ON STAGEmega new ways to visit Europe

The newsletter of Stagecoach Group Issue 104 | July 2014

INSIDE Bumbling for charity page 2 | mega telly win page 7

THE daily service links London to Toulouse and Barcelona, further expanding the popular budget coach service, which already carries more than 15 million passengers a year in the UK, Europe and the US.“Our innovative coach service has transformed travel in other parts of Europe and North America, providing new and affordable travel options as well as creating new jobs,” said megabus.com Managing Director Elizabeth Esnouf.“We are delighted to bring our well-recognised brand of high-quality travel to Toulouse and Barcelona and look forward to

Big benefits for passengersEmployees key to results

n FIND OUT MORE IN OUR GREEN WEEK SPECIAL FEATURE ON PAGE 6.

MEGABUS.COM has introduced a new low-cost coach route between the UK, France and Spain.

welcoming local people on board.”Meanwhile, megabus.com has called for a change to current ‘cabotage’ regulations which restrict people using its low-cost coach services for point-to-point trips solely within France.The move follows recommendations from the French competition authority the Autorité de la Concurrence that the rules should be modernised to give French coach travellers better value and choice.“We could do so much more to improve travel in the south-west of France and other parts of the country if we were not blocked by outdated

Travelling by bus to France and Spain is now easier than ever thanks to megabus.com’s low-cost fares.

ECO-FRIENDLY Stagecoach has celebrated its sixth annual Green Week. With lots of environment-based events – from litter picking to green giveaways and school visits – there were lots of green goings-on across the Group.

Going green for sixth year

AN £18 million station improvement programme has brought huge benefits for rail passengers.Thanks to this massive investment, 30 stations across the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance network now boast more modern facilities, including new lifts, footbridges and accessible toilets.There’s also some 1,100 extra cycle spaces, increased car-parking capacity at a number of sites and brand new stations at Wokingham, Fleet, Overton and Templecombe.

rules,” Ms Esnouf continued.“At present, we can take people from Toulouse to other European countries such as the UK, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands and Germany. But we are restricted in taking passengers from the south to the north of France.”Last year, megabus.com introduced a fleet of 10 new 72-seat coaches to operate on its network in Europe. A further six new coaches are now

set to be introduced on the European network.megabus.com already offers French, Dutch and German language websites – allowing customers to book and pay in Euros – and a new Spanish-language site is now online.The success of megabus.com’s services has seen it create more than 400 jobs over the past decade in the UK and Europe and a further 1,000 jobs in North America.

STAGECOACH Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths has thanked staff across the company for their hard work over the past year as the Group published its financial results for the past 12 months.The results show the company’s transport operations in the UK and North America are continuing to do well. The Group has a strong set of businesses that are improving services for customers, supporting the economy, and connecting local communities.

n READ MORE ON PAGE 4.

“This is great news for our stations and we’re sure passengers will welcome this significant investment,” said Arthur Pretorius, Customer Services Director for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance.“We’d like to thank our partners at the Department for Transport, the Community Rail Partnerships and all the local county councils for their ongoing support in delivering these improvements for our passengers.”

ON STAGE

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A WOMAN talking to her friend at a bus stop in Boston was overheard to say: “Two things I don’t run for – a bus or a man … cause they’re both gonna leave you!”If you have seen or heard something funny – online, in the papers, on social media or just while out and about – send your contributions for the ‘What a Laugh’ section in the next edition to lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com

Super-special book delivery

nTop of the cops

nRon’s poppy support

Did you know? East Midlands Trains is sponsoring ‘Dick Whittington’, this year’s pantomime at the Lyceum Theatre in Sheffield.

What a Laugh!

Muddy mayhem

Putting the fun into fundraising

SUPERTRAM Man completed an extra-special mission to deliver a treat to kids in hospital in Sheffield.The colourful superhero brought 30 of the Stagecoach-produced charity book ‘A Very Special Family Party’ to the city’s Children’s Hospital.Claire Ansley, Supertram’s Head of Customer Service, said: “The Children’s Hospital Charity is very close to our hearts and we're delighted to be able to donate these books which we hope many children will enjoy.“The charity and hospital do a fantastic job treating children from all over the country.”  Charity Director David Vernon-Edwards added:

“We’d like to express our thanks to Supertram for donating these wonderfully visual and entertaining books.“They have already put smiles on lots of the kids’ faces throughout the hospital wards.”

Supertram Man was a big hit at Sheffield’s Children’s Hospital.

STAGECOACH Group’s children’s book ‘A Very Special Family Party’ is selling well and has had good feedback from young and old.The paperback book, priced at £4 (plus postage) online, as well as in several Stagecoach travel shops across the UK.It’s also stocked in the London Bus Museum, the Manchester Museum of Transport, the Dundee Transport Museum, and the Riverside Transport Museum and Kelvingrove Museums in Glasgow.To order your copy, simply search for ‘A Very Special Family Party’ on eBay or Amazon.

