FirstGroup's ScotRail wins prestigious people award
ScotRail, run by Aberdeen-based FirstGroup, has secured the UKs most recognised award for its sustained investment in staff training.
Scotland's national train operator, which employs more than 4,700 people - has been accredited with Investors in People (IIP) Gold status " achieved by only the top 3% of IIP organisations, and just 81 in Scotland. ScotRail is now the largest IIP Gold accredited company in the UK, measured by the number of people employed.
Tim O'Toole, chief executive of FirstGroup, said:
"In any business, there is an obvious connection between engaging and investing in people, and better customer service and performance. At FirstGroup, we are proud of the achievements of our ScotRail team, and its sharp focus on improving services and making passengers journeys better every day.'
ScotRail was awarded IIP Silver status in 2012, and has invested further in staff training and development to achieve the Gold award.
The awarding of Gold status followed a comprehensive audit by IIP, which assessed ScotRail on a diverse range of measures, including leadership, reward and recognition and business strategy.
Steve Montgomery, managing director of ScotRail, said: "We are more conscious than ever before of the important role we play in helping to connect millions of people and communities across the country.
"Our people are at the forefront of our ongoing efforts improve customers experience on Scotlands railways " and this tremendous achievement is testament to their hard work and dedication.'
Scotland's transport minister, Keith Brown, said:
"I am delighted that ScotRail has been further recognised by Investors in People and would like to congratulate the organisation and its staff on their commitment to continuous improvement.
"A modern, efficient and passenger focused railway is key if we want to increase the number of people travelling by train, and the staff working in rail services are an essential part of this ambition. I am pleased that it is ScotRail customers who will benefit from this achievement.'
IIP accreditation is a national Government framework designed to promote better work culture, increase employee engagement, and encourage inspirational leadership.
ScotRail was recently judged to be Rail Business of the Year and is also Scottish Public Transport Operator of the Year.
Since 2004, First Group's ScotRail has regularly recorded service punctuality of more than 90%, despite a dramatic upturn in the number of train services in the same period.
Today, 20 million more passengers use Scotland's railways than in 2004, with more than 83 million people taking the train every year. Staff numbers have increased by 35% since FirstGroup took over the franchise from National Express.
ENDS
For any further information, please contact Stuart Butchers, FirstGroup Media Relations Manager, [email protected], 07713 317979.
NOTES TO EDITORS
FirstGroup plc is the leading transport operator in the UK and North America with revenues of more than £6.9 billion a year. We employ approximately 120,000 employees and transport more than 2.5 billion passengers a year. Our vision is to provide solutions for an increasingly congested world ... keeping people moving and communities prospering.
First Student
The largest provider of student transportation in North America with a fleet of approximately 50,000 school buses, carrying some 6 million students every school day across the US and Canada.
First Transit
One of the largest private sector providers of transit management and contracting in North America. We manage public transport systems on behalf of city transit authorities, are one of the largest university campus and airport shuttle bus providers in the US and also manage paratransit operations, call centres and other transit activities. First Services, a division of First Transit, is the one of the largest private sector providers of fleet maintenance and ancillary support services for public sector customers such as the Federal Government and fire and police departments.
Greyhound
Greyhound is the only national provider of scheduled intercity coach services in the US and Canada. Based in Dallas, Greyhound provides scheduled passenger services to approximately 3,800 destinations carrying approximately 18 million passengers a year. Our point-to-point service Greyhound Express now serves more than 100 markets and we also operate further tailored brands for local markets including BoltBus and YO! Bus.
UK Bus
FirstGroup is one of Britains largest bus operators running approximately one in five of all local bus services. A fleet of some 6,500 buses carries approximately 2.3 million passengers a day in a huge number of communities including 40 of the UK's largest towns and cities. We operate Greyhound UK providing regular intercity coach services linking South Wales and Bristol Airport, and we also operate some US-style yellow school buses and have a fleet of coaches available for charter.
UK Rail
FirstGroup operates approximately a quarter of the UK passenger rail network, with a balanced portfolio of intercity, commuter, regional and sleeper services, carrying more than 310 million passengers a year.
o We are the UKs largest rail operator with four passenger franchises - First Capital Connect, First Great Western, First ScotRail and First TransPennine Express - and one open access operator, First Hull Trains.
o We operate the London Tramlink network on behalf of Transport for London carrying more than 29 million passengers a year and the Heathrow Connect service in partnership with Heathrow Airport.
Europe
With our partner DSB, we operate rail services in and between Denmark and Sweden. We operate the Aircoach network in Ireland