High 5 – Summer 2015

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Summer 2015

The magazine for First people across Norfolk and Suffolk

MAJOR INVESTMENT IN NEW ECO-FRIENDLY BUSES &TECHNOLOGY See Group News PAGE SIX

s i h s r e v i l e d r drive

y b a b n ow PAGE THREE

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Dedication of loyal staff is always appreciated

General Service Operative Peter Harrison checks a dry mixed recyclables bin at Norwich’s Vulcan Road Engineering Department.

By Managing Director

David Squire

WELCOME to the Summer issue of High 5, the staff magazine for First Eastern Counties.

In this issue we focus on the Long Service Awards Dinner held at Marriott Sprowston Manor Hotel in April.

During a terrific evening where we celebrated more than 1,000 years of service from our fantastic staff, we were joined by UK Bus South Regional Managing Director Neil Barker who presented the award certificates.

The occasion was an opportunity to demonstrate First Eastern Counties’ gratitude for the dedication of employees who have reached various long service milestones.

We also explore Davey House, the new central Norwich home for our Norwich depot operations in Castle Meadow and our Head Office team, finally bringing all of our senior team together under one roof.

The move to the new headquarters puts us geographically closer to our buses while the open-plan layout over two floors means communication between different functions is greatly enhanced.

As ever this issue is packed with stories from around our depots highlighting the superb work done by our staff together with some more of their fascinating pastimes.

And finally, I would like to praise the superb teamwork shown by all staff involved in laying on special buses for Norwich City FC’s Championship play-off at Wembley and Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival in Norwich.

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is no N energy-saving initiative is underway at First Eastern Counties as part of the Group-wide Project Revive. Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft depots are the most recent to be audited so that “green” systems can be introduced.

First UK Bus has set environmental targets for the current year of reducing energy usage by three per cent and waste by one per cent while increasing recycling by one per cent.

Heating is being reduced by a few degrees with hot water radiators controlled by adjustable thermostats.

Turn It Off stickers have been placed on lighting switches, all-non essential electrical items are being turned off at night and yard lighting is being adjusted.

Following site audits with waste removal

A

contractors Biffa, a more efficient system of waste collection has been introduced in depots across First Eastern Counties with large general skips being replaced by smaller, more mobile wheeled containers for use where cleaning activities take place.

Black bin bags have been banned in favour of clear bags so that people clearing them from buildings can see whether they contain recyclable material. Bin lay-out in the workshops has been re-organised to make it easier for people to put the correct item in the correct bins.

“The benefits of recycling are huge,” said Neil Cocker, Workshop Manager and Planner who is leading the project at local level.

“Energy conservation and recycling are easy habits to adopt – after all it’s what you would do in your own home so why not do it at work?”

Local trial for new injury prevention mobile app NEIL Cocker, First Eastern Counties’ Workshop Manager and Planner, is leading a local trial of First’s Injury Prevention Database Mobile app.

The app with GPS location services is a real-time

reporting application for people’s mobile devices.

Users will be enabled to use the app as a dynamic tool for taking live photos, assigning actions to anyone in the business and uploading safety

concerns with seconds.

This is pivotal to the Group “Be Safe” vision ensuring both customers and staff thrive in a safe working environment.

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Norwich birdman

swoops for two

LASTAIR Fairbairn has been on the look-out for owls all his life – and now he has two permanently in his back garden.

The Norwich Driver has bought two females named Barney and Dixie from a collector and installed them as the latest marvels in his bird collection.

He already has 50 zebra finches and six cockatiels so alongside them he has installed a special aviary to house the newcomers.

Alastair is hand training the 10-year-old owls and feeding them on mice or day-old chicks which he buys frozen.

“They are settling in at the moment and I am beginning to understand their different characters,” he said. “Once they are trained I hope to be able to have them out in the open in the garden on perches, with jesses as tethers. I have loved owls all my life and always wanted to own one or two.”

Bird of prey enthusiast Alastair volunteers as a helper at Happisburgh Owl Barn on the Norfolk coast at weekends.

