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The final countdown: Go-Ahead prepares to operate Manchester’s first Bee Network buses

18 September 2023

The final countdown: Go-Ahead prepares to operate Manchester’s first Bee Network buses

Yellow Bee Network buses will roll out of depots in Bolton and Wigan on Sunday morning

Customers to benefit from safe, secure, comfortable zero-emission buses

Go North West welcomes colleagues from 6 incumbent bus brands, plus drivers new to the industry

Over 1,000 colleagues are ready to operate 320 buses on 50 routes

The Go-Ahead Group is making final preparations to run Manchester’s first Bee Network buses this weekend, with services due to begin on Sunday on 50 routes in Bolton and Wigan.

More than 1,000 colleagues at Go-Ahead’s Go North West operating company are involved in a team effort to run the yellow-branded buses, which mark the start of Transport for Greater Manchester’s Bee Network – which will be an integrated system bringing together all modes of local transport.

Mobilisation efforts have been underway for 10 months since the award of a contract to Go North West by TfGM. Go North West is taking over two depots from outgoing operators and buses will be swapped out, with fully trained new drivers in place, overnight.

Bee Network buses will replace Manchester’s six incumbent bus brands over the next 18 months, providing a joined up network for passengers. This weekend is the first of three phases in which buses across Greater Manchester will go yellow. Six liveries from legacy bus companies will eventually disappear.

Of the Bolton and Wigan fleet, 50 buses are zero-emission electric vehicles and all are fully accessible. All the buses on the network are equipped with passenger information screens and space for two wheelchairs, plus CCTV and two-way radios for security.

Go-Ahead brings expertise in franchised bus services from its track record as London’s largest bus operator, running a quarter of buses in the capital. The company also runs buses under contract for transport authorities in Ireland, Sweden and Singapore.

Fares remain £2 for an adult ticket, or £1 for a child.

“”
It’s all change for Manchester’s buses and we have a team of over 1,000 people ready to go this weekend. We’ve been working around the clock for months on a mammoth operation – every vehicle, every depot and every driver needs to be ready. We are determined to deliver world class public transport for a world class city. Go-Ahead is proud to be working with the Mayor and with Transport for Greater Manchester over this exciting changeover weekend.

Nigel Featham

Managing Director, Go North West

Angie Doll appointed Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway

14 September 2023

Angie Doll appointed Chief Executive Officer of Govia Thameslink Railway

Leadership transition at Britain’s biggest rail company with effect from the end of November

Angie Doll steps up from Chief Operating Officer to become Chief Executive Officer

After five years at GTR, Patrick Verwer moves to The Go-Ahead Group as Rail CEO

Govia Thameslink Railway announces today that Angie Doll is to become its Chief Executive Officer at the end of November, replacing Patrick Verwer who is stepping away from day-to-day management of Britain’s largest rail network.

The appointment has been made by The Go-Ahead Group and Keolis, joint owners of GTR – which delivers a fifth of all UK passenger rail journeys through its Thameslink, Southern, Great Northern and Gatwick Express services.

Angie is presently Chief Operating Officer of GTR – a role she has held since October 2021. Prior to that, she was Managing Director of Southern and Gatwick Express. She joined the railway industry in 1999 as station manager in Brighton, and has held a series of senior passenger delivery and strategic positions at Go-Ahead rail operating companies.

Her achievements include leading the UK’s first domestic high-speed train services at Southeastern, introducing a new Gatwick Express fleet and leading Southern to become National Passenger Operator of the Year in 2021. An advocate for diversity in the workplace, she has won the Everywoman Transport and Logistics Champion award and the Rail Business Award for Diversity, and she is a champion for youth employability.

The leadership handover at GTR enables Patrick Verwer to move to The Go-Ahead Group to take on a strategic role as Rail CEO. He will oversee rail development projects at Go-Ahead, which operates rail networks in Germany and Norway as well as the United Kingdom and has plans to expand in light rail under its ‘Next Billion Journeys’ strategy.

