Belle Vue appoints Matt Turner to lead new accredited training courses

Belle Vue Manchester has introduced a new series of accredited driver training courses aimed at raising standards across the coach and bus industry.

The training programmes are accredited by the Road Transport Industry Training Board and cover induction, PSVAR training, manual handling, vehicle familiarisation, and wheelchair compliance, as well as support towards obtaining Driver CPC. Refresher courses are also available for transport managers and office personnel, ensuring they remain up-to-date with legislative changes.

The initiative is being led by Matt Turner, recently appointed as Belle Vue’s Training and Compliance Manager. Mr Turner brings extensive industry experience, having begun his career at 16 and spending years as an international coach driver. In his new role he will oversee a range of courses tailored for both Belle Vue staff and drivers from other operators.

The launch comes on the heels of investment into infrastructure and technology at Belle Vue. The company has allocated a six-figure sum to develop a dedicated training suite, expand HR and accounts offices, enhance garage operations, and accommodate its expanding fleet with an additional coach park. Investments have also been made in CCTV for the private hire fleet and in advanced vehicle tracking and driver monitoring systems to bolster safety.

Comments Phil Hitchen, Managing Director of Belle Vue: “The standard of drivers in the industry has left a lot to be desired since the pandemic, and so we want to improve customer service delivery levels not just within our business but on a wider scale too. It’s important to provide ongoing training to drivers for them to work more safely and be up-to-date with current laws and compliance requirements.

“All of the training is done in our suite, and having our own in-house provision helps us to recruit, retrain and retain staff ourselves, and ensure we continue to deliver a high-quality performance and the highest standards of customer service. Matt has decades of first-hand experience having been a driver himself for many years, and he is a great trainer. He runs engaging sessions and the response to his courses has been very good.”

Matt, who gained his public service vehicle licence on his 18th birthday while working in his father’s transport business, adds: “I’m loving my role and the opportunity it brings to make a difference at Belle Vue and across the industry as a whole. Having been in the industry for my entire working life since I was 16, when I started in the garage at my dad’s business, I feel I have lots of experience and knowledge to pass on to others.

“I wish there had been people who trained like this when I first started in the industry. It’s a really good initiative for Belle Vue, and Mr Hitchen and his co-Director Ian Olsen have been extremely supportive.”

In addition to his professional efforts, Mr Turner recently raised over £1,000 for charity by participating in a white-collar boxing event. The proceeds went to The Christie hospital in Manchester and Pseudomyxoma Survivor, a charity supporting those affected by appendix cancer and pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP), a rare abdominal cancer