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Alastair Fairbairn with Barney, one of his two owls, flying to his glove. Below, some of his 50 zebra finches and, right, two of his six cockatiels.

Amy felt the baby... and then everything happened quickly

COVER PICTURE: Gavin Thompson and his partner Amy with their baby daughter Ellie.

DRIVER Gavin Thompson discovered his knowledge of the Highway Code and the Smith System were of little use when he was forced to take on a rather unexpected task – delivering his baby daughter Ellie.

Gavin stepped in as midwife when his partner Amy gave birth just hours after she was sent home from hospital after being told “baby’s not ready to arrive yet”.

The 22-year-old Ipswich employee explained: “I was at work that morning when I got a call saying Amy was having contractions, so I went home and took her straight to the maternity unit. Five hours later nothing had happened and they sent us home again.

“That evening we were sitting and trying to relax when Amy suddenly stood up and said she could feel the baby coming. I got her to lie on the floor and

when I looked I could see the baby’s head. I rang 999, but everything happened so quickly that Ellie actually arrived before the paramedics did.”

Ambulance control staff stayed on the phone and talked Gavin through the things he needed to do to make sure Ellie and Amy were safe.

“They were brilliant,” he said. “They kept me calm and explained what I had to do. I suppose I went into some sort of auto-pilot mode, because I don’t remember much about it and it was all over in about five minutes.”

Neither Amy, aged 21, nor Ellie suffered any harm from the surprise delivery which happened on February 23.

“They are both absolutely fine and Ellie is thriving,” said Gavin. “I was over the moon to have been involved in her birth and feel quite proud of the job I did.”

SUMMER 2015

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Question

time

Norfolk General Manager Hugo Forster in his office.

CHANTEL WOODGER-MASON, Ipswich Driver who joined First Eastern Counties six months ago, takes time out to answer our questions. Chantel lives with her wife Annaliese, daughter Lauren, aged 14, and son Tommy, aged 12.

What do you like best about your job?

I love the variety of my job where I can help many different people to have Better Journeys for Life.

I always try to deliver good customer service.

Kitchen Assistant Paige Murphy pours a cup of coffee in the new canteen.

Controller Gerry Clarke, front left, and Relief Controller Antonio Barbas, front right, with back row left to right, Operations Manager Lee Howes, Revenue Inspector Gary Raines and Relief Controller Paula Street in the first-floor office at Davey House.

New HQ offices are already

delivering benefits

Norwich Network Officer Chris Limbach.

IRST Eastern Counties’ headquarters staff have been settling in to their new home at Davey House – and finding it is superior to their previous location in important ways.

The move across Norwich from Rouen House and Lansdowne Road depot means Operations and other Head Office functions are right “at the centre of the action”.

The Operations team are now adjacent to the bus interchange at Castle Meadow so they can make immediate face-to-face contact with drivers and customers if necessary.

“During our time at Rouen House we had no view out onto our buses and customers,” said Operations Manager Lee Howes.

“Now we are slap bang in the middle of our customer base. If we need closer engagement with the drivers or customers we can actually go outside and see if things are working as they should be.”

Lee and his depot team are based on the first floor of Davey House where there are bright new canteen facilities, a drivers’ rest area, toilets, the Learning Centre and union office.

F Caroline Parish who is PA to the Managing Director and the Commercial Director.

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Alongside Lee are nine Controllers including new arrivals Steven Bayliss and Simon Golder (full-time) and Paula Street and Antonio Barbas (relief), Staff Manager Lydia Gumbrell and Assistant Staff Manager Sheldon Rees.

On the second floor, also in an open plan format, are all the Head Office functions apart from Customer Services, the Call Centre and all driver training which remain based in Lansdowne Road depot.

With Managing Director David Squire and Commercial Director Steve Wickers alongside the Human Resources, Commercial, Finance, Marketing and Insurance Departments all in the same building as Operations for the first time, there are decided benefits in communication.

“There’s much easier movement between the different functions,” said Matt Saunders, Marketing and Sales Co-ordinator.

“The directors can just go downstairs if they need to talk to Operations, for example.”