“”
Angie is a superb leader with a true instinct for the railways, and a keen eye for the needs of passengers. She has excelled in every role she’s held at Go-Ahead and she is the ideal person to steer GTR to its next phase of growth. I’d like to thank Patrick for his outstanding achievements in leading Britain’s busiest and most complex rail network over the last five years. He has delivered many innovations and he’s built a strong, stable and consistent service over a period in which the industry has faced significant challenges. I’m delighted he will be taking on a broader role at Go-Ahead, bringing fresh thinking, as well as years of experience to help us grow our rail business. I very much look forward to continuing working alongside him.

Christian Schreyer

Group Chief Executive Officer, The Go-Ahead Group

“”
This railway is very close to my heart and I feel proud and honoured to be taking on this new challenge. I very much look forward to leading the wonderful teams at Govia Thameslink Railway, so we build on the great progress we’ve already made. Partnering with our stakeholders and industry colleagues to deliver for our customers is going to be my absolute focus, so we meet customers’ needs, connect people and help communities thrive.

Angie Doll

“”
It has been an absolute pleasure working with the GTR team. They have shown dedication, true customer focus and incredible resilience. Together we have delivered significant innovation and development across London and the South East, including improvements to customer information and service punctuality, more focus on security and safety, as well as improvements to accessibility and diversity. I am absolutely delighted to be handing over the reins to Angie Doll later this year, and very much look forward to starting my new role at The Go-Ahead Group.

Patrick Verwer

The Go-Ahead Group creating world leading electric charging hub in Oxford

17 July 2023

The Go-Ahead Group creating world leading electric charging hub in Oxford

Work begins on installing 104 electric charging points at Go-Ahead’s Oxford Bus Company depot in Cowley.

The facility will be among the largest zero-emission bus charging hubs in Britain.

Electric buses in Oxford will take to the streets later this year co-funded by operators, the local authority and the Department for Transport.

The Go-Ahead Group has commenced work to install one of the biggest electric charging hubs in the UK at the depot of its Oxford Bus Company operation.

Zenobē, the UK’s leading fleet electrification specialist has begun work to install extensive charging infrastructure at Cowley House.

 

The 104 charging points, each offering 150kw of DC power, are being installed ahead of Oxford Bus Company receiving the first delivery of electric buses later this year.

 

The hub will be supplied by an 8 Megawatt (MW) electrical connection, which will provide enough electricity to charge all 104 buses, enough for each bus to drive over 170 miles per day. The charging hub will produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of:

 

More than 16,000 average family homes

More than 130,000 TVs simultaneously

Boiling 2,700 kettles continuously

With co-funding from Go Ahead Group, Oxfordshire County Council and the Department for Transport’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) scheme, Oxford Bus Company has ordered 104 new electric buses to begin arriving on Oxford’s streets from late 2023.

A consortium of bus operators including the Oxford Bus Company pledged £43.7M towards the scheme, the government committed £32.8M and Oxfordshire County Council £6M. In total the combined investment will result in 159 new battery electric buses serving Oxford. Oxfordshire was one of only 12 local authorities to successfully apply for ZEBRA funding and is one of the biggest schemes in the country.

“”
This is another exciting step forward in our extensive infrastructure scope of works in preparation for transforming our city services to electric. Partnering with Zenobē ensures we will receive the best-in-class advice and technology to fully equip us with a market leading charging solution that meets our needs. We’re looking forward to introducing the first tranche of electric buses later in the year, which will help improve air quality and make bus travel an even more attractive option for people to travel around Oxford.

Luke Marion

Oxford Bus Company Managing Director

The Oxford Bus Company’s owner, Go-Ahead, is one of the UK’s largest bus and rail operators. Under a strategy called ‘The Next Billion Journeys’, Go-Ahead has pledged to convert its 5,500-strong bus fleet nationwide to zero emission energy.

“”
Customers in Oxford can look forward to clean, green, comfortable buses when this work is complete. This is a great example of bus operators working in partnership with local and national government to deliver zero-emission transport.

Christian Schreyer

Group Chief Executive

The commencement of works is the latest stage in the ambitious urban decarbonisation project, Energy Superhub Oxford. The four-year project has seen innovations such as the creation of a first-of-a-kind battery storage system, a high-power private wire charging network and an electric vehicle (EV) charging hub at Redbridge Park & Ride.

