Young Bus Managers in Liverpool

Tuesday 24th October 2023

The Young Bus Managers Network Autumn Conference took place last Wednesday and Thursday and once again had a great positive buzz among the delegates attending from a variety of bus companies from all over the country.

It’s always a pleasure to host the event and, along with my co host Martijn Gilbert, we introduced a great programme of speakers. The conference was held in Liverpool and appropriately kicked off on Wednesday afternoon with the choice of either a River Mersey Cruise (above) or a tour of the Queensway Mersey Tunnel (below) courtesy of Merseytravel, making a change from our more usual bus depot tour.

I joined those on the Mersey Tunnel Tour which is also open to the public and I’d highly recommend this fascinating two hour behind-the-scenes tour. Our two tour guides – Ryan and John – were first class, explaining the history of the Tunnels and their operational characteristics before taking us to see the top of one of the ventilation towers then descending deep below road level inside the Tunnel and hear about back up plans for dealing with emergencies and visit safe areas where stranded motorists can go in the event of fire.

After dinner we heard from the very personable managing director of Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire, Matt Davies, who gave us an outline of lessons learned from dealing with many challenges he’s dealt with during his varied career with Arriva, First and Stagecoach in both large and small depots and bus companies as well as his top tips for getting the best out of members of his teams over the years. 

Being seen by staff, listening to suggestions and ideas and having empathy, were all valuable lessons he’s learned and puts into practice. It was a great introductory presentation to the conference.

Thursday’s programme kicked off with a very topical update from Stephen Rhodes, Director of Bus at Transport for Greater Manchester explaining how the fledgling franchised Bee Network was going.

Stephen explained the recently introduced tranche one comprises 20% of the overall Greater Manchester bus network with tranche two another 30% going live on 24th March next year. All eyes are now on the big one – tranche three – for which bids are currently being invited. This covers the remaining 50% of the network including the whole of south Manchester which will go live on 5th January 2025. Most services in this tranche are currently operated by Stagecoach making for an intriguing outcome ahead.

Stephen candidly admitted everything isn’t yet perfect with tranche one out on the road and work is in hand to stabilise things but importantly he added accountability is now clear and he acknowledged the spotlight was now on TfGM, the Combined Authority and the Mayor but he saw collaboration and partnership with bus operators as key.

Zach McAskill, Head of Franchise Mobilisation at Stagecoach Manchester (and a young bus manager himself) spoke next and gave a fascinating insight into how bids are put together before submission and the work that went into mobilising the 17 school contracts with a 46 PVR Stagecoach won in tranche one, not least the challenge of not having an operating location in the area where these contracts operate.

He also explained how the company prepared staff based at its Wigan depot ready for the transfer over to Go North West which won the franchise for services based there.

There’s more to franchising than you think and Zach certainly gave us all a valuable insight into the work now facing bus companies in the new regime in Manchester while Stephen explained the challenges and new work streams for TfGM.

Next up we heard from Councillor Cathy Mitchell, Chair of municipally owned Warrington’s Own Buses as well as Deputy Leader of Warrington Borough Council. Cathy explained the exciting developments at both the bus company and contained within the Council’s Local Transport Plan. The former has seen the move to a brand new depot fully equipped and ready to receive the replacement of the company’s complete fleet with new electric vehicles following a successful ZEBRA bid. 

Meanwhile the Local Transport Plan has a target of trebling (from 5% to 15%) the number of journeys made by bus by 2041 with car journeys reducing from 74% to 60% of overall journeys in the Borough. A successful Bus Service Improvement Plan award of £16.3 million sees £10 million for new bus priority measures, £4.3 million on improved bus services (increased and restored evening services) and £2 million on reduced fares including a £1 fare for under 19s committed until March 2025.

As is now customary, our programme included presentations from two of our own young bus managers telling us about their own career to date and the work experience and lessons learnt along the way. This time we heard from Jordon Johnson-Symonds, Senior Network Planner at Stagecoach East Midlands who has responsibility for a team compiling the company’s vehicle schedules and driver duties …

… and Hayley Russell from Flixbus who explained that fast growing company’s vision and values.

Our inter-active workshop session this time saw delegates split into groups …

… and form a political party with the creation of a transport manifesto on which their MetroMayor will stand for election who was then invited to make a four minute pitch for votes.

Winner was Mayor Vladimir Busin who pledged his fully funded green manifesto would include everyone Living Life by the Bus coupled with a War on Parking.

Indeed there’d be no parking at all in Vladimir’s city as there’d be no cars in the city centre which would be accessible only to buses and active travel. Runner up was Mayor Arron and his proposals to Make Transport Great Again using the four Ss – speed, savings, standards and sustainability.

Our conference was rounded off in fine style with two other members of the network, Peter Nathanail and Adam Hemingway, Founder and Head of Commercial respectively at the fast expanding Vectare bus company which has recently acquired Galleon Travel trading as Central Connect in Essex.

It’s a fascinating and inspiring story of innovation and growth from humble beginnings when Peter used his technical abilities to work with bus companies to enhance the way their contracts for independent schools operated to the company now being involved in operations across the East Midlands, as well as Norfolk, St Neots and Peterborough and a significant portfolio of bus routes in Essex.

At the end of the presentation, Adam gave us all the exclusive news the soon to be appointed new Head of Operations for Vectare will be Rachel Perkins currently with Bluestar and Unilink and another regular attender of our conferences, demonstrating the value of the Yound Bus Managers Network as that’s how Peter and Adam came across Rachel and saw her potential including her penchant for Jaffa Cakes. A great outcome for Rachel and Vectare.

Earlier in the Conference we’d also heard from Austin Birks, chair of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s Bus & Coach Forum explaining the benefits of belonging to the Institute and gaining professional qualifications in the sector. There was a time when bus companies would insist on such membership but not so much these days which is a pity as much knowledge and information can be gained from peers in the industry through the various channels (meetings, forums, visits, magazine, online) the Institute provides. Perhaps it’s a reflection that increasingly the leaders at the top of our large transport companies have been imported from other sectors rather than having their own transport sector experience.

To finish the conference, Martijn and I announced after twelve years the Young Bus Managers is having its own rebrand and makeover and will be broadening its market to reflect the changing structure for decision making in the bus industry and will now actively encompass young people working in local authorities and the public sector, as well as consultancies and suppliers to the industry so will now be known as Young Bus Professionals. 

Once again the feedback from those attending was hugely positive and the energy and enthusiasm among the young delegates was palpable with everyone looking forward to the next Spring Conference 2024 which will be held in Glasgow on a date to be announced.

Roger French

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