CHESTERFIELD-based East Midlands Trains employee Ron Wiltshire is calling for the public to support this year’s Poppy Appeal and help him hit an ambitious target. Ron has raised £75,000 for the British Legion’s Poppy Appeal over the past eight years. This year, which marks the centenary of the start of World War One, he has set his sights on raising a further £25,000, including through the sale of commemorative British Legion badges which can be bought from Chesterfield, Nottingham, Leicester and St Pancras ticket offices for a minimum donation of just £2.“I’ll be hanging up my collector’s boots this year but, before I finish, I’ve set myself a target to take the total up to a huge £100,000,” said Ron.

A NETWORK-WIDE fundraising drive has boosted two great causes.South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance helped support National Carers Week and

The Honeypot Children’s Charity by arranging a special day of fundraising.Passengers were challenged to spot and tweet a selfie with the Honeypot House mascot Bumble the Bee.Honeypot – one of the Alliance’s charities of the year – offers long-term,

consistent respite and support to young carers and vulnerable children aged 5-12 years.Its Regional Fundraising Manager, Emma Larter, said: “Relationships with organisations like these are very important to our work and help us to support as many vulnerable children as possible.”

SIX ladies from Stagecoach in Oxfordshire took part in Cancer Research UK’s Pretty Muddy 5K race recently and raised over £700 for the charity.The team – who called themselves ‘Running on Time’ – encountered muddy obstacles including hurdles, a spider web and a mud bath but were still smiling as they finished the course.The intrepid squad (pictured right) comprised Rochelle Clare, Emma Wilberforce, Joanne Cleaver, Melissa Lock, Caroline Harvey and Carole Stevens.

TWO South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance Rail Community Officers (RCOs) were honoured at British Transport Police’s Complimentary Policing Awards.Tim Joy won the Railway Safety Accredited Scheme Member of the Year award for the work he and his team do through the Off the Rails project, sponsored by the Alliance and Portsmouth Football Club.Fellow RCO Phil White won the Special Constable of the Year award for his involvement in an initiative on the Isle of White to increase front-line visibility of officers by using bikes.

Assistant Chief Constable Steve Thomas, RCO Tim Joy, RCO Phil White and Security & Crime Prevention Manager Alessandro Finistrella.

ON STAGE

nProud achievements

Key to marketing success

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Passenger praises ‘brilliant bus driver’ ... find out more on page 5.

nStub it out

nA helping hand

Christopher Bowles (second right) hands over the cheque to Wigan Youth Zone.

On board with Youth Zone

CONNECTING with customers has never been more important, so Stagecoach has strengthened its marketing power with a series of new appointments in its regional UK Bus companies.Sarah Maluila has been appointed as UK Bus Assistant Marketing Manager, working alongside UK Bus Marketing Manager Jodine Milne-Reader, to oversee and implement the UK bus division’s long-term marketing strategy and to continue to strengthen and support the marketing teams within each regional bus company.Stagecoach South has a new Marketing Manager in Alex O’Loughlin while Stagecoach Manchester appointed Gillian Woodford as its new Marketing Manager earlier this year.Emma McNae has also returned as Marketing Manager at Stagecoach West Scotland, a role which she previously held, while Claire Burt has taken on the role of Marketing Manager at Stagecoach North Scotland.New Marketing Assistant Mark Middleton has been appointed at Stagecoach North East while Stagecoach South East has appointed Rebecca Day as Marketing Analyst.Marketing Assistant Charlotte Potter has been appointed at Stagecoach West while Stagecoach Oxfordshire also has a new Marketing Assistant in the form of Emma Wilberforce. Emma will work alongside Stagecoach Oxford’s Business Development Manager Karen Coventry whose role demonstrates the emerging role of a more strategic form of marketing within the business in terms of having greater involvement in commercial strategy and business decision-making.

IT was a successful night for Stagecoach at the 2014 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) North West Awards for Education and Excellence.Stagecoach Manchester won the Award for Environmental Improvement in Passenger Transport while retired Stagecoach Merseyside Operations Director Les Burton received the Lifetime Achievement Award.Manchester Managing Director Christopher Bowles said: “We put our environmental credentials at the heart of our business because it’s improtant to customers and their communities – and continually work to improve these, encouraging passengers to choose greener transport options.”Les Burton, whose career in the industry spanned 47 years, added: “This has come as a complete surprise and I am delighted to receive such a prestigious award from my fellow members of the CILT”.

BRITAIN’S biggest youth club has received strong support from Stagecoach Wigan.Stagecoach Wigan has become an official patron of Wigan Youth Zone, which gives local young people the chance to enjoy a range of activities, from climbing and outdoor adventure to arts, fashion and design.Christopher Bowles, Managing Director of Stagecoach Wigan, visited the centre recently to present a £10,000 donation.“We believe in supporting the communities which we serve,” said Christopher.“Wigan Youth Zone is a fantastic facility for young people in our region and we’re proud to support the

STAFF at Newcastle’s Walkegate depot recently donated a box of food for the city’s West End Food Bank.The company also provided two megarider tickets for a raffle to help raise funds and maintain the service which gives emergency food parcels to people suffering financial hardship.David Wakefield, Operations Manager at the Walkergate depot, said: “We had an excellent response to the food bank collection on-site. Our staff were delighted to support such a valuable and much-needed cause by bringing in a whole host of food.”

