Go North East named first partner fully validated by National Express as part of new global standards initiative

Trainers from the region’s largest bus operator, Go North East, have completed innovative training with National Express, allowing them to be fully compliant with the coach company’s recently-introduced driver evaluation process.

As the first partner operator to fully complete the training programme, the instructors from the Go North East Training Academy can now ensure each and every driver under their guidance is fully-up-to-speed on the responsibilities and standards expected of them whilst operating within the National Express network. The training comes as the leading coach operator standardises its training across its worldwide operations.

Taking place over six weeks, the training saw the instructors completing a RoSPA (the Royal Society for the Protection of Accidents) accredited advanced training test together with four validation evaluations, an initial competence check, skills analysis and regular feedback. This allows them to be able to provide relevant and effective ongoing training and evaluation to new and existing drivers.

As the first company to be fully validated, Go North East has been proudly working with National Express for over 40 years; operating a fleet of 30 coaches with a team of around 100 drivers from its Chester-le-Street depot, on routes across the country to destinations including London, the South Coast, the Midlands and North West.

Among the Go North East team members taking part in the training was Tracy Hannington. Speaking of her time on the course, she said: “Everyone involved with the training had a fantastic time throughout the training and it was a great opportunity to develop our training skills. Those of us who were selected for it feel very privileged to have been asked to do this and we are so pleased to be the first company validated by National Express.”

Nick Badham from National Express concluded: “Our thanks go to the team at Go North East for being so accommodating and flexible. As well as being one of the first companies to complete the new scheme, they allowed us to use their training coach and facilities to ensure all elements of the programme were undertaken to the highest standards. Well done to all the trainers, Tracy, Nathan and Rachael who passed.”

To find out more about Go North East visit www.gonortheast.co.uk.