To enable the buses to charge overnight, depot charging infrastructure being installed by Zenobē will be powered by an EDF Renewables UK substation at Oxford Bus Company’s Watlington Road depot.

“”
This is a flagship project for Zenobē. It is an example of what an ambitious operator can do with a strong vision and local support. We have worked on more than 50 electrification projects globally and this one stands out for its scale and for the level of collaboration with other operators and government. It has been great collaborating with Luke Marion and his team: we are happy to have started work and are looking forward to seeing the first buses on the road later this year.

Steven Meersman

Co-Founder Director of Zenobē

In 2020 Oxford Bus Company introduced the first double deck electric bus to Oxford via its City Sightseeing Oxford fleet. It now has three retrofitted electric vehicles in its fleet, which were delivered in partnership with Oxford City Council.

The arrival of the fleet of electric buses is expected to support a further drop in NOx levels to help clean up Oxford’s air pollution as part of wider aims for Oxfordshire to become a net carbon zero county by 2025.

All the new buses are being manufactured in the UK and are expected to arrive by June 2024. The Go-Ahead Group is an international provider of public transport services, and its Oxford division includes Oxford Bus Company, Thames Travel, City Sightseeing Oxford, Carousel Buses and Pulhams Coaches.

The Go-Ahead Group makes senior engineering appointments

14 July 2023

The Go-Ahead Group makes senior engineering appointments

Richard Harrington appointed Go-Ahead Group’s Engineering Director

Chris McKeown promoted to Engineering Director at Go-Ahead London

The Go-Ahead Group has appointed Richard Harrington as Group Engineering Director with responsibility for leading best practice in engineering across the company.

Presently Engineering Director at Go-Ahead London, Richard will move to Go-Ahead’s head office to take on the role, effective 1 August 2023. His position at Go-Ahead London will be filled by Chris McKeown, who is promoted from Chief Engineer.

Richard entered the transport industry in 1984 as an apprentice engineer at London Transport. Over the course of his career at Go-Ahead London, he has been responsible for introducing London’s first diesel-hybrid route, the capital’s first electric buses and Europe’s first all-electric bus depot. He is a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, the Society of Operations Engineers and the Institute of Road Transport Engineers.

As Group Engineering Director, he will be responsible for overseeing digitisation and engineering performance programs set out in Go-Ahead’s business strategy, The Next Billion Journeys. He will support the group’s fleet and vehicle buying strategies, and he will continue to drive the transition to Zero Emission as head of Go-Ahead’s Zero Emission Centre of Excellence. He will report to Louis Rambaud, Go-Ahead’s Group Strategy and Transformation Director, and he will work closely with the whole Go-Ahead’s engineering community.

Chris McKeown joined Go-Ahead as an engineering graduate in 2005, and has held a number of positions at Metrobus, Brighton & Hove Buses and Go-Ahead London. He has been Chief Engineer since 2012 and has been instrumental in delivering transport for the 2012 Olympics, in the company’s buyout of depots in Northumberland Park, Croydon and Orpington and in the transition to zero-emission vehicles.

“”
Richard Harrington’s knowledge and understanding of engineering is respected throughout the bus industry. He’s pioneered zero-emission technology on the streets of London and we’re pleased that he will be bringing his expertise to the broader Go-Ahead network as we journey towards a decarbonised future.

Louis Rambaud

“”
It is an honour to be offered such an opportunity and after serving Go Ahead London for so many years in a multitude of roles I am looking forward to sharing my experience with my colleagues across the wider Group. “The challenge of decarbonising our fleet whilst driving efficiency through innovation and collaboration is one of the factors that will determine our success in delivering ‘The Next Billion Journeys’ and I am thrilled to be in a position where I can pick up the momentum of the work already underway and influence the way forward.

Richard Harrington

Dervla McKay appointed Managing Director of Go-Ahead Ireland

03 July 2023

Dervla McKay appointed Managing Director of Go-Ahead Ireland

New MD will oversee 225 buses and 760 colleagues operating services in and around Dublin

Dervla McKay replaces Andrew Edwards, who is moving to Go-Ahead London

Go-Ahead Ireland depot is being expanded to increase capacity

The Go-Ahead Group has appointed Dervla McKay as Managing Director of the group’s bus company in Dublin, Go-Ahead Ireland, which operates services in and around the Irish capital.