COACH USA has been helping employees stop smoking through its Quit for Life programme.The scheme helps staff develop a customised plan to achieve their goals, offering expert coaches, a printed workbook to help employees stick to their plan, a smoking cessation aide and access to an online community.

Stagecoach Newcastle’s Katie Graham hands the food donation to Matthew King from Newcastle West End Food Bank.

Making the connection: A new team of marketers are helping to break down the barriers to public transport.

For the first time, a marketing-focused graduate development programme is also being delivered and Jamie Kind has been appointed as UK Bus marketing graduate development trainee. He will work across various businesses during the two-year programme to gain experience of marketing and commercial functions.UK Bus Marketing Manager Jodine Milne-Reader explained: “Our marketing teams are well placed to work closely with other departments to develop the connection between our business and our customers, ensuring we deliver a joined-up and professional service across all functions to help attract people on to our services.”The UK Bus design team has also been strengthened with the appointment of Design Assistant Laura Thomson who works alongside UK Bus Senior Designer Alan Sawyers.As regional bus companies develop their social media involvement, with an increased focus on engaging with customers through Twitter and Facebook, Gemma Toolan has taken on the role of Social Media Manager and is supported by Social Media Agent Greer Robertson.

hard work of the team.“We hope that our donation will enable staff to further develop the centre’s offering.”

ON STAGE

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nGreat service

nRun’s in the family

nPICTURE THIS

OUR Picture of the Season slot has now changed to Picture this. Photos no longer need to include a bus, train or tram but should be transport-related in some way.This edition’s winner is taken by Chris McCrady, General Manager of Lakefront Lines in the USA. It shows a coach that took part in the St. Patrick’s Day parade In Columbus, Ohio.Congratulations to Chris who will shortly receive his prize of $85 (equivalent of £50).

Did you know? The South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance has more than 100,000 Twitter followers.

Coach Canada employee Tracey Brooks gets to grips with the grill at one of the Safety Week events.

Women in Rail

If you have any good photos for Picture This please send them to Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TW, or email them to lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com

WOMEN working in the rail industry travelled from across the country to attend Derby’s first Women in Rail event at East Midlands Trains Academy. Baroness Susan Kramer, Minister of State for Transport, was invited to give the keynote speech at the gathering hosted by East Midlands Trains.Women in Rail steering group member and Human Resources Director of East Midlands Trains, Clare Burles, said: “The best way we can help to encourage more women to work in rail is by working hard to get into the mindset of our future engineers from an early age.“By influencing girls whilst they are still at school and college and helping them realise there are lots of

YORKSHIRE engineering clerk Tracey Mickle recently completed the Race for Life with her daughter Danielle Frith to raise money for Cancer Research UK.The mother-and-daughter team took part in the race in memory of Tracey’s dad who passed away last year.So far, they have raised more than £450 and further donations can be made at www.justgiving.com/traceymickle

COACH Canada celebrated Safety Week across its eight facilities recently, marking each with a BBQ gathering, prizes and safety information sessions.Each day began with a safety message, reminding staff of the various ways to ensure safe operations.

Teamwork drives company success

Women in Rail founder and General Counsel at Angel Trains Ltd Adeline Ginn (centre), joined by Baroness Kramer, Minister of State for Transport, and David Horne, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains.

exciting opportunities waiting for them out there, we can help provide a more diverse and skilled workforce.”

Going DottoPASSENGERS went dotty for the Dotto at the Eastbourne Carnival this year.Stagecoach ran the Dotto mini train to the delight of sightseers.“The Dotto Train is all about working with the community and getting everybody involved,” said Stagecoach South East Managing Director Philip Norwell.

nLow floor on the open top

The new open-top vehicle in St Andrews.

A DRIVE round the Home of Golf has been made even more accessible thanks to a new low-floor double-decker.The St Andrews Open Top Tour bus has been fully refurbished into an open top vehicle. It boasts distinctive branding, a new speaker system and, most importantly, is now fully wheelchair and buggy accessible.Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Scotland, said: “The Visit Scotland 4-star rating we were awarded last year confirms the route as an excellent tourist attraction in St Andrews and we look forward to welcoming people on-board this season!”

n CONTINUED FROM P1Martin Griffiths said: “I want to pay tribute to the hard work of our 35,000 employees at the many local companies that make up our wider business.“Their commitment is vital in making our company one of the leading international transport groups.“For me, the fantastic response of our staff to challenges shows how crucial it is to have a team of committed people and how central they are to any company’s success.“The past year too has been about putting our customers first. We have reinvested our profits and built on our success to deliver even higher quality services to our passengers.

