- First Scotland East driver Ian Davidson recognised for heroic actions and quick thinking with Frontline Employee of the Year award
- Operator receives sustainable transport award for ground breaking green vehicle initiatives
- String of Highly Commended awards for other First Bus colleagues
First Bus has celebrated success at the Scottish Transport Awards, with the bus operator’s driver Ian Davidson named Frontline Employee of the Year and the business picking up the Contribution to Sustainable Transport award. There was also a string of Highly Commended awards for other First Bus colleagues at the event in Glasgow.
First Scotland East driver Ian Davidson received the Frontline Employee of the Year award for his actions in going to the aid of local schoolchildren and their teacher when their minibus crashed last year near Stirling.
Ian, who is a driver at Balfron Depot, realised something was wrong when his empty bus got stuck in a tailback on the A811. The minibus had crashed up ahead and when he got to the scene he found shocked and injured children trying to get out of the vehicle, with their teacher still in the minibus and suffering from an arm injury.
Ian helped to move the children to safety and assisted the teacher. However, he became concerned at the time it was taking emergency services to get to the scene. When he investigated further he realised that the first responders had been given the wrong directions to the incident and he was then able to guide them to the location without further delay.
The judges awarded First Bus top marks for its comprehensive annual fuel economy testing programme which triggered a development race amongst several manufacturers. This resulted in new vehicle fuel efficiency improvements of over 30%, reducing CO2 emissions by the same amount.
Since the beginning of 2015, First Bus has invested in 132 ‘Low Carbon Certified’ buses across Scotland saving an estimated two million Kilograms of CO2 per year as a result. The vehicles also have EuroVI engines which are independently proven to produce very low emission levels, helping First Bus support Local Authority agendas to improve air quality in our communities.
In Scotland, First Bus has also blazed a trail with its recent investment in five buses equipped with flywheel technology which operate in Stirling and four hydrogen fuelcell buses which First Bus operates as part of the Aberdeen Hydrogen Bus Project.
Other First Bus colleagues were also recognised in the Frontline Employee of the Year category, with Highly Commended awards for: First Glasgow Airport Express Driver Emily O’Dowd, Martin Brand, First Glasgow Major Repair Business Manager and the staff at the First Aberdeen Travel Centre.
Commenting after the event at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow, Giles Fearnley, Managing Director at First Bus, said: “I would like to extend my congratulations to our First Bus colleagues for their success at the Scottish Transport Awards.
“The awards ceremony was a great night for recognising the fantastic people that are in the industry and Ian Davidson’s actions in helping schoolchildren and their teacher at a road accident are worthy of the highest praise.
“Congratulations must also go to other colleagues who were Highly Commended in the Frontline Employee category. Of the eight entries in this category, four were from First Bus and this is a great tribute to these individuals and our workforce.
“I’m very pleased that the judges also recognised the efforts First Bus is making to change the industry’s direction of travel when it comes to vehicle investment, helping to improve air quality and reducing carbon emissions.”
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director of First Bus in Scotland, said: “I’m thrilled to see the hard work and dedication of our colleagues so richly rewarded, and we’re all very proud of their achievements.
“To pick up the award for Sustainable Transport is another indication of how First Bus is leading the way in providing greener travel solutions, and this is something we will continue to champion.
“This follows awards success in September 2016 when First Bus was crowned ‘Low Carbon Vehicle Operator of the Year 2016’ at the Low Carbon Champions Awards.”