Dervla, from Donegal, has extensive experience in bus and coach operation in Ireland and England. She joins Go-Ahead from her role as Managing Director of Aircoach, which runs express coach services across Ireland, and she has held a number of senior roles within FirstGroup since joining as a graduate trainee in 2005.

She will take up the role in the fourth quarter of 2023 and replaces Andrew Edwards, who is moving to Go-Ahead London to become Operations Director of London’s largest bus company after three years at Go-Ahead Ireland.

Based in Ballymount, Go-Ahead Ireland has a fleet of more than 225 buses and employs 760 colleagues, operating 42 routes.

“”
We’re delighted to appoint Dervla McKay to this key role overseeing our successful Irish bus company. She has an excellent track record and knows the bus industry inside out. “Dervla joins the business at an exciting point. Go-Ahead Ireland is expanding in Dublin and has gone from strength to strength under Andrew Edwards’ leadership. I’d like to thank Andrew for steering our Irish business effectively, and we all wish him well in his new role in London.

Christian Schreyer

Group Chief Executive, The Go-Ahead Group

Go-Ahead Ireland was appointed by the National Transport Authority to begin running services in Dublin in 2018. The company currently runs 30 routes – 25 in the outer Dublin metropolitan area, and five Dublin commuter routes – carrying 14 million passengers per year.

Work is underway on expanding Go-Ahead’s Ballymount depot by 50% in readiness for new routes added under the NTA’s BusConnects network redesign. The company is also a key supporter of Gaelic sports, as title sponsor of the Dublin GAA’s football, hurling and camogie championships.

“”
Go-Ahead Ireland is an ambitious company which delivers great bus services to passengers, and I’m really excited to be taking on this new challenge.

Dervla McKay

Over the last decade, Go-Ahead has expanded from its base in Britain to operate public transport services in six additional countries – rail in Norway and Germany, and buses in Singapore, Ireland and Australia.

Go-Ahead is named the fifth top apprenticeship employer in the UK, securing its top position in the UK transport industry

30 June 2023

Go-Ahead is named the fifth top apprenticeship employer in the UK, securing its top position in the UK transport industry

Transport operator ranked 5th on the list of the UK’s Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers

The group beats its previous ranking at 13, and secures its position as top apprenticeships employer in the UK transport industry

Go-Ahead is currently training 1,020 apprentices across bus operations, rail operations, and its head office functions

The Go-Ahead Group is proud to be listed the fifth top apprenticeships provider in the UK, in a ranking developed by the Department for Education. The group celebrates after beating its previous ranking by eight places and secures its lead position as top apprenticeship employer in the transport industry – ahead of Stagecoach Group, Southeastern, Cross Country Trains, Hays Travel and Transport UK Group.

The company takes on around 1,020 apprentices annually and its award-winning apprenticeships programme is the biggest in employing apprentices into roles such as bus drivers, train drivers and engineers in the public transport industry.

More than 700 apprentices are presently training to be London bus drivers at Go-Ahead London’s academy in Camberwell – the largest bus operator in London, and further 470 apprentices are in training at Govia Thameslink Railway – the UK’s largest railway network.

Go-Ahead is committed to employing apprentices from diverse backgrounds, currently 65% are from ethnic minority backgrounds, 20% are female apprentices – a number Go-Ahead will continuously aim to improve, and 15% are neurodiverse.

“”
Our Apprenticeships programme has gone from strength to strength. We’re so proud of the results in the rankings – to come in at number five means that we’re moving in the right direction. As we attract the new generation of drivers and engineers, it’s our priority to ensure the programme is forever expanding and will continue to reflect the diverse communities we serve. At Go-Ahead we believe apprenticeships are a great way to begin a career in transport. There are so many opportunities to develop and many of our apprentices have gone on to lead very successful careers.

