford pick a team member who gets a certificate.

It’s just one small way of saying thank you.”

U

Entries should be emailed to andrew.wheeler@firstgroup.com and should include your name and contact telephone numbers.

The first entry to be drawn out of the hat with the five correct answers wins the prize. The closing date is July 31, 2015. ● Chelmsford-based Roadside Publicity Officer Bob Woolner won the shopping vouchers last time.

SEVEN staff from Hadley and Chelmsford depots supported a lunch to raise funds for the Little Havens Children’s Hospice at Rayleigh.

Football legend Sir Trevor Brooking hosted the event at Orsett Hall Hotel in Thurrock – which included the auction of Lionel Messi shirt.

Meanwhile, around 20 First Essex drivers and administrative staff have supported the hospice by taking part in the Southend Half Marathon.

Members of the Chelmsford Presentation Team are, left to right, VQO George Wilcox, VQO Terry Lee, VQO Team Leader Ryan Crowle, VQO Shaun Goss, VQO Team Leader Jack Atkins, Michael Bohannon, who is on work placement, and VQO Gejza Szombatch.

Mick Crowle, Facilities and VQO Manager, presents the Employee of the Month certificate to VQO George Wilcox.

VQO Gejza Szombatch sweeps a bus.

Frank Fordham whose favourite route 25a goes past his house.

VQO Shaun Goss carries out refuelling.

VQO Terry Lee cleans a bus windscreen.

I’M based at Hadleigh and at 22 this is my first proper job so I’m really enjoying it. I started in March last year and before that I did a bit of labouring, worked as a doorman in Southend for six months and did some security work.

I do permanent lates so my duty means I don’t often get the chance to drive my favourite route. It’s a toss up between the 25 and the 25A for me but I’ll go for the 25A from Southend to Basildon via the hospital, Wickford and Rayleigh because it goes past my house.

It takes about an hour and a half each way and I get to drive it about once or twice a month. Normally I’m on the 27s and 28s and spend time sitting in the traffic but the 25a

gets you out into the countryside and it’s a longer run so that’s good.

It’s nice to have different scenery and I really like the section from the Carpenters Arms roundabout to the post office at Shotgate.

I live at home in Southend with my dad Stuart and mum Joanne and the route goes straight past my house so the first time I did it I rang them to say I’d be coming past. They came out on the pavement to give me a wave. It was a bit embarrassing but I gave them a wave back.

The passengers are great and I don’t let things worry me so when a customer on the route has a problem I do my best to sort it out without taking it personally.

The 25A passes through Rayleigh.

SUMMER 2015

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Essex

now WIN

OUT of town driving and the fact the route takes him past his own house makes Service 25a from Southend to Basildon the favourite route for young Driver Frank Fordham...

£50 worth of vouchers in FUN QUIZ Love2Shop vouchers worth £50 are again up for grabs in our latest competition – with all the answers really easy to find because they are in the pages of this issue of Essex Now. All you have to do to win is correctly answer the following questions:

1

How many years long service by 51 First Essex staff was recognised at a special celebration evening?

2

Clacton Driver Paul Wilson drummed for which two legendary bands?

3

Name the two Presentation Team Leaders based at Chelmsford depot?

4 5

The Passenger Focus Bus Passenger Survey gave the company what satisfaction score?

Muddy marvellous colleagues took part in what famous annual charity race?

Night teams deliver

crucial services

Helping raise hospice funds

4

SUMMER 2015

NSOCIAL working hours are not for everyone but depot Presentation Teams across First Essex turn up come hail, rain or shine to graft late into the night and the early hours of the following day to prepare the fleet for service.

The 10-strong team of vehicle quality operatives, deep cleaners, shunters and fillers at Chelmsford work seven days a week on a cycle of 4pm to midnight, 4.30pm to 12.30am and 5.30pm to 1.30am shifts. Led by Team Leaders Jack Atkins and Ryan Crowle, they refuel, carry out internal cleans, external washes and then park up between 95 and 100 buses at a time.

