UK Government is launching what it describes as a ‘bus revolution’ with the publishing of the National Bus Strategy. The Strategy is backed by £3 billion of investment and is intended to deliver more frequent, more reliable, easier to use and understand, better coordinated and cheaper bus services. According to the Government, levelling-up services across […]
Greater Manchester leaders will meet later this month to consider the introduction of bus franchising across the city-region. Greater Manchester is the first ever city-region in the UK to use the Bus Services Act 2017 to reach the stage of deciding whether to franchise its bus network as part of an integrated transport system. If […]
With the vaccine roll-out cantering on and the infection figures dropping, there are signs the pandemic could be nearing its end. There are certainly indications the country can start opening up again. The Prime Minister has announced the Government’s roadmap to cautiously ease lockdown restrictions in England, with similar easing measures due in the rest […]
A new date for the testing stage of the IRTE Skills Challenge has been announced. The testing stage is now due to take place on the week commencing 21 June. The new date has been selected in line with the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown. It is hoped all legal limits on social contact can […]
Pride and Joy is celebrating 20 years in business this month. Jane and I first met when we were enrolled on the Goldman Sachs 10k small business programme. At first I couldn’t quite work out what Leisurewear Direct was about, so I remember asking her about it. Jane Phillips: ‘I was at very frustrating crossroads. […]
An additional expenditure of up to £61.4 million to enable Scotland’s bus operators to maintain services during the Covid-19 pandemic has been approved by the Scottish Government. The new funding extends the support of up to £191.3 million provided to increase bus services since June 2020. The money is to cover the period 1 April […]
Belle Vue Manchester is providing local charities with £25,000 of free advertising on its buses. The Christie charity, Pure Innovations, NK Theatre Arts and Stockport Volleyball Club are all being promoted on the operator’s school buses. The adverts are running for at least a year. Phil Hitchen, managing director of Stockport-based Belle Vue, said the […]
A group of coach operators is aiming to set up a media charm offensive to put coaching on the map, and is asking operators to give their thoughts. “Rather than wait for the government to promote coach travel, a small number of like-minded operators thought we might be able to do this ourselves,” explains Candice […]