Carolyn Ferguson

Group Chief People Officer, The Go-Ahead Group

The ‘Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers 2023’ list recognises England’s leading apprenticeship employers for their overall commitment to employing apprentices, their creation of new apprenticeships, the diversity of their new apprentices, and the progression of their apprentices onto further apprenticeships and employment.

£30 million investment in pioneering hydrogen bus fleet and refuelling station launched for services in and around Gatwick Airport

29 June 2023

£30 million investment in pioneering hydrogen bus fleet and refuelling station launched for services in and around Gatwick Airport

Fleet of 20 buses from Wrightbus to be deployed in the Crawley, Horley and Gatwick Airport area by The Go-Ahead Group.

A further 34 vehicles will join the fleet over the next 18 months to create one of Britain’s largest hydrogen bus fleets.

The station is the first liquid hydrogen refuelling station for buses in Europe.

Launch event on 29 June attended by the Minister for Roads and Local Transport and stakeholders from across the region.

The Go-Ahead Group, one of Britain’s leading bus and rail operators, has today launched a pioneering fleet of hydrogen fuel cell buses to carry passengers on routes in the Gatwick Airport, Crawley and Horley area.

Once fully delivered, the fleet will comprise 54 vehicles and will be one of the biggest hydrogen bus fleets in Britain. It will be served by a liquid hydrogen refuelling station – the largest of its kind in Europe.

The zero emission buses are able to cover long ranges and carry heavy loads, making them ideal for local routes around Gatwick that are intensively used – operating 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The single-decker GB Kite Hydroliner buses, manufactured by Wrightbus, are the first hydrogen powered vehicles in Go-Ahead’s fleet of more than 6,000 buses. Hydrogen will be stored at the Metrobus Crawley depot in liquid form, before being converted to gas held in tanks on the roof of vehicles.

The liquid hydrogen refuelling station in Crawley is owned and operated by Air Products, a world leading industrial gas company. Once it reaches full capacity it will be the largest of its kind in Europe and will be capable of providing the equivalent of fuel for over 100 buses per day.

The Crawley bus depot, at Wheatstone Close played host to a number of local stakeholders and politicians in a presentation and ceremony to launch the new hydrogen buses. Richard Holden, minister for roads and local transport, was also in attendance, speaking at the event and touring the refuelling facilities.

“”
Communities and commuters across the country know how important buses are – and these UK-made hydrogen buses could revolutionise transport for millions, bringing quieter and smoother journeys. It is great to see these 20 new hydrogen buses on our roads, one of the largest fleets in the UK, backed by over £4.3m of funding from our Ultra-Low Emission Bus scheme. With nearly 3,400 Zero Emission Buses funded across the UK since February 2020, this latest fleet puts us well on the way to meeting our target of 4,000 ZEBs.

Richard Holden MP

Minister for Roads and Local Transport

Ed Wills, Managing Director for Brighton & Hove and Metrobus said “I am delighted to introduce 20 new hydrogen buses to our Metrobus fleet and a liquid hydrogen refuelling station, which, once fully commissioned will be the largest of its kind in Europe. This launch marks a historic moment for our business and demonstrates our commitment to reducing emissions in the local community where the only thing that comes out of the bus tailpipe is water. A further 34 buses will join our fleet over the next 18 months through our partnership working with Surrey County Council.

Christian Schreyer, Group Chief Executive, The Go-Ahead Group, commented: “These fantastic buses and the innovative refuelling depot demonstrate Go-Ahead’s commitment to investing in a net zero future for transport. We’re already the leading operator of electric buses in Britain and we believe hydrogen is a further piece in the jigsaw of decarbonising public transport – to the benefit of the environment and local communities.”

Manish Patel, Air Products Hydrogen for Mobility Director UK, commented: “We are proud to be part of this exciting project, where we intend to deliver green hydrogen produced in Immingham from imported renewable energy sources such as the NEOM Green Hydrogen project, where there’s an abundance of sun and wind. The project is an excellent example of companies collaborating and pioneering in the energy transition space. Together, we are making the decarbonisation of public transport a reality; our liquid hydrogen-fed refuelling station will be able to reliably serve the depot’s full fleet.”