“The size of our business means it is not easy. But, we have a great team of people at all levels of the business who want to make things happen.“It is also important that our staff have the tools to do their job. Training and development is one of my top priorities.“As we report another good set of results, I would like to thank you for your personal contribution to our success over the 12 months and look forward to working together to deliver for our customers in the year ahead.”More details about the Group’s annual results can be found here www.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2014/2014-06-25.aspx

ON STAGE

nCocoa-loco

5

Dear Stagecoach,I wish to let you know about the brilliant bus driver who helped us whilst on holiday in the Lake District.We boarded the bus at Keswick and wanted to get off at Bassenthwaite. We were unsure what would be the best route. The driver used his map on his telephone to locate where we were staying, to enable him to let us know which was the best stop to get off. Nothing was too much trouble.He was very polite and friendly and a pleasure to meet. He drove the bus with great care – fantastic.Please would you thank him from us as we arrived at our accommodation with ease. There are many complaints and negativity in today’s world, therefore felt I had to write a compliment. Other bus drivers could follow his example.

Donna, Milton Keynes

This letter was sent to Group HQ, praising a Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire driver.

LETTER OF PRAISEIf you or one of your colleagues has received a letter of praise from a customer, please email a copy to lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com or post it to Lindsay Reid, Senior Group Communications Manager, Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TW. We will publish as many as possible.

Rail of two cities

Ain’t no mountain high enough

Fudge Class: Brian Tucker, Head of Fleet Performance, eyes up the huge cake.

nOutstanding contribution

nBus awards in the City

Poppy’s ‘Salty the Seasider’ is a winner ... find out more on page 7.

STAGECOACH’S London bus business scooped two top honours at the 2014 London Bus Awards.The company won the Best Vehicle Care award for its Bromley Garage, which has achieved an annual year-on-year reduction of 42% in engineering lost mileage thanks to improved inspection standards and rigorous garage supervisors’ audits that enhance the maintenance process. Dan Moule, an Engineering Fitter from Plumstead Garage and part of the depot’s green team, was named the Environmental Campaign Champion.Dan set up an account with a local scrap dealer and began to segregate different types of scrap within the depot to maximise the garage’s recycling opportunities.Stagecoach London has now set up similar schemes for every London garage.

A HISTORIC milestone for the Derby to Nottingham rail line was marked with a special celebration.Derby City Council, East Midlands Trains and Network Rail joined forces to celebrate 175 years since the first ever passenger train ran between the two cities.The Midland Counties Railway, which officially opened on Thursday 30 May 1839, ran the first journey, greeted by hundreds of people who turned out to applaud the ‘flying wonder’ on its inaugural outing. To mark the anniversary, passengers and guests at Derby station were treated to music from the Melbourne Brass Band and complimentary Bakewell tarts.They also witnessed the unveiling of a commemorative plaque by Derby’s Mayor, Councillor Fareed Hussain, with David Horne

THE South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance was recognised at the launch of the Learning Disabilities Work Experience Week Awards 2014.Dennis Horgan, Train Presentation Manager, Waterloo, and Mark Lovett, HR Business Partner Resourcing, were presented with Outstanding Contribution Awards by Jim Dobbin MP.The awards recognised their individual contribution while working with Mencap during the work experience week in 2013.South West Trains was also awarded the Platinum Employer Award for its role in championing the first work experience week, and its ongoing commitment to continue working with Mencap on this initiative.

A TASTY sum was raised in an unusual charity auction.Bidders competing for a huge South West Trains-shaped chocolate fudge cake raised £800 for the National Literacy Trust.The auction, organised by Allison Dunn at the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, was won by the Alliance’s Fleet team who generously donated it to the Theodora’s Children’s Trust. This wonderful cause organises visits from the Giggle Doctors charity which brings entertainment to youngsters who are unwell.The auction itself raised £401 which was matched by Stagecoach Chairman Sir Brian Souter.

A commemorative plaque marking 175 years of Derby to Nottingham train travel is unveiled by Justin Page, Area Director for Network Rail (left); the Mayor of Derby, Councillor Fareed Hussain (centre), and David Horne, Managing Director of East Midlands Trains.

from East Midlands Trains and Justin Page from Network Rail.

A MOUNTAINOUS task was made a little easier, thanks to staff from Stagecoach in Lochaber recently.Stagecoach provided a shuttle bus service for Fort William’s biggest weekend event of the year, the UCI Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup.Drivers from three depots – John Friel, Justin Littlewood and Sandy Gunn (Lochaber); Paul Fenner, Richard Nicholson, Donald Nicholson, Alan Macdonald, Ian Beaton and Neil Campbell (Portree), and Stevie Ross and Alex Flanagan (Inverness) – shuttled over 18,000 spectators safely between Fort William and the Nevis Range venue during the two-day event.All of the drivers carried a donation bucket and raised £1400 to support Macmillan Nurses at the Belford Hospital in Fort William. This takes their total to over £10,000 over the past few years.

