National success for West Northants bus partnership programme
A local partnership programme to promote bus services in West Northamptonshire has gained national recognition.
The Partnering for Success programme has just been short listed as a finalist for the Partnership for Excellence Award as part of the UK Bus Awards. It is one of seven finalists from nearly 30 entries across the UK.
Partnering for Success is part of the West Northamptonshire Bus Service Improvement Plan and is funded by UK Government. The programme is coordinated by GO Travel Solutions for West Northamptonshire Council.
This scheme demonstrates what can be achieved when we all pull together with a common aim.
By working with other organisations across West Northamptonshire, we’ve been able to come up with meaningful improvements to bus services in the area that will benefit our residents and visitors alike.
We’re incredibly grateful to the Department for Transport for demonstrating its confidence in our plans by providing vital funding to help make them a reality.
Cllr Richard Butler, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Northampton Saints is one of the member organisations for Partnering for Success.
It’s a no-brainer for us to be engaged in this project. We are keen to manage our carbon footprint and tackling emissions from supporter travel is a crucial step.
Partnering for Success allowed us to understand how the local bus service can assist our supporters; enabling them to travel to cinch Stadium at Franklin's Gardens in a more sustainable way.
This project has delivered us a tangible benefit in providing a business case to help deliver change.
Robbie Bailey, Commercial Development & Sustainability Manager for Northampton Saints
Using the bus to travel is a great way for everyone to help reduce congestion and pollution and help Northamptonshire be a better place to live and work.
The programme is helping us build new and stronger connections with organisations that generate reasons to travel.
We are excited with how these conversations are helping us all work together to make bus services even better.
Mark Whitelocks, Managing Director of Stagecoach Midlands
The approach taken in West Northants is unique for the UK.
Through engagement with local stakeholders, they can help use their communication channels to promote local buses.
More than this, these local organisations can help shape future bus service provision, through providing feedback on the customer experience and data on travel patterns.
Robin Pointon, Managing Director of GO Travel Solutions
To support the partnership, regular forums take place to update members on opportunities to promote and develop local bus services.
The last event took place at Northampton Town Football Club on 21 October, with more than 40 attendees, including representatives from the Department for Transport, London Northwestern Railway, Prologis, Silverstone Park, Silverstone Circuit, Northampton General Hospital and Northampton Saints.
The forum followed a meeting of the Bus Service Improvement Plan Enhanced Partnership in the morning.
To promote the work of Partnership for Success and the engagement with stakeholders, a short video has been produced.
