THE SOCIALLY ENTERPRISING RAILWAY Logo types As the primary element, our logo needs to be instantly recognisable. The letterforms are bold and modern, A Report Commissioned by capturing a sense of solidity. The primary green colour has been made richer to work better across a range of channels including print and digital. Wherever possible the primary green logo should be used. On occasions where this is not possible, the logo can be used white out. May 2016 If printing a black and white document then the logo should only be used as shown. The logo must be used consistently across all collateral to present a unified presence both on and offline. For full details of correct logo usage see pages 5 to 7. RDG Brand Guidelines v1.0 | 2014 3 CONTENTS Preface ...........................................................................................................................2 Foreword by Paul Salveson: ............................................................................................3 Capturing the potential of collaboration with small enterprises Case studies 1. Café des Fleurs at Rye Station ....................................................................................5 2. Severn Dee Travel at Gobowen Station ........................................................................7 3. The Bistro @ Etchingham Station ...............................................................................10 4. Settle-Carlisle Railway Development Company ..........................................................12 5. The Railway Heritage Trust in Scotland .....................................................................15 6. Kilmarnock Station Community Village .....................................................................17 7. Pollokshaws: South West Community Cycles .............................................................19 8. Veterans Centre at Dumbarton Central .....................................................................22 9. Tyne & Wear Metro ...................................................................................................23 10. GWR small business initiatives ................................................................................26 Lobsters and tea from the West Country Lessons learned, and recommendations by Paul Salveson ..............................................29 Appendix: Acknowledgements and contacts .................................................................32 THE SOCIALLY ENTERPRISING RAILWAY 1 PREFACE The Association of Community Rail Partnerships (ACoRP) has produced this study, on commission by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), which supports the Rail Delivery Group. The project itself was researched by Rachel Francis and David Edwards of the Heart of Wales Line Development Company Ltd. The introduction and “Lessons Learned - Recommendations” were written by independent community rail consultant Prof Paul Salveson. We are extremely grateful for the support of ATOC and train operators including Virgin Trains, Northern, ScotRail, Great Western Railway, DB Regio Tyne and Wear Metro, South Eastern Trains and Southern Railway. Above all, we would like to thank the many community businesses we talked to – both in the case studies and beyond. We hope this report helps you build on your amazing successes. David Edwards Rachel Francis Paul Salveson May 2016 2 THE SOCIALLY ENTERPRISING RAILWAY Foreword: Capturing the potential of collaboration with small enterprises Paul Salveson This study has opened up a treasure trove of What are the benefits? Train companies possibilities, based on practical experience from Each case study outlines the particular project, how across the country. With the right support and it was created and what it has achieved. It asks encouragement, local entrepreneurs are setting up what are the benefits to the railway industry and businesses on stations and elsewhere, providing also to the community? Some common themes support services to train operators. The biggest emerge. problem this project had was limiting the number of case studies to 10 – there’s a lot happening out There is growing recognition in the industry about there, though up to now sharing best practice the importance of trust. This has broken down has been limited. Hopefully this piece of work will barriers and helped the train company cease to be help to raise awareness of the potential of, and ‘them’ and start to become part of ‘us’. encourage greater networking between, rail-based For too long, stations have been seen as neglected small businesses and train operators. and ‘cold’ places; often with a perception of being It’s been a slow process for some of the early unsafe. Having a business activity on the station pioneers who struggled through bureaucracy and helps reduce those concerns and turn stations into red tape to set up a modest business on a station. local community hubs. Gobowen, Rye, Etchingham “If we had known it would be so difficult we and Pollokshaws West are good examples of that. would never have started!” was a fairly typical response. On a larger scale, the ‘community village’ at Kilmarnock and the developments at Whitley Bay That has changed, though it is clear from the are stunning examples of how stations can be research that there remain obstacles. However, transformed into something that both the railway two factors are crucial. The first is the strong companies and the community can feel proud of. encouragement being given to collaboration A further benefit for train operating companies is between train operators and small businesses commercial, though the potential revenue gains through the franchising system. The new Northern shouldn’t be exaggerated. Having a building let to franchise, awarded jointly by the Department a small business on a peppercorn rent is arguably for Transport and Rail North, gives explicit better than having a building standing empty. The encouragement to working with small businesses, big ‘chain’ coffee shops and convenience stories without being over-specific. This is likely to become will have little interest in most of the places that a standard feature of new franchises, and there are were looked at. But by persistence, ingenuity several coming up. and local knowledge, small local enterprises can develop successful businesses. That success can be The second element is an increasing awareness progressively translated into higher rents for the among train operators themselves that working train company. with small businesses can offer good value for money and win recognition for their approach Evidence shows that where there is activity at to responsible business practice. But it should stations, more people are attracted to use the train. be stressed, this is not about accepting a higher A well-cared-for station, with a human presence, price in return for ‘going local’. Very often train feels attractive, safe and welcoming. People are operators can get a better product at lower cost, more likely to use it and tell their friends about it. with additional benefits to the local economy. It A good example, but one of the case studies that may take a bit more effort at first, particularly in couldn’t be included because of time constraints, management time, but once the relationships are is Wakefield Kirkgate. It had a reputation for being established, managing local suppliers becomes ‘Britain’s worst station’ – almost derelict and with a easy. threatening environment. Since its £5m renovation, THE SOCIALLY ENTERPRISING RAILWAY 3 led by social enterprise charity Groundwork, it now shops and post offices, developing stations as local looks and feels a good place to be, with an inviting community hubs with a shop can be a lifeline for café and space used by local businesses. And a village that may have been in seemingly terminal station patronage is rising - Kirkgate is no longer a decline in terms of local shops. ‘no go’ zone. Some of the stations brought back to life due to It must be stressed that the potential for local business involvement were – at their worst collaboration with small to medium sized – places that local people were ashamed of. enterprises (SMEs) is not limited to stations. Small Wakefield Kirkgate is a larger example, but nearby businesses provide a range of high quality, good Moorthorpe was more typical of a small station value services to train companies. with a derelict building that was a haven for drug use and anti-social behaviour. Thanks to the work The Settle-Carlisle Rail Development Company of the local town council, it now houses a café, (SCRDC) provides catering services on Northern’s offices for local businesses and the constituency trains, selling local products. On-train catering is base for the local MP. notoriously difficult to run commercially, but the SCRDC succeeds in making a modest margin and Finding affordable accommodation is a great giving train customers a great quality service. benefit to local businesses. Train companies and Network Rail have a large estate that includes Great Western Railway (GWR) has developed a many buildings, or rooms, forming part of a large highly innovative initiative using local suppliers for building –which have no obvious railway use and some of its catering services. By using a Cornish little apparent commercial value. By offering space tea and coffee supplier it has generated great local to local community groups or small businesses at publicity, supported a growing business and is a peppercorn rent, there