There are plans to turn the ground floor of Davey House into a Travel Shop run by the Customer Services Department, with a customer-friendly waiting area.

Insurance Administrators Frank Ashby, seated, and David Collinson in the Insurance Department located on the second floor.

How do you relax?

I go out running three or four times a week in the suburb where I live. I also visit a gym where I do weight training.

Keeping fit is important in a job where you are sitting down for long periods. I also enjoy swimming on holiday.

What are your favourite films?

A stand-out film is The Green Mile starring Tom Hanks but generally I like romantic movies and films with a prison theme.

What is your favourite music?

I like power ballads and a favourite singer is the Canadian Alannah Myles of Black Velvet fame.

Which famous person would you invite to a dinner party?

Tracey Dinwiddie, Alaskan actress who appeared in Dawson’s Creek, Lucy

Lawless, who played the title character in Xena: Warrior Princess, Cameron Diaz and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I would also ask comedian Alan Carr to come along to make us laugh.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A duck patroller – there were ducks on the canal near where we lived and I always wanted to be in charge of them.

What is your favourite place in the world?

So far I like Spain best but I have always wanted to go to Australia because of the weather and the nice houses. I always enjoy watching programmes on television about people choosing a new home Down Under.

What is your favourite meal?

It would have to be a roast dinner with all the trimmings.

What is the best bit of advice you were ever given?

Don’t talk to strangers – when I was young, by my parents.

Chantel WoodgerMason pictured at Ipswich depot.

SUMMER 2015

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Question

time

Norfolk General Manager Hugo Forster in his office.

CHANTEL WOODGER-MASON, Ipswich Driver who joined First Eastern Counties six months ago, takes time out to answer our questions. Chantel lives with her wife Annaliese, daughter Lauren, aged 14, and son Tommy, aged 12.

What do you like best about your job?

I love the variety of my job where I can help many different people to have Better Journeys for Life.

I always try to deliver good customer service.

Kitchen Assistant Paige Murphy pours a cup of coffee in the new canteen.

Controller Gerry Clarke, front left, and Relief Controller Antonio Barbas, front right, with back row left to right, Operations Manager Lee Howes, Revenue Inspector Gary Raines and Relief Controller Paula Street in the first-floor office at Davey House.

New HQ offices are already

delivering benefits

Norwich Network Officer Chris Limbach.

IRST Eastern Counties’ headquarters staff have been settling in to their new home at Davey House – and finding it is superior to their previous location in important ways.

The move across Norwich from Rouen House and Lansdowne Road depot means Operations and other Head Office functions are right “at the centre of the action”.

The Operations team are now adjacent to the bus interchange at Castle Meadow so they can make immediate face-to-face contact with drivers and customers if necessary.

“During our time at Rouen House we had no view out onto our buses and customers,” said Operations Manager Lee Howes.

“Now we are slap bang in the middle of our customer base. If we need closer engagement with the drivers or customers we can actually go outside and see if things are working as they should be.”

Lee and his depot team are based on the first floor of Davey House where there are bright new canteen facilities, a drivers’ rest area, toilets, the Learning Centre and union office.

F Caroline Parish who is PA to the Managing Director and the Commercial Director.

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SUMMER 2015

Alongside Lee are nine Controllers including new arrivals Steven Bayliss and Simon Golder (full-time) and Paula Street and Antonio Barbas (relief), Staff Manager Lydia Gumbrell and Assistant Staff Manager Sheldon Rees.

On the second floor, also in an open plan format, are all the Head Office functions apart from Customer Services, the Call Centre and all driver training which remain based in Lansdowne Road depot.

With Managing Director David Squire and Commercial Director Steve Wickers alongside the Human Resources, Commercial, Finance, Marketing and Insurance Departments all in the same building as Operations for the first time, there are decided benefits in communication.

“There’s much easier movement between the different functions,” said Matt Saunders, Marketing and Sales Co-ordinator.

“The directors can just go downstairs if they need to talk to Operations, for example.”

There are plans to turn the ground floor of Davey House into a Travel Shop run by the Customer Services Department, with a customer-friendly waiting area.