Mick Crowle is the Facilities and VQO Manager for both Chelmsford and Braintree, where a team of five led

by Supervisor Ian Thorpe carry out the same crucial role. Mick said: “It’s an often thankless task working in a Presentation Team but its a vital part of run in and run out. Our teams work in all weathers, making sure our buses are refuelled and ready to go for our drivers and spotless for our customers.

“It’s a real behind-the-scenes task because of their working hours and many go unnoticed by their colleagues. They can feel a little ignored so I started an Employee of the Month and the team at Chelmsford pick a team member who gets a certificate.

It’s just one small way of saying thank you.”

U

Entries should be emailed to andrew.wheeler@firstgroup.com and should include your name and contact telephone numbers.

The first entry to be drawn out of the hat with the five correct answers wins the prize. The closing date is July 31, 2015. ● Chelmsford-based Roadside Publicity Officer Bob Woolner won the shopping vouchers last time.

SEVEN staff from Hadley and Chelmsford depots supported a lunch to raise funds for the Little Havens Children’s Hospice at Rayleigh.

Football legend Sir Trevor Brooking hosted the event at Orsett Hall Hotel in Thurrock – which included the auction of Lionel Messi shirt.

Meanwhile, around 20 First Essex drivers and administrative staff have supported the hospice by taking part in the Southend Half Marathon.

Members of the Chelmsford Presentation Team are, left to right, VQO George Wilcox, VQO Terry Lee, VQO Team Leader Ryan Crowle, VQO Shaun Goss, VQO Team Leader Jack Atkins, Michael Bohannon, who is on work placement, and VQO Gejza Szombatch.

Mick Crowle, Facilities and VQO Manager, presents the Employee of the Month certificate to VQO George Wilcox.

VQO Gejza Szombatch sweeps a bus.

Frank Fordham whose favourite route 25a goes past his house.

VQO Shaun Goss carries out refuelling.

VQO Terry Lee cleans a bus windscreen.

I’M based at Hadleigh and at 22 this is my first proper job so I’m really enjoying it. I started in March last year and before that I did a bit of labouring, worked as a doorman in Southend for six months and did some security work.

I do permanent lates so my duty means I don’t often get the chance to drive my favourite route. It’s a toss up between the 25 and the 25A for me but I’ll go for the 25A from Southend to Basildon via the hospital, Wickford and Rayleigh because it goes past my house.

It takes about an hour and a half each way and I get to drive it about once or twice a month. Normally I’m on the 27s and 28s and spend time sitting in the traffic but the 25a

gets you out into the countryside and it’s a longer run so that’s good.

It’s nice to have different scenery and I really like the section from the Carpenters Arms roundabout to the post office at Shotgate.

I live at home in Southend with my dad Stuart and mum Joanne and the route goes straight past my house so the first time I did it I rang them to say I’d be coming past. They came out on the pavement to give me a wave. It was a bit embarrassing but I gave them a wave back.

The passengers are great and I don’t let things worry me so when a customer on the route has a problem I do my best to sort it out without taking it personally.

The 25A passes through Rayleigh.

SUMMER 2015

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now Checking passengers are safe before pulling away.

New drive reinforces key safety value FIRST UK Bus people are being encouraged to take personal responsibility to make sure they, their colleagues and customers remain safe.

It comes amid an increase in collisions and passenger injuries in most OpCos. There were fewer severe injuries but more minor injuries to passengers boarding and alighting.

There is also concern that slips and trips during in 2013/14 led to an increase in staff lost time injuries.

First UK Bus Managing Director Giles Fearnley said: “We need to address these

issues and we are working to encourage colleagues to take personal responsibility for safety.”

A new system is being developed to help identify drivers’ training and support needs in relation to safety.

It aims to provide a consistent approach to analysing driver data across the whole group, and identify the factors that are a risk to employee and customer safety.

This tool will enable colleagues to discuss safety matters more accurately during professional development planning.

Micro Hybrid Streetlite Buses which entered service last year.

First has ordered a further 183 of these environmentally-friendly vehicles, which now feature Euro 6 engines.

UR announcement of a £77.7million order for new vehicles is fantastic news. It’s one of our biggest ever orders and reinforces improving performance, increasing passenger numbers and our continuing commitment to deliver our Better Journeys for Life promise.

