6155 now in full Elite Bus Driver Training Academy advertising:

https://flic.kr/p/2pkqww3

With this Loop liveried B9 receiving a full wrap, it does make you think the yellow Streetlites about to arrive may indeed be for something else*, as the B9 has shown the vehicle doesn’t need to be in base yellow for Training Academy advertising. 

*Then again they do look to be in the same shade of yellow as the training Omnicity below.

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Training vehicle 5244 in full yellow:

https://flic.kr/p/2pkoCyZ

(09 Dec 2023, 12:15 pm)ne14ne1 wrote 6155 now in full Elite Bus Driver Training Academy advertising:

https://flic.kr/p/2pkqww3

With this Loop liveried B9 receiving a full wrap, it does make you think the yellow Streetlites about to arrive may indeed be for something else*, as the B9 has shown the vehicle doesn’t need to be in base yellow for Training Academy advertising. 

*Then again they do look to be in the same shade of yellow as the training Omnicity below.

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Training vehicle 5244 in full yellow:

https://flic.kr/p/2pkoCyZ

Must be desperate times in Manchester having to get army re.. sorry bus drivers from the North East to work down there.

Also #savethewindows

(09 Dec 2023, 5:29 pm)Storx wrote Must be desperate times in Manchester having to get army re.. sorry bus drivers from the North East to work down there.

Also #savethewindows

Definitely pretty crap that apart from sticking the GNE logo at the top and reference to GNE at the very end, all of the rest of the content remains untouched and mentions only GNW.  Amateur to say the least.

(10 Dec 2023, 12:00 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Definitely pretty crap that apart from sticking the GNE logo at the top and reference to GNE at the very end, all of the rest of the content remains untouched and mentions only GNW.  Amateur to say the least.

Did you expect anything else from them? 

Just typed in the website on the wrap, taking me to a page telling me all about how much I could earn in Bolton, Wigan, and Queens Road - the latter blowing the low "productivity" GNE wage out of the water.

(30 Jan 2024, 7:06 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

Cringe

Forgot to add "Blakey awaits with some tea & biscuits once you have qualified".

Keep drivers managed by ex drivers who have done time on the road and understand the job!

I agree it's a bit cringe, but it's good to see some money being spent on a recruitment drive. I do question the accuracy of it, though?

The video mentions 'free family travel' - is this new, as it was at a salary deduction previously, wasn't it? Few comments on Facebook mentioning similar.

'Job satisfaction' - can you really promise this in an ad, and even if they're going down that route, what basis are they promising it on? Straight off the back of the worst and longest dispute in company history?

Looking at CAP Code 20, available here: https://www.asa.org.uk/codes-and-rulings...-code.html

20.2 states: "Living and working conditions must not be misrepresented."

Mind you, it also states: "Quoted earnings must be precise; if one has to be made, a forecast must not be unrepresentative. If income is earned from a basic salary and commission, commission only or in some other way, that must be made clear."

Given that you're paid for hours worked (not a salary), I don't know how they're still getting away with quoting 30k. There's certainly not a forecast anywhere explaining it?

This aside, like I say, it's good to see money being spent on a recruitment drive, but I wonder if they're expecting a different result?

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(30 Jan 2024, 7:06 pm)ne14ne1 wrote

I think someones fetish for aviators and leather driving gloves is really shining through here. 

Back in the day, Graham Norton may have had a feature on it. https://youtu.be/gkhWPEZnItE?feature=shared

(30 Jan 2024, 7:12 pm)Michael wrote Cringe

Very much agree - weird thing is this kind of thing must appeal to some, as I understand it is being rolled out here on the back of it being hugely successful with GNW.  Will be interesting to see if it was actually this campaign that helped them recruit, or the better salary, T&Cs etc over there (i.e. they would have successfully recruited whether the ad was running or not).  Minor point given the cringe factor of the whole thing but bit underwhelmed to see the few shots of GNE logo on uniforms etc is the old one, not great for an elite new advertising campaign to have out of date branding.

That said, good to see the landing site finally actually has GNE content on there instead of just a load of GNW detail.  Interesting the top line name checks Newcastle rather than the wider region.

It's gotten them a decent amount of free publicity with the BBC amongst others picking it up. The Top Gear stunt at the Air Museum was quirky enough to interest local news editors.

It did feel very very dated though in terms of a campaign but it's not a forward thinking industry. Let's hope it delivers some numbers (and drivers!) and not just some marketing awards

Apparently anyone who joins the company gets a bright yellow hoodie with "Elite Bus Training Academy" or something on.

(31 Jan 2024, 7:31 pm)F114TML wrote Apparently anyone who joins the company gets a bright yellow hoodie with "Elite Bus Training Academy" or something on.

Wow... what a gift

(31 Jan 2024, 3:18 pm)Ambassador wrote It's gotten them a decent amount of free publicity with the BBC amongst others picking it up. The Top Gear stunt at the Air Museum was quirky enough to interest local news editors.