Stewart Wingate, Chief Executive, London Gatwick Airport, commented: “Sustainability is key to everything we do and we’re proud to have contributed financially to these 20 zero emission Hydrogen busses.  The route this new fleet serves is vital for passengers and airport staff travelling to and from work, including late at night and early morning.

“We want half of our passengers and staff to get to the airport using sustainable transport, so we’re investing in our public transport facilities.  In addition to this zero-emission bus fleet, we have also upgraded a vital bus interchange with accessible lifts and our redeveloped train station will open soon.  We also hope to see further advances in the use of hydrogen at the airport in the years ahead “.

Jean-Marc Gales, Chief Executive of Wrightbus, said, “We are honoured to work together with the Go-Ahead Group to provide our industry-leading zero-emission buses for these important routes. Public transport is a key area in the UK’s zero carbon ambitions and hydrogen has a vital role to play. Collaborations such as this one show the potential of UK industry to meet this challenge that we face.”

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Growth said, “I am delighted that Surrey County Council and Metrobus continue to work together to help deliver our ambition to become a net zero county by 2050, to improve public transport and to encourage more people to use buses in Surrey.

Surrey County Council has invested £16.4m to roll out 34 of 54 hydrogen fuel cell buses across the county – creating one of Britain’s largest hydrogen bus fleets and offering our residents cleaner, greener bus travel.

We’re also investing in bus priority measures to make sure buses turn up on time, more real time passenger information for users to plan journeys and providing more on-demand bus services.”

 

 

Go-Ahead expands into the Cotswolds by buying Pulham & Sons

08 June 2023

Go-Ahead expands into the Cotswolds by buying Pulham & Sons

Gloucestershire based bus and coach operator to become part of Go-Ahead’s Oxford Bus Company division.

Pulhams operates 22 bus routes in the Cotswolds plus demand responsive transport services and school, college, and corporate coach travel

Deal demonstrates Go-Ahead’s commitment to invest in UK regional bus services

The Go-Ahead Group has bought Pulham & Sons (Coaches) Limited, a long established family run bus and coach operator in the Cotswolds.

Pulhams, which has a fleet of 90 buses and coaches and employs 126 people, is a well-known and respected local business serving communities in Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire. It will become part of Go-Ahead’s Oxford Bus Company division – which presently comprises Thames Travel, Carousel Buses and City Sightseeing Oxford as well as the eponymous Oxford Bus Company.

Based in Bourton-on-the-Water, Pulhams has won multiple awards for delivering high standards, and currently holds both DVSA Earned Recognition and Guild of British Coach Operators accreditation. The company is one of the oldest established passenger transport companies in Britain, having been founded in 1880 to carry passengers into Cheltenham from nearby villages by horse and cart.

The acquisition will expand Go-Ahead’s Oxford business to the west and see improved connectivity between Pulhams’ bus services in Oxfordshire and the wider Go-Ahead network of services. In addition, it will enable Go-Ahead to expand its coaching operations – which in the Oxford division already include the airline services to Heathrow and Gatwick, and National Express branded operations – by developing the coach hire side of the Pulhams business across the wider business operating area.

As part of Go-Ahead’s business strategy, The Next Billion Journeys, the group is committed to investing, and expanding, in regional buses in Britain. The deal is Go-Ahead’s third acquisition in a year, following the purchase of Dartline in Devon and Southdown Buses in West Sussex.

“”
Pulhams’ buses and coaches are familiar and well loved in communities throughout the Cotswolds. The business links nicely with our existing services in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties, and helps us to diversify our business further into new market segments. We’ll be investing in developing the Pulhams business further, for the benefit of both customers and colleagues.

Luke Marion

Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Company

“”
Pulhams’ buses and coaches are familiar and well loved in communities throughout the Cotswolds. The business links nicely with our existing services in Oxfordshire and surrounding counties, and helps us to diversify our business further into new market segments. We’ll be investing in developing the Pulhams business further, for the benefit of both customers and colleagues.

