The newsletter of Stagecoach Group Issue 124 | November 2017 STAGE ON page 6 page 8 INSIDE First Citylink tram goes into service | Chaz’s road to success Awarding your 2017 Stagecoach Champions STAGECOACH has paid tribute to employees from across its businesses at its annual Champions Awards. The awards – now in their eighth year – recognise excellence over six areas including Safety, Health, Community, Customer Service, Environment and Innovation. Special Bravery Awards were also presented this year to employees who were caught up in the terrorist attacks in London and Manchester earlier this year. Winners at the 2017 event represented the company’s bus and rail businesses in the UK and North America. All received a trophy, cash prize and a two night stay in London incorporating the award ceremony. The awards event was also attended by TV personality Jessica Wright, who presented winners with their awards. Earlier this year Jessica took part celebrating those who have delivered above and and to our customers every day. in a marketing campaign to celebrate the style of beyond expectations over the past year. “I would like to offer huge congratulations to all of Stagecoach’s bus passengers across the UK. “From the UK to North America, from bus to rail, and our Champions and say thanks to them for the part Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths from behind-the-scenes teams to frontline workers, they play in delivering high-quality services to our said: “We have a fantastic team of employees across we are delighted to have honoured the exceptional passengers.” Stagecoach and our Champions Awards are about people who make a real difference to our business Continues on page 3 Stagecoach recognised at 2017 UK Bus Awards Whistleblowing: the STAGECOACH Group companies and employees have improve out of town employment sites in partnership responsibility of us all been recognised at the 2017 UK Bus Awards. with Liftshare. Whistleblowing is a vital tool in detecting and Several Stagecoach businesses were among the Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire also preventing serious wrongdoing and high-profile winners across a range of award categories at the won bronze in the Marketing Initiative of the Year incidents are often reported in the media. 22nd annual awards ceremony held in London on Award for its Come On You Red Men campaign with But what does it mean for you as an employee Tuesday 21 November with gold, silver and bronze Liverpool FC. at Stagecoach Group or one of its businesses? awards being handed out. There were silver and bronze awards for Stagecoach A new easy-to-understand guide has been The company was recognised in categories covering in the Award for Sustained Marketing Excellence. published by the Group to help employees operations, marketing and community. Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire scooped understand their rights and responsibilities. In the Top Shire Operator category, Stagecoach East silver for its Lakes Connection 555 service, while ‘Whistleblowing: what it means for you’ is the Scotland scooped the silver award, while Stagecoach Stagecoach East Scotland picked up bronze for its Group’s new updated whistleblowing policy, Manchester was awarded a bronze award in the Top Express City Connect service. previously referred to as Speaking Up. It sets out City Operator category. Stagecoach London’s Barking Garage picked up the how the company will investigate any concerns In the People Awards, Stagecoach Manchester bronze award in the London Bus Garage of the Year raised and the action it may take. Operations Manager Mark Mageean won the silver category. At Stagecoach, we value an open, transparent Young Manager of the Year Award, while fellow Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director for England and safe working environment where our people Stagecoach Manchester Operations Manager Stuart and Wales, Mark Threapleton said: “It’s great to see feel able to speak up. Roughley was given a Special Commendation for that our companies and individual employees have Our whistleblowing policy means you can raise Outstanding Service in the Unsung Heroes category. been rewarded for their hard work and innovation. serious concerns constructively without fear Stagecoach West Scotland won a silver award in “We are continuing to invest in improvements for of victimisation, subsequent discrimination or the Buses and the Community category for its Youth our customers and to work hard with our partners disadvantage. Employees who act in the public Express project. as well as urging politicians to make the practical interest to disclose malpractice at work are In the Making Buses a Better Choice category, changes needed to make bus travel even better and Stagecoach Midlands won bronze for its project to allow bus networks to flourish.” Continues on page 7 1 Did you know? More than 80,000 jobseekers in Scotland have benefitted from discounted bus travel through Stagecoach’s Back On Board scheme. ON STAGE Top apprentices What a STAGECOACH’S top UK Bus apprentices have been recognised at the company’s 