Nottingham City Transport (NCT) is to host ALBUM’s 2025 Conference, with Pelican Bus and Coach and technology provider Passenger announced as headline sponsors.

NCT will host the conference, which is open to everyone in the bus industry to attend, at the East Midlands Conference Centre in Nottingham’s University Park Campus. The event starts with Golf on Monday 12 May and concludes with the annual Gala Dinner on the evening of Wednesday 14 May 2025.

Confirmed speakers include:

• David Leeder, co-founder of Transport Investment Limited
• Andy Gibbons, Programme Manager (Buses) at Leicester City Council
• David Sidebottom, Director at Transport Focus
• Roger French, BusAndTrainUser Blogger
• Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach
• Tom Quay, CEO at Passenger

“I encourage all bus professionals to attend” – David Astill, NCT Managing Director

David Astill, NCT Managing Director, said: “Once again the legislative framework under which the bus industry operates is entering a phase of once-in-a-generation structural change. In the debates to be had we must not lose sight of the priorities of new and existing bus users; that is services that are frequent, punctual and reliable operated with modern low emission and easily accessible vehicles, with easy and simple ways of paying the fare, live departure information and friendly staff. At our conference we will be exploring the ways to achieve this based on best practice. I encourage all bus professionals to attend. This is really is the perfect time to be having this debate.”

“We’re very much looking forward to spending time with colleagues in Nottingham — a city that has been so instrumental in Passenger’s own journey” – Tom Quay, CEO, Passenger

Tom Quay, CEO, Passenger, said: “Passenger is delighted to be a headline sponsor of the ALBUM Conference 2025. It’s an important fixture in the bus industry calendar. We’re very much looking forward to spending time with colleagues in Nottingham — a city that has been so instrumental in Passenger’s own journey.”

“The Conference is a fantastic opportunity for our industry to debate the current issues and grasp the opportunities that will be presented” – Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach

Ian Downie, Head of Yutong UK at Pelican Bus and Coach, said: “It is an absolute pleasure to have the honour to be a headline sponsor of the Album Conference 2025 in Nottingham. The Conference is a fantastic opportunity for our industry to debate the current issues and grasp the opportunities that will be presented. An added bonus is that it is being hosted by Nottingham City Transport, providing the opportunity to ride on their state-of-the-art Yutong single deck buses!”

Accommodation will be at the Orchard Hotel, with an exclusive rate of £109 per night available for ALBUM Conference attendees.

Sponsorship opportunities, exhibition stands, accommodation and conference bookings will be available through the ALBUM website from mid-September 2024.

ALBUM exists to provide a forum to exchange best practice among its members from the municipal and SME sector and to influence policy, for the promotion of high-quality services that encourage more people to travel by bus.

• For more on ALBUM, see the next issue of B&CB (1684, 23 August 2024) for our interview with Bill Hiron, Chair of ALBUM