Some of the Stagecoach driving team for the Mountain Bike Downhill World Cup.

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The greener the better during Stagecoach’s Green Week

nGreen’s the way to go

Eco-driver Simon Holmes (left) receives his voucher from Brian Hadden, Operations Manager at Kettering depot.

Children from a primary school in Arundel were visited by Stagecoach South employees and given recycled plastic snack boxes.

Banchory Primary School youngsters with North Scotland Marketing Manager Claire Burt (back)

nStar performance

ON STAGEGREEN SCENE

STAGECOACH East Scotland has become the first bus operator in Scotland, and one of only two in the UK, to be awarded a coveted five-star rating for its environmental performance.The company was assessed under the ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme run by Dundee City Council.“This is testament to the efforts of our local team, from the safe and efficient driving on the roads to the senior management investment decisions,” said Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Scotland.

GREEN Week saw Stagecoach Midlands rewarding the top-performing ‘eco-driver’ at each of its seven depots with a £50 M&S voucher.Winners were chosen using Stagecoach’s hi-tech eco-driver monitoring system which measures the driver’s performance when accelerating, braking, cornering and idling.Greenest drivers were Nuneaton’s Trevor Jones, Simon Holmes at Kettering, Kevin Parsons in Northampton and Alan Strachan at Corby. The winning driver at Leamington Spa depot was Dariusz Pawelec, with Brian Lambert from Rugby and Stratford Upon Avon’s Tom Grant also coming out tops.

A PROGRAMME of fun events encouraged employees and customers to continue driving forward the green agenda, with particular focus on activities involving local communities.Green Week 2014 incorporated World Environment Day on Thursday, June 5 – a widely celebrated global day for positive environmental action when people from all walks of life come together to ensure a cleaner, greener outlook for future generations. Events included school activities, green giveaways, competitions, litter-picking and a host of other initiatives across the UK and North America.Stagecoach Group Chief Executive Martin Griffiths said: “We have made excellent progress on our sustainability strategy over the past five years and our people have made a real difference in reducing the environmental impact of our business."But there is a lot more we still want to achieve.

We are working towards a new set of environmental targets for our companies and our annual Green Week helps us to continue the momentum by engaging with customers, communities and our employees on how we can all have more sustainable lives."

COMMUNITY spirit was at the heart of Stagecoach’s sixth annual Group-wide Green Week.

Eastbourne Operations Manager Bill Weatherley (left) and Assistant Operations Manager Andy Jelley present competition winner Gill Rigluth with a year’s free travel.

Stagecoach West employees out and about with mascot Mike the Monster.

Stagecoach East Scotland staff took part in a tidy-up at South Queensferry.

Hartlepool depot cleaner and recycling champion Maggie Sprintall.

Youngsters in Cumbria and North Lancashire were delighted with their free basil seed pots.

Wellington Primary School in Ayr was visited by a bio-bus.

ON STAGE

nTop telly award

Poppy’s Seasider

TWO Stagecoach employees spotted ‘Scary Spice’ Mel B at Manchester Airport recently as she took up her place on the ‘X Factor’ judging panel.The former Spice Girl even managed to look glamorous before 8am.There are no reports to suggest that she took a bus from the airport … but you never know!

Scary celebrity spot

Mel B

Cook up a spicy twist on a classic soup ... find out more on page 9.

Gary’s on the run

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nFamily fun

nPier to Pier challenge

STAGECOACH East Midlands recently unveiled the ‘Skegness Seasiders’ – its very own characterised open-top buses.The first five were named Rocky, Sandy, Pierre, Candy and Shelly, but the sixth bus was left blank while a kids’ competition decided its seaside design.The winner was Poppy Bagnall (8), a pupil at Seathorne Primary School in Skegness, with her underwater theme and name ‘Salty the Seasider’, earning her a £100 gift voucher and the joy of seeing the bus decked out in her design.Two new Seasider story books ‘Salty Gets Stranded Out at Sea’ and ‘Sandy’s Friend Fergie Gets Stuck on the Beach’ are on sale for £2.87 including postage, part of which will be made to the When You

SOUTH East driver Garry Warren, who ran the London Marathon in April, recently raised over £2,900 for Pilgrims Hospices.Garry, who completed the race in 4 hours 39 minutes, said: “The support has been so amazing it’s taken me quite a while to collect all the sponsorship money! Incredibly I’m still receiving donations through my JustGiving page. I am very grateful to everyone who has donated and helped me support this great charity.”

A FAMILY Open Day drew the crowds to Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire’s Willowholme depot recentlyThe annual event allowed visitors to see behind the scenes and enjoy a display of buses past and present and see their name in lights.A vintage bus ride through Carlisle and a falconry display added to the attractions and staff raised over £2000 in a raffle to support the local Eden Valley Hospice.