Investing in our fleet is absolutely key if we are to continue improving our product and attracting new customers.

We should all be proud that we’ve invested almost £385million in vehicles over the last five years, replacing some 2,200 buses, almost a third of our fleet. The new vehicles will all come fitted with leather seats, CCTV and WiFi, providing customers with free internet access.

In addition to the dedicated space for wheelchair users, extra space will be provided for pushchairs and we are trialling the installation of USB charging points on some vehicles. I’m also delighted that more than 90 per cent of the new buses will be fitted with environmentally friendly Euro 6 engines, the biggest investment in Euro 6 buses in the UK to date. To set this in context, Euro 6 engines have eight times less emissions than their predecessors, the Euro 5. As well as travelling in new buses, customers will benefit from improvements in new technology. For example: ● We will soon reveal improvements to our website including real time bus tracking and journey planning, alongside a trial of the same features in the mTicketing app.

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Investing in future

success

● We’re also looking at new ways of paying for mTickets, including Paypal, and Apple Pay, as well as exploring new technologies to validate mTickets.

Of course, we can only continue to invest by being successful as a business. We need to set the highest

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SUMMER 2015

By First UK Bus Managing Director

Giles Fearnley standards in our operational performance whilst offering our customers excellent value.

We are committed to continuing to build a more sustainable business. That means introducing cost efficiencies where possible and increasing revenues underpinned by continuing to grow our customer base.

We know that the most effective way to deliver the best bus services for customers is through operators and local authorities working together in partnership, and we have a great track record of doing just that.

We believe that there is much more that can be done through partnership and that calls by some Local Authorities for regulation of bus services is not necessary.

We have made great progress in strengthening our businesses across the Division but regrettably in some of our towns and cities, particularly where the local economies are suffering, we continue to face significant challenges.

The announcement of this investment, however, demonstrates again our strong commitment to our Better Journeys for Life promise.

VIPs to appear at ceremonies VIP speakers will appear at First UK Bus Excellence Awards ceremonies.

Olympic gold medalist athlete Sally Gunnell is guest of honour at the South England & Wales ceremony in Reading, while Scotland rugby hero Gavin Hastings will address the gathering in Scotland.

North England’s ceremony will be hosted

by Harry Gration, who presents the BBC’s evening news programme Look North.

Over 1,100 nominations have been received from colleagues for the awards launched this year to reward and recognise those staff who best display the company’s values and go the extra mile.

Look out for reports in the next issue of your employee magazine.

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Loyal staff honoured at awards ceremony as 51 employees clock up service totalling 1,655 years LONG service totalling 1,655 years notched up by 51 First Essex staff was recognised at a special celebration evening in Chelmsford.

A total of 19 staff with 900 years’ service between them attended the event at the Best Western Ivy Hill Hotel and were awarded special certificates of service for reaching 50, 45, 40, 35 and 25 year milestones.

Clacton Driver Ken Mead led the way with 50 years in the bus industry under his belt while Nanette Wallace, the Chelmsford Travel Shop Manager, has reached 40 years. Those that could not be present and with service ranging from 45 to 25 years will get certificates too.

Basildon Operations Manager Steve Smith has just celebrated 35 years in the industry – all at the same depot.

The 57-year-old joined as a Driver in 1980 and has held

Ken Mead various roles since including Inspector, Supervisor and Senior Controller. He moved into his current job in 1997.

He said: “When I joined, we had conductors so that made it slightly easier. In the old days there were more of what I call busmen.

“With the generational changes, there aren’t so many

Nanette Wallace any more. I’ve stayed at the same depot because I’m local and I know the area well so I’ve had no need to move. I’d be happy to see my days out here.”

Steve, a keen cyclist, was presented with a cake to mark his 35 years’ service.

Former First Essex Managing Director Adrian

Jones, now First UK Bus Operations Director, hosted the event alongside First Essex Interim Managing Director Alex Jones.

Adrian said: “We held the event to congratulate colleagues who have shown remarkable dedication to the bus industry and their customers.”

Jack Gray admires the stonework entrance of the Lady of the Light and St Osyth Catholic Church at Clacton.