It did feel very very dated though in terms of a campaign but it's not a forward thinking industry. Let's hope it delivers some numbers (and drivers!) and not just some marketing awards

Jim Scott would be all over that.

(31 Jan 2024, 7:31 pm)F114TML wrote Apparently anyone who joins the company gets a bright yellow hoodie with "Elite Bus Training Academy" or something on.

Saw someone driving one in a yellow hoodie today, Thought to myself: "Children in Need isn't until November isn't it? Must be getting their money's worth out of the Pudsey costume" before I realised what it was.

Wonder when they are going to remove the adverts that are still on the back of quite a few vehicles saying the hourly rate is £12.83

Elite driver academy? Who are they kidding! Mind you I doubt I’d put up with being told to do some of the stuff they go on at ya about these days

Christ, just had the misfortune of witnessing a member of the elite driving academy attempting to leave Durham Bus Station.

Are they really allowed on the public road in a city centre full of pedestrians before they have figured out how to turn a corner?

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yes, people can make mistakes. as far as i'm aware they're currently running at 3 trainees per vehicle, so it may be that particular driver has only just got in the seat for the day!

vehicles are dual controls so can be stopped when at imminent risk of collision

(01 May 2024, 3:23 pm)omnicity4659 wrote yes, people can make mistakes. as far as i'm aware they're currently running at 3 trainees per vehicle, so it may be that particular driver has only just got in the seat for the day!

vehicles are dual controls so can be stopped when at imminent risk of collision

Where about are these fitted?  Behind nearside from wheel?

(01 May 2024, 3:23 pm)omnicity4659 wrote yes, people can make mistakes. as far as i'm aware they're currently running at 3 trainees per vehicle , so it may be that particular driver has only just got in the seat for the day!

vehicles are dual controls so can be stopped when at imminent risk of collision

How many hours training are they getting between 1st lesson and test? Any idea?

(01 May 2024, 6:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote How many hours training are they getting between 1st lesson and test? Any idea?

Not sure about GNE, but at SNE it's between 30 - 60 hours or approx 10 days. But it could be more depending how the trainees progressing

(01 May 2024, 6:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote How many hours training are they getting between 1st lesson and test? Any idea?

I was 3 up when I had my training at GNE, think it was about 3 weeks before I took my test after I started driving. 4 weeks in total.

Are you required to have a full manual license or is an automatic license acceptable given (afaik) all the buses in the fleet are automatic?

I read something earlier that at the likes of Tesco you're required to have a full manual license despite all their vans being automatic on the off chance they get a hire van in that's manual.

(01 May 2024, 8:50 pm)Madmackem22 wrote Not sure about GNE, but at SNE it's between 30 - 60 hours or approx 10 days. But it could be more depending how the trainees progressing

Interesting. 

Was involved with a driving school many years ago and we would name the test 2 days in advance of the test (having block booked the actual tests well in advance of that). 

Training was done 1:1 and generally achieved within 5 days. 
Out 8-4 Mon-Thurs and test at some point on the Friday. The later the test in the day, the more additional last min prep they had before entering Sandy Lane. (Darlington or Carlisle if we were really desperate for tests).

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(02 May 2024, 2:02 pm)deanmachine wrote I was 3 up when I had my training at GNE, think it was about 3 weeks before I took my test after I started driving. 4 weeks in total.

I think the argument is you learn from watching your peers. 
But from the instructors point of view, getting the right balance and splitting the day between 3 and conducting a quality lesson... Well it may be challenging...

"Are you required to have a full manual license or is an automatic license acceptable given (afaik) all the buses in the fleet are automatic?"

A PCV licence permits both manual and automatic these days despite taking the test in an auto

(03 May 2024, 1:11 pm)RM2186 wrote "Are you required to have a full manual license or is an automatic license acceptable given (afaik) all the buses in the fleet are automatic?"

A PCV licence permits both manual and automatic these days despite taking the test in an auto

but only if you hold a manual licence beforehand

bus companies will usually say yes to automatic holders, but you would be limited to driving automatics when it comes to staff vans etc

(03 May 2024, 1:48 pm)omnicity4659 wrote but only if you hold a manual licence beforehand

bus companies will usually say yes to automatic holders, but you would be limited to driving automatics when it comes to staff vans etc

Interesting, I would have thought they'd follow the same policy as Tesco so everyone is on the same level when it comes to the license.

(03 May 2024, 4:49 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Interesting, I would have thought they'd follow the same policy as Tesco so everyone is on the same level when it comes to the license.

If I recall correctly, GNE does insist upon a manual licence (as all their vans are manual).


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Not sure where to post this so I'll just whack it in here.

Exciting scenes on the X21 today, an X10 driver was sent out on the X21 armed with nothing but a piece of paper with some vague directions having never been on the route before!

He was told to turn left at the roundabout into a bus station that no longer exists and we ended up doing a lap of Bishop with a passenger navigating him to the temporary stop on Newgate street.

Tbh, I'm surprised he made it this far without making a mistakes, I bet he's just glad he doesn't have to navigate Woodhouse anymore!

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