A TEAM of South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance employees recently took part in a bike ride from Brighton Pier to Portsmouth Pier as part of the ‘50 for 50 Challenge’.The challenge was devised by Woking Guards Depot Manager Paul Wade to mark his 50th birthday. He plans to cover 50 miles – either running, cycling or swimming – every week for 50 weeks to raise money for charity.To find out more visit: http://prwade.wordpress.com

MEGABUS.COM, along with its North American PR firm Hanser & Associates, was awarded a 2014 Telly Award.Its ‘Welcome Aboard’ video, shown to customers upon each megabus.com departure in the US, scooped the Safety Video award.The Telly Awards is a premier international award honouring film and video productions and a total of 12,000 entries were received from five continents.

If you, or one of your colleagues, have a claim to fame – perhaps a hidden talent, a meeting with a celebrity or an interesting hobby – please email details to lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com

The 2014 Telly Award.

Poppy Bagnall aboard her creation, Salty the Seasider.

Wish Upon A Star and Skegness Lifeboat charities.Call 01522 522255 or email eastmidlands.enquiries@stagecoachbus.com to buy one.

Garry and his colleagues proudly show off their charity donation.

Mel B (Picture by Eva Rinaldi).

Staff on hand at the Family Open Day.

A SPECIAL charity train trip for Samaritans was a real team affair.East Midlands Trains, South West Trains and Network Rail joined forces to run an excursion between Sheffield and Swanage to raise a five-figure sum for the cause.The event marked the first ever visit of an HST train to Swanage and involved a team of East Midlands Trains volunteers.The rail industry works closely with Samaritans to help protect vulnerable people from harm on the railway.The South West Trains - Network Rail Alliance has also been working with the Swanage Railway

Swanage Samaritan

The Swanage Samaritan train with the team of volunteers. (Picture by Richard Gennis)

and local stakeholders for some time to help in the reconnection to the mainline at Wareham. A grateful Samaritans spokesperson said: “It was an incredible day and the Samaritans team were genuinely overwhelmed by the generosity, support and enthusiasm shown by everyone.”

ON STAGEDid you know? Around 4,500 Stagecoach buses across the UK now use a greener 30% biofuel blend.

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nMarathon man

nOn your bike

Forum meet and greet

Retail therapy

A NEW Cycle to Work scheme is offering discounted bikes for Stagecoach’s UK Bus employees.Almost 1500 people took advantage of the first round of the programme and benefited from around £1 million worth of new bikes.The scheme is now running for a second time and is open to all UK Bus drivers, engineers and support staff, as well as employees at the Group headquarters in Perth.Under flexible pay and benefit arrangements, the company is offering employees a bike to use for cycling to and from work.This means savings of hundreds of pounds on the retail price of the bikes through bulk discounts, and employees can also make savings on tax and national insurance.Through the scheme, which is delivered by Swansea-based Cycle Solutions, staff can choose from more than 140 cycle brands including mountain bikes, hybrids and road bikes, up to a total value of £1,000.Stagecoach UK Bus Managing Director Robert Montgomery said: “The first round of the Cycle to Work scheme proved very popular with employees and it’s great for our staff that we are able to offer the scheme to them again.”

HUNDREDS of passengers recently met with managers from the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance for the third Passenger Forum at London Waterloo.Representatives from Samaritans, Passenger Focus, British Transport Police, London Travel Watch and the Alliance Charity Panel were all at the event.“This was a very important opportunity for us to hear first-hand the issues affecting our customers,” explained Arthur Pretorius, Customer Service Director for the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance.“There was a host of questions about a large range of issues, including train capacity, station information, timetables and ticket queries.”

SOUTH West Trains’ Revenue Protection Assistant Ibrahim Jalloh plans to run eight marathons to raise money for Cancer Research UK.The charity is very close to Ibrahim’s heart, as his sister has been diagnosed with the condition, and he plans to take part in marathons across Europe, including Rotterdam, Antwerp and Copenhagen.Ibrahim’s marathon efforts have already raised money for several charities including Oxfam, Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital and The Railway Children. Support his campaign at www.justgiving.com/ibrahim-jalloh

A FIERY challenge raised a cool £685 for charity recently.Group Assistant Company Secretary Modupeola Ogutuga walked across hot embers in Edinburgh to support Down’s Syndrome Scotland (DSS).

EAST Midlands Trains and trentbarton have launched a combined rail and bus ticket for shoppers visiting the East Midlands Designer Outlet. “We want to offer fully joined-up transport opportunities for our customers and the new integrated train and bus ticket will allow our customers an easy, simple and convenient way of enjoying the great shopping available at the East Midlands Designer Outlet,” said Neil Micklethwaite, Customer Service & Commercial Director for East Midlands Trains.

The Alliance Charity Panel also had a stand at the event to publicise their work.Volunteers from the Small Steps charity attended along with puppy trainers and puppies from Canine Partners and representatives from charity The Giggle Doctors.

The Giggle Doctors charity raised a smile and some funds at a recent Passenger Forum.