During his time as a stonemason, Jack carried out stonework inside the church.

Jack’s skills

LACTON Driver Jack Gray carved out a creative skill alongside his career on the buses – he was a stonemason for more than 30 years and even repaired parts of Buckingham Palace for the Queen.

The 60-year-old first picked up a mallett and chisel in 1973 when he landed a job in London as a trainee. He eventually specialised in marble and granite, working on several iconic buildings in the capital as well as the Middle East.

During slumps in the building trade, Jack earned his living as a Routemaster Driver for London Transport before giving up stonemasonry altogether more

Steve Smith

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than 10 years ago and joining First Essex.

He said: “I really enjoyed life as a stonemason. The camaraderie was great but it got too hard in the end, my knees had gone. I’ve worked on the NatWest Tower, the tube station near Parliament Square, the National Gallery, the

British Library and Buckingham Palace.

“Someone complained about the noise when we were there, I don’t know if it was the Queen, so we had to stop work for a couple of hours a day.

“I used to go out to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for a couple of

months at a time, working on Government buildings, banks and conference centres. One of the buildings I worked on was blown up during the first Gulf War. “My tools are long gone now and I’m enjoying life on the buses – meeting people and serving customers.”

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Drummer Paul Wilson, right with Clacton Driver and guitarist Geoff Lewis.

They both now play in the same band called Rhino Rockers.

r o f r e m m u r d was EGENDARY bands Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Psychedelic Furs have one thing in common – Clacton Driver Paul Wilson who once drummed for both.

He was a Banshee briefly in the early days of punk and became a founding member of the Furs in 1977 before leaving two years later just as the band hit the big time.

From a family of musicians, Paul’s sons Danny and Gary,

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brother Martin and uncle Richard Pooley in Australia are all drummers. His wife Lesley plays tenor and alto saxophone and daughter Molly May is a song writer/guitarist.

He keeps his pride and joy, a Premier Resonator kit, in a fully-equipped studio in his garden shed and is currently rehearsing with a Pink Floyd covers band ahead of a UK tour.

He also plays with Clacton Driver Geoff Lewis in a band

Take personal responsibility ENGINEERING Director Dave Aspinall is reminding First Essex staff that they really can make a difference with safety.

He said: “Accidents don’t just happen. They are caused by the acts or omissions of one or more people.

“Our own safe behaviour is our best safeguard. Remember that if we’re tempted to take a shortcut or ignore safety procedures for just a minute, that could be when a preventable incident occurs.”

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called Rhino Rockers.

Paul, who jokingly describes himself as a little over 21, said: “I was taught by my dad Les, who is my drumming hero. He died in 2006 and used to play with bandleader Jack Parnell.

“I played my first gig when I was 14 and once appeared as part of a 24-piece orchestra so I sort of started off as a swinger rather than a rocker!

“I’ve played all the big venues on the London circuit, the Marquee, Rock Garden, the Ally Pally and Fairfield Hall in Croydon.

I left the Furs just before they were signed by CBS. I had to be at a family function and couldn’t play a gig at the Zig Zag Club so that was that.

“Since then I’ve played all over the country for a 60s covers band and with a few Essex groups. I’m enjoying life on the buses now and still drum every day – it’s a great way of relieving stress.”

Marvellous fundraiser MUDDY marvellous is the only way to describe the 11 Chelmsford colleagues who took on the famous Maldon Mud Race this year – among them a couple who are getting married this summer.

They were among 249 runners who braved the cloying 500-metre course through the tidal flats of the River Blackwater at Promenade Park.

Driver Paul Groves was the top First Essex finisher coming 20th in a time of six minutes 30 seconds.

He was joined in the First Essex Mud Hoppers by Drivers Michal Kudla, David Perkins and Brian Charlesworth as well as Driver Trainer Liz Goodman and her fiance Driver Peter Greenwood.

The second team, the First Essex Mud Runners, were Drivers Terry Walton, Dan Everest, Chris Miller, Hugh Morris and Melanie Skingley. The Essex teams raised £1,900, including a £1,000 contribution from the First Charity and Sponsorship Committee, for the mud race charities.