Stagecoach makes shortlist in top industry awards
Stagecoach South West has been shortlisted for two top honours at the 2012 UK Bus Awards, as well as being in the running to be named Britain’s best bus operator at the London awards ceremony to be held in November.
Stagecoach South West is shortlisted for the Top Shire Operator Award - the award for operators in the shire areas of the UK, covering all areas outside the major cities - the winner of which will go head to head against the winners of the Top City and Top Independent categories for the prestigious UK Bus Operator of the Year Award, which will be announced at the awards on 20 November.
To make the shortlist, the company had to show a real commitment to every aspect of its business, from improving customer relations to its policies on disability and diversity, as well as providing evidence of how it works in partnership with local stakeholders such as local authorities alongside other criteria such as its approach to environmental and social matters.
The company has also made the shortlist for the Environment Award for its Green Champions initiative, in which the whole company has worked to improve its green credentials, from the introduction of a cycle-to-work scheme to recycling the daily bus sweepings, the majority of which are used tickets, newspapers and drinks bottles. All scrap metals, oil and batteries are recycled.
Stagecoach South West has set up a Green Team - from management, engineering and operations staff - in each depot to identify energy-saving measures. Over the past 12 months the company has also made significant investments in the latest vehicles and actively pursued an energy-management programme across all its depots, resulting in a 17.9 per cent year on year reduction in CO2 tonnes emissions.
“We are delighted to have made the shortlist for these two prestigious awards,” said Michelle Hargreaves, managing director of Stagecoach South West. “I am particularly pleased that our environmental commitment, which has involved and engaged every single member of staff, has been recognised.
“Despite a challenging economic situation affecting not only ourselves but also our stakeholders and customers, we decided not to take the easy option of cutting services because we firmly believe in the importance of growing our way out of this recession.
“We carried a total of 27 million passengers in the 2011-12 financial year - an increase of 0.14 per cent over the previous year - over 14 million miles across Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and Dorset. Stagecoach South West has worked hard to maintain network stability and invest in new buses, as well as retaining rural routes which are a lifeline for many here in the South West.”