Ibrahim Jalloh is running a gruelling eight marathons for charity.

Neil Micklethwaite from East Midlands Trains and Alex Horby from trentbarton launch the new ticket.

QuizmastersCALLING all eggheads! The National Passenger Transport Sports Association (NPTSA) is on the lookout for teams to take part in its annual Sport and General Knowledge Quiz at the Transport Club, Tudor Street, Cardiff, on Sunday, October 12.Four-person teams are invited to take part, with a maximum of three teams per depot, and the entry is £10 per team. To enter, text QUIZ followed by your name and address to 0772 588 7566 or for more information visit www.nptsa.co.uk

‘Dupe before the challenge (above) and the hot embers she walked over.

‘Dupe hot-foots it “It was quite an honour for me to raise funds for such a worthy charity as the DSS,” said ‘Dupe.“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who supported me and the DSS through giving generously financially and/or giving words of encouragement.”Stagecoach donated £200 to the cause, and further donations can still be made at www.justgiving.com/Modupeola-Ogutuga

ON STAGEDid you know? Stagecoach North East bus driver Norman Fullard is celebrating a fantastic record of 40 years of safe driving.

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Greener, Smarter, Spicy Chicken & Noodle SoupTo serve 5-6 you will need:

IngredientsBig glug of sesame (or other suitable) oil; 2 big cloves garlic (crushed); 8 whole spring onions (chopped); 1/4 Savoy cabbage (sliced); 2 heaped handfuls of cooked shredded chicken; 2 litre chicken stock; 2 cups boiling water; Big piece of ginger (thickly sliced); Handful of fresh coriander; 2 red chillies (chopped) or 1 tbsp of crushed chilli flakes; 2 big handfuls of noodles; 2/3 tbsp of dark soya sauce.

• Put a large saucepan on medium heat and add the oil.

• Add the chicken and garlic and let sizzle while stirring.

• Add the spring onions, fry until they start to soften, and mix with the oil and garlic.

• Pour in the stock and boiling water then add the cabbage, soy sauce, ginger, coriander and chillies.

• Bring it all to the boil then simmer for approx. 15 minutes.

• Add the noodles, bring back to the boil, and simmer for a further 5 to 10 minutes.

• Serve in bowls with chopsticks, sprinkle with some coriander, and add a few extra slices of chilli to garnish for the “fire” lovers.

Tributes for Charlie

THIS issue’s recipe comes from Gus Beveridge, Operations Manager at Perth depot.

TOP RECIPE

nHero bus back on the road

TRIBUTES have been paid to former Stagecoach Managing Director Charlie Mullen who died last month.Charlie joined the bus industry in 1986 at Strathtay Scottish Omnibuses. He joined Stagecoach in 2005 when the Group acquired the Yorkshire Traction Group and held the role of Managing Director at Stagecoach Strathtay, Stagecoach Highlands and Stagecoach Bluebird.In 2009 he was appointed Managing Director of Stagecoach East Scotland where he remained until he retired in October 2013.Stagecoach Regional Director Scotland Sam Greer said: “During his time with Stagecoach, Charlie played a crucial role in delivering high-quality bus services for thousands of people every day and we benefited greatly from his experience.“He was also very well-liked and respected among

A BUS named after a hero of the 1953 floods is back on the roads of West Norfolk.In January 2013, Norfolk Green named a vehicle in honour of Reis Leming, who was awarded the George Medal for his single-handed rescue of 27 people trapped by the tidal surge.The bus was recently withdrawn from service following a road incident, but has now been repaired and re-launched.Norfolk Green Managing Director Andrew Dyer said: “The storm surge and floods of 1953 had a devastating impact on the people in our local communities and we are very pleased to help in commemorating the many people who showed incredible bravery that night, as well as remembering those who sadly lost their lives.”

STAGECOACH was happy to help kick off celebrations after Exeter’s premier rugby league team, the Chiefs, won this year’s LV= Cup.A big victory parade took place through the centre of Exeter and Stagecoach South West provided a vintage open-top bus for the special occasion.

Rugby champs the Chiefs parade through Exeter on a Stagecoach bus.

colleagues. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Charlie’s family at this time.”At his final MDs meeting before retiring, Charlie – who was a self-confessed ‘Guinness drinking dedicated follower of Celtic’ – was given a hospitality trip to watch a Champions League match involving Celtic.He will be missed by all those who worked with him.

Charlie Mullen.

Hail to the Chiefs!

A trip to the circusKIDS at Cheltenham’s Circus Day Nursery had an exciting afternoon when they were visited by Stagecoach West’s Classic London Red Bus.Staff and children enjoyed exploring the bus, ringing the bell and having their photos taken in the driving seat throughout the afternoon.

A delighted driver tries out the big red bus.

