- First TransPennine Express, recognised for outstanding performance, has been awarded prestigious honour
Following a rigorous formal assessment, train operator First TransPennine Express (FTPE) has been awarded a prestigious British Quality Foundation award, recognised for its continuous excellence in all areas of operation. The UK Excellence Award is one of the highest accolades any organisation in the UK can receive and FTPE is the first rail company to ever achieve this.
FTPE was also awarded the Excellence 600 Award, to further highlight their exceptional performance, which is given to organisations that scored more than six hundred points against the model in their assessment.
The (BQF) awards are dedicated to performance improvement and recognise exceptional achievement across an organisation's operation. FTPE was one of only four companies to have been shortlisted for the UK Excellence Award. In addition, FTPE was one of only three finalists in the Leadership category, shortlisted for its implementation of key programmes to improve performance across the whole organisation.
FTPE has worked with the EFQM Excellence Model fully embedded in its strategic thinking, planning, management systems, performance monitoring and organisational learning since the beginning of its current franchise in 2004. This has enabled them to gain insight into their strengths whilst providing opportunities for them to improve.
As a 'learning organisation' with a strong focus on continuous improvement, FTPE has rolled out, 'The Leadership Charter' and 'Lead to Succeed' programmes in the last two years. These ensure all leaders are fully capable and competent to deliver the strategic aims of the business. The programmes, developed by FTPE, have resulted in 72 internal promotions within the last 18 months and FTPE is keen to employ graduate trainees in key areas to future proof the business.
Assessors from BQF said, “FTPE is a learning organisation with a strong focus on continuous improvement as part of delivering high quality services to customers. The company compares its performance with best in class organisations wherever possible and strives to meet or exceed these levels.”
Managing Director, Nick Donovan, said: "We are absolutely delighted to have won these awards, and are overjoyed to be leading the industry as the very first rail company to win this prestigious accolade.
“FTPE has been recognised as a high performing organisation in award programmes every year since 2005. These include UK rail industry awards, North of England Excellence and UK Excellence Awards. We received five star (5*) EFQM Excellence Model recognition as a UK awards finalist in 2012 and were named Inter City Rail Operator of the Year by the European Congress in 2013, all of which demonstrate our commitment to setting the highest standards.”
First TransPennine Express is overwhelmed at the response to their progress and they will endeavor to improve their development and implementation of future programmes through employee surveys and increased engagement.
ENDS
For further information contact: Kacee Fennelly on 0161 669 4708 or email [email protected]
Notes to Editors:
First TransPennine Express' vision is to provide solutions for an increasingly congested world… keeping people moving and communities prospering.
First TransPennine Express – run by First Group plc in partnership with Keolis SA – operates inter-city services on three main routes.
- North TransPennine - including Newcastle to Manchester Airport, Middlesbrough to Manchester Airport, Scarborough to Liverpool and Hull to Manchester Piccadilly
- South TransPennine from Cleethorpes via Doncaster and Sheffield to Manchester Airport
- North West and Scotland – from Windermere, Barrow in Furness and Blackpool North via Preston and Bolton to Manchester Airport; Edinburgh, Glasgow, Carlisle, Penrith and Oxenholme to Manchester Airport
Destinations served by First TransPennine Express include Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Darlington, Northallerton, Thirsk, York, Malton, Scarborough, Hull, Selby, Leeds, Huddersfield, Cleethorpes, Grimsby, Scunthorpe, Meadowhall, Doncaster, Sheffield, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Carlisle, Barrow in Furness, Blackpool, Lancaster, Preston, Bolton, Manchester, Manchester Airport, Warrington and Liverpool