Insurance Administrators Frank Ashby, seated, and David Collinson in the Insurance Department located on the second floor.

How do you relax?

I go out running three or four times a week in the suburb where I live. I also visit a gym where I do weight training.

Keeping fit is important in a job where you are sitting down for long periods. I also enjoy swimming on holiday.

What are your favourite films?

A stand-out film is The Green Mile starring Tom Hanks but generally I like romantic movies and films with a prison theme.

What is your favourite music?

I like power ballads and a favourite singer is the Canadian Alannah Myles of Black Velvet fame.

Which famous person would you invite to a dinner party?

Tracey Dinwiddie, Alaskan actress who appeared in Dawson’s Creek, Lucy

Lawless, who played the title character in Xena: Warrior Princess, Cameron Diaz and Catherine Zeta-Jones. I would also ask comedian Alan Carr to come along to make us laugh.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?

A duck patroller – there were ducks on the canal near where we lived and I always wanted to be in charge of them.

What is your favourite place in the world?

So far I like Spain best but I have always wanted to go to Australia because of the weather and the nice houses. I always enjoy watching programmes on television about people choosing a new home Down Under.

What is your favourite meal?

It would have to be a roast dinner with all the trimmings.

What is the best bit of advice you were ever given?

Don’t talk to strangers – when I was young, by my parents.

Chantel WoodgerMason pictured at Ipswich depot.

SUMMER 2015

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New drive reinforces key safety value Checking passengers are safe before pulling away.

FIRST UK Bus people are being encouraged to take personal responsibility to make sure they, their colleagues and customers remain safe.

It comes amid an increase in collisions and passenger injuries in most OpCos. There were fewer severe injuries but more minor injuries to passengers boarding and alighting.

There is also concern that slips and trips during in 2013/14 led to an increase in staff lost time injuries.

First UK Bus Managing Director Giles Fearnley said: “We need to address these

issues and we are working to encourage colleagues to take personal responsibility for safety.”

A new system is being developed to help identify drivers’ training and support needs in relation to safety.

It aims to provide a consistent approach to analysing driver data across the whole group, and identify the factors that are a risk to employee and customer safety.

This tool will enable colleagues to discuss safety matters more accurately during professional development planning.

Micro Hybrid Streetlite Buses which entered service last year.

First has ordered a further 183 of these environmentally-friendly vehicles, which now feature Euro 6 engines.

UR announcement of a £77.7million order for new vehicles is fantastic news. It’s one of our biggest ever orders and reinforces improving performance, increasing passenger numbers and our continuing commitment to deliver our Better Journeys for Life promise.

Investing in our fleet is absolutely key if we are to continue improving our product and attracting new customers.

We should all be proud that we’ve invested almost £385million in vehicles over the last five years, replacing some 2,200 buses, almost a third of our fleet. The new vehicles will all come fitted with leather seats, CCTV and WiFi, providing customers with free internet access.

In addition to the dedicated space for wheelchair users, extra space will be provided for pushchairs and we are trialling the installation of USB charging points on some vehicles. I’m also delighted that more than 90 per cent of the new buses will be fitted with environmentally friendly Euro 6 engines, the biggest investment in Euro 6 buses in the UK to date. To set this in context, Euro 6 engines have eight times less emissions than their predecessors, the Euro 5. As well as travelling in new buses, customers will benefit from improvements in new technology. For example: ● We will soon reveal improvements to our website including real time bus tracking and journey planning, alongside a trial of the same features in the mTicketing app.

O

Investing in future

success

● We’re also looking at new ways of paying for mTickets, including Paypal, and Apple Pay, as well as exploring new technologies to validate mTickets.

Of course, we can only continue to invest by being successful as a business. We need to set the highest

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SUMMER 2015

By First UK Bus Managing Director

Giles Fearnley standards in our operational performance whilst offering our customers excellent value.

We are committed to continuing to build a more sustainable business. That means introducing cost efficiencies where possible and increasing revenues underpinned by continuing to grow our customer base.

We know that the most effective way to deliver the best bus services for customers is through operators and local authorities working together in partnership, and we have a great track record of doing just that.

