First Bus and Unite the Union partner to establish groundbreaking learning agreement
Hanley, 18th March 2025: First Bus, one of the UK’s leading bus operators, has unveiled its brand-new learning centre in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, as part of a groundbreaking agreement with Unite the Union.
This initiative will enhance educational opportunities for approximately 1,600 frontline employees across Manchester, Midlands and South Yorkshire.
Based at the operator’s Hanley depot in Stoke-on-Trent, the learning centre is designed to provide frontline First Bus colleagues with accessible educational resources, supporting career progression and ultimately improving service for customers. This is one of 12 new learning hubs and satellite centres First Bus is creating across the UK.
There is also an additional learning centre satellite in Sheffield Olive Grove depot ensuring that people from the region don’t have to travel across several counties to access lifelong learning.
The scheme represents a significant investment by First Bus in its people and demonstrates First Bus’ commitment to employee growth and development.
The learning agreement further showcases First Bus’ dedication to working collaboratively with their colleagues across trade unions to support workplace wellbeing. Alongside this, the collaboration equips staff with new skills to advance their careers and improve service for customers.
The learning centre was opened by Ben and Michael Dyer the co-founders of The Inspirational Learning Group, an organisation dedicated to enhancing the enterprise and employability skills of young people worldwide, also in attendance was Stoke councillor Sarah Jane Colclough.
Zoe Hands, Managing Director at First Bus MMSY comments: “We’re delighted to open our new learning centres in collaboration with Unite the Union, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to our people, as well as how we support the local communities we serve.
“We’re pleased to be working with the trade unions to support ongoing workforce wellbeing, as well as enhancing accessibility and opportunities through inclusive learning.”
Scott Higgins, Chair of the National Joint Consultative Forum (NJCF), added: “The signing of the Learning Partnership Agreement was a significant step forward in August 2024 and a confirmation of the unique relationship between First Bus and Unite the Union in regard to education.
“Education is the foundation of our Trade Union movement as it provides the means for our members to establish a clear understanding and embrace ever-changing technologies.
“We are proud to work together with an employer who recognises the value and worth of its employees. First Bus is prepared to invest heavily not just financially but also providing the means and support for individual progression within our industry.”
Notes to editors
Notes to editors
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About First Bus
At First Bus, we’re on a mission to grow bus usage – so we’ll get behind initiatives that move people out of cars and onto the bus.
We’re one of the UK’s largest bus operators, transporting more than 1.5 million passengers a day. Our local bus services serve more than 25% of the population of Great Britain and over half of the UK’s top 15 most populated urban areas.
We are a leading operator in the majority of our local areas, including major urban centres such as Glasgow, Bristol and Leeds.
We have proudly launched our First Bus London operation and now operate 83 routes in west and central London from 10 garages serving 180 million passengers annually.
The combined operation now manages a fleet of over 5,750 buses across the UK.
Transforming our business for the better, we’re putting our people and customers at the heart of everything we do. That’s why we’re the UK’s largest national bus operator to achieve real Living Wage employer status, cementing our position as an employer of choice in the sector.
First Bus is committed to operating a zero-emission bus fleet by 2035. We will have over 1000 zero-emission buses in operation across our UK fleet by the end of 2025.
We’re passionate about giving back to the communities we serve, which is why we’re helping local businesses to progress their decarbonisation journeys – giving them access to our charging hubs while our buses are on the road.
We also operate, Specialist Passenger Solutions, First Travel Solutions, York Pullman Bus Company, Lakeside, Ensignbus, Anderson Travel - and the Aircoach network and Matthews in Ireland.
First Bus is a division of FirstGroup.
Find more information on our website here: https://news-emec.firstbus.co.uk/