BUSINESS NEWS
the region won nearly £500,000 of funding from the Government’s Clean Bus Technology Fund. The money was secured
Buses are set to drive clean away E
ngines in 150 West Midland buses are to be fitted with clean air technology after
Upgrading West Midland buses with clean air technology
following a joint bid by Centro, the delivery arm of the West Midlands Integrated Transport Authority and bus company National Express West Midlands. The funding enables 27 of the
company's buses to be retrofitted with the technology which can cut harmful emissions by up to 90 per cent, helping to improve air quality in the region's city and town centres. In addition, National Express West Midlands is to spend a further £2.2 million of match funding to upgrade another 123 buses and all of the buses will be fully refurbished. Cllr John McNicholas, chairman of the ITA's
Express West
Midlands.The organisations are also bidding for further funding which, if successful, would see the bus company and Centro introduce up to 50 fully electric buses in 2017 and 2018 on routes with air quality issues. The two organisations are also
working with Birmingham City Council as part of the 100 Bus Hydrogen Project, which aims to put 20 fuel cell buses into service in 2018. Meanwhile, National Express has
‘Cleaner towns and cities and a healthier environment for people’
Delivery Committee, said: "National Express West Midlands operate the vast majority of the buses in Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Coventry city centres, all areas which have issues with air quality. “I’m very pleased that this successful bid,
together with the extra money being put in by the company, will see many more buses across the West Midlands upgraded. That means
cleaner towns and cities and a healthier environment for people. "But we're not stopping there. Our Bus
Alliance partnership with National Express West Midlands will see even more brand new buses with clean engine technology put into service over the next few years." The secured funding will complement £125
million due to be invested in new buses over the next five years as part of the Bus Alliance agreement between the ITA and National
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become an accredited Living Wage employer and the first private transport group to pay the higher, voluntary Living Wage in the West
Midlands.As well as pledging to pay all UK employees the Living Wage, National Express will also be ensuring the same for all
agency and contracted staff. National Express’ largest UK business, the bus division, is leading the way and National Express’ UK coach and rail businesses will follow by the end of 2017. Gerard Coyne, Regional Director of trade
union Unite said: “This announcement is great news for the 340 staff directly affected and shows National Express' commitment to be a good employer to all its staff. I would like to see more big companies in the West Midlands follow their lead and pay the Living Wage.”
Hub of great taste
An independent college in Birmingham has enhanced its offering for students by introducing a modern, healthy, state-of-the-art dining facility. On-site food has not
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previously been available to students at Abbey College, and the Hub, as it has been named, is part of an impressive new extension which opened last September, in time for the new intake of students. The Hub offers student
support services, communal areas and a catering service, provided by The Brookwood Partnership. Food is cooked fresh from the best locally sourced ingredients and
served by a committed and qualified team. The menu choice provides the right balance of current eating trends, good nutritionally balanced, and tasty home-cooked food, whilst appealing to different cultures. Vice principal Shahzad Hussain said: “This project was all about
improving the student experience. We felt it was important to give all of our students a place to socialise, relax and be supported in key aspects of their college life, and the ‘Hub’ does just that.” Brookwoods chef manager Tracey Lafayette said: “The students
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come from a wide range of nationalities and cultures so we have a selection of food offerings to help appeal to our customers. We also have some great upcoming food events planned for the students which include a Korean tasting experience and a Cuban food event.”
Tracey Lafayette: Tasty home cooking
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