We believe that there is much more that can be done through partnership and that calls by some Local Authorities for regulation of bus services is not necessary.

We have made great progress in strengthening our businesses across the Division but regrettably in some of our towns and cities, particularly where the local economies are suffering, we continue to face significant challenges.

The announcement of this investment, however, demonstrates again our strong commitment to our Better Journeys for Life promise.

VIPs to appear at ceremonies VIP speakers will appear at First UK Bus Excellence Awards ceremonies.

Olympic gold medalist athlete Sally Gunnell is guest of honour at the South England & Wales ceremony in Reading, while Scotland rugby hero Gavin Hastings will address the gathering in Scotland.

North England’s ceremony will be hosted

by Harry Gration, who presents the BBC’s evening news programme Look North.

Over 1,100 nominations have been received from colleagues for the awards launched this year to reward and recognise those staff who best display the company’s values and go the extra mile.

Look out for reports in the next issue of your employee magazine.

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Tributes to 1,000 years of service M

ORE than 1,000 years of service were applauded at First Eastern Counties’ bi-annual Long Service Awards.

A special celebration evening was held at The Marquee, Marriott Sprowston Manor at Norwich in April.

Employees and their partners were invited to a three-course dinner followed by the presentation of long service certificates by Managing Director David Squire and Neil Barker, Regional Managing Director, Wales and South of England.

A total of 27 long servers from Norwich, Great Yarmouth, Lowestoft and King’s Lynn were present.

Longest serving attendees were Norwich Drivers Roy Theobald (46 years) and Michael Vincent (45 years).

Speeches by the two Directors paid tribute to the dedication and professionalism of the employees who had reached milestones of 40-plus, 35, 30 and 25 years.

Driver Roy Theobald is presented with a Certificate of Appreciation to mark his 46 years of service by Neil Barker, with David Squire looking on, at the awards evening.

When the formal proceedings came to an end, the guests danced to music provided by Nights Disco. The full list of people being honoured for long service is as follows:

Mechanic; Ian Key, Norwich Driver; Paul James, Norwich Driver; John Bridges, Norwich Driver; Graham Bird, Norwich Mechanic.

45 years-plus: Roy Theobald, Norwich Driver; Michael Vincent, Norwich Driver.

30-plus: Ian Drew, King’s Lynn Driver; David Fields, King’s Lynn Controller; Kevin Macdonald, Great Yarmouth Vehicle Examiner.

40-plus: Kenneth Willis, Norwich Driver; Richard Duffield, Norwich Driver; Mark Ellis, Norwich Driver; Ian Hale, Lowestoft Driver.

35-plus: Ian Daniels, Great Yarmouth Driver; Keith Laxton, Great Yarmouth Driver; Jimmy Groombridge, Norwich Driver; Adrian Flint, Head Office Analyst; Mark Pitts, Great Yarmouth Driver; Andrew Coleman, Norwich Mechanic; Andrew Rose, Great Yarmouth

25-plus: Andrew Moore, Norwich Driver; Mark Holmes, Norwich Driver; Philip Nurse, Norwich Driver; Graeme Banks, Norwich Driver; Kenneth Barber, Norwich Driver; Lionel Green, Norwich Driver; Donald Carruthers, Norwich Driver; Paul James, Lowestoft Driver; Iain Rankine, Head Office Network Planner; Peter Short, Great Yarmouth Electrician.

Driver’s first published book is

simply

spooktastic

GHOST WRITER: Ed Nicholls with a copy of his book.

SPOOKTASTIC is the only way to describe Ipswich Driver Ed Nicholls’ first book – The Haunted History of British Theatres.

His interest in all things ghoulish started 10 years ago when he became a professional tour guide after launching Ipswich Ghost Tours as a side line to his now-defunct coach business.

The 61-year-old, who has been with First Eastern Counties for three years, said: “I still do a monthly two-hour walking tour of all the ghostly hotspots in Ipswich so the book idea came from that.

“It’s my first one and it took about two years to research and write. I found the whole process very relaxing, combining visits to actual theatres with information gathering from a variety of sources.”