Luke Marion

Managing Director of the Oxford Bus Company

“”
I am excited to work with Luke and the wider Go-Ahead team in developing new business opportunities and enhancing those that we already have in place. Go-Ahead’s commitment to invest in the Pulhams’ business as we look towards decarbonisation of our fleets is welcome and I look forward to learning from the Group’s experience in this area. Kathryn and I remain committed to Pulhams and look forward to this next chapter in our well-established, successful business.

Andrew Pulham

Managing Director of Pulhams Coaches

“”
We’re delighted to welcome Pulhams into the group. At Go-Ahead, we see many opportunities to expand in Britain’s bus industry as the country moves towards a net zero future in which people leave their cars at home in favour of public transport. The Go-Ahead Group has nine UK bus divisions operating more than 6,000 buses, with routes stretching from the western tip of Cornwall as far north as Northumberland. Customer satisfaction on Go-Ahead’s regional buses is 87%, and Go-Ahead was named Britain’s most admired transport company in the annual “Britain’s Most Admired Companies” awards 2022.

Christian Schreyer

Group Chief Executive, The Go-Ahead Group

Keeping Manchester moving: Go-Ahead kicks off Britain’s biggest recruitment campaign for bus drivers

05 May 2023

Keeping Manchester moving: Go-Ahead kicks off Britain’s biggest recruitment campaign for bus drivers

Go-Ahead’s Manchester bus company, Go North West, to hire 300 drivers on apprenticeship or training contracts.

The drivers will operate Bee Network buses as part of mayor Andy Burnham’s new integrated transport network.

The Go-Ahead Group has kicked off Britain’s biggest recruitment campaign for bus drivers in preparation for the launch of Greater Manchester’s Bee Network public transport service.

Go North West, the group’s Manchester bus company, plans to hire up to 300 bus drivers on apprenticeship or trainee contracts for a newly created Elite Bus Driver Academy in Bolton.

The drivers will operate yellow Bee Network buses in Bolton and Wigan from September – the first two areas to be franchised under Transport for Greater Manchester’s new vision for local buses.

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, has set out a vision of an integrated London-style transport system bringing together buses, trams, rail, cycling and walking. In an initial step towards this, Go North West was selected by TfGM in late 2022 as the winner of its first two bus contracts.

“”
Bus drivers play a pivotal role in helping people all over Greater Manchester get to where they need to go. The Bee Network is set to transform public transport here and it’s great to see this huge recruitment drive taking place, as we prepare for the launch in September, and the creation of hundreds of jobs for local people. There’s no better time to get involved in transport, so I’d encourage anyone who’s thinking about becoming a bus driver to get on board with us.

Andy Burnham

Mayor of Greater Manchester

Themed as ‘Be an Elite Driver’, a recruitment campaign for Go North West uses fighter pilot style uniforms and imagery. Applicants will be urged to become ‘the best of the best’, to find the thing that will ‘make them awesome’ and to brace themselves for a career with ‘wheels…that you’ll steer’.

They will undertake an intensive six-week training program, open both to existing bus driver licence holders and to those who have never sat behind the wheel of a bus before. Furthermore, Go North West will offer longer term apprenticeships combining studying with hands-on driving, allowing people to earn while they learn.

“”
This is a ground-breaking recruitment campaign to match the huge scale of change that we’ll be helping to deliver in Greater Manchester’s public transport. We’ve already had lots of interest in driving the new Bee Network buses and we’re expecting thousands of applications. Our parent company, Go-Ahead, is the largest bus operator in London so we’re specialists in busy, joined up urban transport networks. We’re very proud to be pioneers in delivering bus services fit for such a great city as Manchester.

Nigel Featham

Managing Director, Go North West

Go-Ahead is already one of the largest apprenticeship employers in the UK, taking on 1,100 apprentices annually to train as bus drivers, train drivers and engineers. The group has a strategy of offering apprenticeships in order to widen the diversity of its workforce.

Once the new contracts are underway, Go North West will operate more than 500 buses from Bolton, Wigan and from its existing Queen’s Road depot in central Manchester. And the company’s facility in Bolton will be the largest UK bus depot outside London.

Bus driver jobs include 20 days’ annual holiday, generous pensions and pay rates from £28,000 that quickly increase with experience. Go North West has quadrupled the size of its training team in anticipation of an influx of new recruits.