A D-DAY veteran was given a hero’s welcome thanks to megabus.com US driver Peter O’Brien.The ex-serviceman boarded Peter’s bus in the USA while travelling to France for the recent 70th anniversary of the Normandy landings.The man’s platoon was one of the first to land on Utah beach and, while in France, he was to receive the French Legion of Honor Medal from the President of France.The driver was so taken with this ex-soldier’s charm that, before setting off, he introduced him to the rest of the passengers – prompting a very deserved and enthusiastic round of applause from both decks.

Wings around the world A welcome for a heroSTAGECOACH Midlands recently supported the Wings for Life World Run.The global event took place in 32 countries on six continents at exactly the same time and was held in aid of the Wings for Life Foundation, a charity dedicated to find a cure for spinal cord injuries.Stagecoach provided 13 vehicles for the UK event, which started and finished at the Silverstone Circuit and involved nearly 900 runners.Jim Mortimore, Operations Director for Stagecoach Midlands, said “It was a highly successful and enjoyable event, which will have raised a great deal of money for the Wings for Life Foundation.”

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Editor: Lindsay Reid, On Stage, Stagecoach Group, 10 Dunkeld Road, Perth, PH1 5TWEmail: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com

If you have a story for On Stage, please contact Lindsay Reid as above. The copy deadline for the next edition of On Stage will be Friday, 15 August 2014.

nCONTACTS

nAPPOINTMENTS nGETTING TO KNOW YOU...

n Who are you? Jenny Harris, Travel Shop Clerk, Aldershot with 50 years’ service.

n What do you like most about your job? Meeting and helping people.

n What do you like least about your job? Rude customers (not that I can’t handle them!).

n Favourite food? Pasta or rice with homemade curry.

n Least favourite food? Anchovies.n What are you most proud of? My long service

with the company, and helping the elderly in my spare time.

n Favourite holiday destination? Austria or Italy.n Favourite music? Cliff Richard.n Person you would most like to have dinner

with? Probably Cliff Richard.

n First thing you would buy if you won £1million? A cruise around the world (however, my husband doesn’t like cruises!).

Jenny Harris, Travel Shop Clerk, Aldershot.

nLONG SERVICE

nIN MEMORY OF...

ON STAGE

Getting To Know You features in every edition of On Stage and we want to hear from as many staff as possible. To suggest the next participant, email lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com

THE PEOPLE PAGE

DAVID Parker has taken a step up to a new position as commercial manager at Stagecoach North East.After 17 years with the company, David (38) from Newcastle is now responsible for leading the commercial team and implementing its strategies, including service planning and scheduling.David said: “I have been at Stagecoach all my working life, straight from Northumbria University, where I studied business and finance, with a specialist focus on transport management. So to be offered the opportunity to work at this level in the commercial environment is fantastic.”Meanwhile, Stagecoach North East has employed a new Customer Communications Team at its head office in Sunderland.The team is made up of Rebecca Ellis, Dawn Storey, Cheryl Thompson and Phil Atkinson.“Customer contact and liaising with the general public is important to the company as we take our customer services and reputation very seriously,” said Marketing Manager Helen Martin.

STAGECOACH East Scotland sadly lost a long-serving member of its travel shop team when Colin Tullis (pictured) passed away.Colin began as a parcel boy in the Kirkcaldy depot in 1985 before becoming an Administration Clerk at Kirkcaldy bus station, where he remained until his final days.Beyond his admin duties, Colin researched and planned the company’s coach tour programme for many years and became well known by the local coach tour travellers as a result.Colin’s sudden death at the age of just 46 was a shock to both colleagues and his regular customers.

KAM Gill has been appointed Operations Manager at Nuneaton.He joined the Company in 2011 on Stagecooach’s graduate programme and was previously Operations Manager at Stagecoach’s Preston depot.Kam said: “I was born and brought up in the Coventry area. My family has lived here since the 1960s and so I know the Coventry, Nuneaton and Bedworth areas very well.“In my new position, it is only natural that I want to provide the best possible bus service for local people, ensuring we meet the high standards that Stagecoach sets across the board.”

A GROUP of Stagecoach Yorkshire employees were given a big thank you as they celebrated clocking up more than 1500 years of service between them.At a special awards event, Stagecoach paid tribute to the loyal members of staff who have all dedicated their careers to working for the company for more than 20 years at its depots. Retirees from the last 12 months were also invited to the event.

WITH a combined total of 590 years under their belts, loyal Stagecoach East Midlands staff and retiring employees were treated to a celebratory dinner recently.Those who attended were presented with a long service award certificate by Managing Director Michelle Hargreaves.

NORTH East Assistant Operations Manager Carl Trodden has achieved a Level 3 Institute of Logistics and Transport qualification.Carl, who works at the Walkergate depot in Newcastle, studied for two years in his own time using distance learning, completing online tutorials and homework.He said: “As a result of achieving this qualification I hope to move into a management role on a permanent basis.”

The new North East Customer Communications Team.

New Nuneaton Operations Manager Kam Gill.

Long-serving and retiring employees from East Midlands.

Yorkshire’s long service award recipients and recent retirees.

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