National Express Bus wins Excellence in People Engagement & Development award at BQF Quality Awards : National Express Bus was recognised for its people engagement and Development at the annual British Quality Foundation (BQF) awards at Wembley Stadium. The only public transport company to win an award, National Express Bus was a finalist in five categories.
The 4000 drivers working for National Express Bus are responsible for the safe transport of over 4 million passengers per week across the West Midlands. By integrating bespoke training, supportive coaching and proactive intervention with existing data, National Express Bus were judged to have raised the bar for safe driving across the region and inspired their drivers to seek development and support before they need it.
The Driver Risk Profile (DRP) tool was created in 2018 to strengthen the operator’s understanding of safety performance, and risk. Drawing on data from multiple sources, every driver receives a rating from A (low risk) to D (high risk), providing clear insight into individual and depot performance. Crucially, the DRP also identifies potential underlying causes, enabling earlier, targeted, and supportive interventions.
National Express Bus set itself a target to reduce the number of C & D-grade drivers from 14% of the workforce to 10%, and embed a culture of ownership and pride in safety performance. The approach they took resulted in a reduction to 4%, exceeding their target. It has improved engagement, supported driver development, recognised positive performance, and strengthened our collective responsibility to ensure everyone travels and works safely, free from harm.
Toni Tipper, Operations Director National Express Bus said:
“In a recent LRQA safety audit, they stated that the risk profile was an excellent example of continuous improvement and demonstrated the hard work invested in it. Across the business, drivers will now regularly call the Driver Training Officer to discuss their current risk score and highlight areas for improvement.”
Laura Edge, Head of Training, added
“The programme had a clear positive effect on organisational culture, creating an environment where employees are empowered and supported to take ownership of their development and safety, fostering a sense of pride and accountability.”
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