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.
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