13th annual Laugh! Apprentice of the Year Awards. Overheard on the Tyne and Wear Metro: Ten bus engineering apprentices were awarded for their outstanding performance at the company’s One teenager to another: “Why do they have largest ever awards ceremony. inventors these days? Everything has been The winners received cash prizes and individual invented.” trophies and tools supplied by event sponsors ADL, If you have seen or heard something funny Optare, the Society of Operations Engineers, Teng – online, in the papers, on social media or just Tool, Volvo Roadcrew, Scania and Juratek. Matthew Sanderson from Stagecoach Yorkshire while out and about – send your contributions This year’s winning Apprentices for the ‘What a Laugh’ section in the next edition was awarded first place in the third year apprentice to [email protected] category for the second year running. Brandon Winner of the year one category was Matt Antill Rutley from Stagecoach South West took second from Stagecoach Manchester, with Jordan Davison place and Shane Foster from Stagecoach East from Stagecoach North East in second place and n Midlands, was awarded third place. Jake Hodson from Stagecoach South West in third. Helping those in need In the year two awards, Stagecoach West Scotland Clare Willis, Deputy Stagecoach UK Bus Training COACH USA subsidiary Lakefront Lines sent apprentice Ross McGarvey received the first and Development Manager (Engineering), said: five buses to the coastal areas of the country place award. Thomas Moorby from Stagecoach “The calibre and potential of all of our apprentices to aid in the evacuation of those impacted by Merseyside and South Lancashire was awarded continues to grow and each year the judging Hurricane Irma. Lakefront Lines Cincinnati second place while Tyrone Wells from Stagecoach becomes more difficult. Our winners this year have General Manager John Brock and his staff London and David Hall from Stagecoach South all worked to an exceptionally high standard and rearranged schedules in order to make it West were awarded joint third place. they thoroughly deserve their awards.” happen and help as many people as possible. Celebrating 68 years Seatfrog app of safe driving hops on board ACTRESS Donna Air joined Virgin Trains to launch the innovative upgrade app Seatfrog which allows customers to bid on last minute upgrades for First Water is handed out to those who need it following Class tickets on East Coast services from just £5. Hurricane Irma The partnership is a world-first for rail passengers and will enable more people than ever to enjoy the perks of First Class. n Coffee and cakes Virgin Trains’ customers have the opportunity to upgrade right up to 30 minutes before departure, WELL done to Stagecoach West Scotland’s from the palm of their hand, with just a few taps of Ardrossan and Kilmarnock depot staff for their smartphone. Completely seamless and easy- holding a Coffee Morning to raise funds for to-use, there’s no hassle of extra paperwork, printing Macmillan Cancer as part of the World’s Ady Dedia, Darran Brown and Paul Turner receive their certificates from Oxfordshire MD Martin Sutton (right) tickets or additional fees. Biggest Coffee Morning. The Newcastle born actress said: “Launching this Both depots put on a fabulous spread of home FIVE bus drivers have been recognised by exciting world-first with Virgin Trains today has baking to entice staff to dig deep and purchase Stagecoach in Oxfordshire and ROSCO, The Road been an absolute pleasure. Just seeing the looks some delicious goodies in aid of the cancer Operators Safety Council, for their collective 68 on people’s charity. years of accident-free driving. faces when Ardrossan A total of 226 Stagecoach Oxfordshire drivers were they find out Depot congratulated by Martin Sutton, Managing Director they can get raised for the area, with a safe driving diploma at the a First Class £540 and annual Safe Driving Awards dinner. seat upgrade Kilmarnock Five drivers – Paul Turner, John Bell, Darran Brown, from only Depot Ady Dedia and George Irvine, stood out on the night five pounds raised £650 for their extended periods of safe driving and were has been giving a rewarded with diplomas and badges that show priceless.” grand total their years of accident free driving. of a £1,190 Martin Sutton commented: “Safe driving is donation. paramount for Stagecoach, so we ensure that we Donna Air at the launch recognise all of those who have been accident free of the new The delicious spread at Kilmarnock depot over the last year.” seating app 2 Bus Alliance success... Find out more on page 6. ON STAGE SILVER: Bus driving team, Winnemucca, Nevada, Your 2017 Stagecoach Champions Coach USA Through focused team efforts and a true commitment SAFETY CHAMPION Gold Safety to safety and the environment, the drivers of Coach GOLD: John Edgar, Electrician; and David Fletcher, Champions USA’s Winnemucca depot were the first in the division John Edgar Cleaner, Morecambe, Stagecoach UK Bus to obtain a zero (0%) GreenRoad score in October John and David have had to administer life saving and David Fletcher with 2016.