Ed explores a different region of the UK in each chapter with venues ranging from the oldest working Victorian theatre in the country in Newcastle-upon-Tyne to the bright lights of London's West End. There are tales of grey ladies roaming the stalls, ghostly wardrobe mistresses, pianos playing music to empty music halls and black phantoms appearing in dressing room mirrors.

“We had our book launch at First Eastern Counties’ information centre in Ipswich with Freddie the Frog in attendance – the support I’ve had from the drivers has been absolutely brilliant,” said Ed. “We’ve sold about 100 of the 200 printed so far and are now looking at getting a reprint. I’ve already got my follow-up project in mind.

“It’ll be a book about haunted pubs so I definitely have to do a lot of research for that!”

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Classic cars fundraiser for hospital

Gavin Costick on his time trial bike.

LOWESTOFT Vehicle Inspector Garry Smith raised an impressive £2,315 for Great Ormond Street Hospital through his Classic Car Show and family fun day.

The amount included £200 match-funding from First Eastern Counties and donations from colleagues and friends.

The attendance at the show, together with the amount raised, “exceeded all expectations,” said Garry.

“We were absolutely overwhelmed by the response,” he said. “We more than doubled our target. Great Ormond Street have told us they are over the moon with the donation.”

More than 200 classic cars were exhibited at the show at Corton Playing Field in May, with Garry and his wife Linda showing their two classic Lotus cars.

Garry travelled down to present the cheque to the hospital, which saved his baby granddaughter’s life.

His aim was to say thanks to them for their outstanding care for 14-month-old Isabella May who has had three heart operations and is now recovering.

Gavin races

the

ock l c G

Director is re-elected

an individual’s ultimate in testing his d re te en thing you do in AVIN Costick potential. “Every the at ce ra of your own lt cle su cy first cycling is a re , 11 of tender age efforts,” he said. e man on a his father who “A time trial is on encouraged by r. clock. I have was a bike race bike against the is still he on s e years through ar th ye e er Thirty-fiv improved ov e th of r be em m a I remember going strong as perseverance – . ub Cl ng g I used to train cli un Cy yo King’s Lynn when I was st Fir th wi r lle rt so much.”

Gavin, a Contro until I cried, it hu up s ck clo allenge is the s, ch tie t un es Gavin’s lat Eastern Co . ek we a s eshire, a around 200 mile Tour of Cambridg he , als tri e e trial tim tim ) in A regular 16-mile (25km later by an cing is the s ra ur cle ho cy 24 s d on we ck re follo

Gran Fondo, a 83-mile (134km) event. ion mass participat race I have ng sti te t os m “The ers, a rid rd Ha y done is the El or roads po ry ve on st te hellish in and sleet,” and usually in ra the roads in gh ou lth “A he said. there are t, fla e East Anglia ar s to nd wi ad he ff sti often contend with.” es, one of Gavin has two bik Trial bike e Tim them a special ed riding with a streamlin dynamic ro position for ae . ce an rm perfo

David’s charity walk in memory of his wife IPSWICH Administrator David Dennington is taking part in an annual walk along the River Orwell organised by the Rotary Club. He will be raising money for Cancer Campaign in Suffolk in memory of his wife Mandy who sadly passed away last year.

David, who will be accompanied by his

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SUMMER 2015

children Ryan, aged 16, and Lauren, aged 14, has done the walk five times previously.

He said: “In total so far I must have raised well over £1,000. It’s a 25-mile walk out of Ipswich towards Felixstowe, along the foreshore over sand and shingle and across farmland.”

JIMMY Groombridge has been re-elected as First Eastern Counties’ Employee Director. It is the fourth time he has been asked to stay on and he is now in his 13th year in the role.

Freddie the Frog was in attendance at Ipswich as Jimmy celebrated his success during which he attended a Health and Safety meeting and chatted to staff at both the engineering depot and Dog’s Head Street offices.

Have you got news for us?

IF you have a news item please contact Marketing and Revenue Manager Andrew Wheeler by calling 01245 293442 or emailing andrew.wheeler@ firstgroup.com