The Young Bus Professionals group will hold its spring conference at The County Hotel in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Wednesday 26 and Thursday 27 February, with delegate bookings now being taken by the not-for-profit organisation.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness will be after-dinner speaker on the first day and the event will get underway before that with the customary optional site visit to a depot to be announced. Thursday proceedings will include a variety of speakers and presentations and an interactive workshop.
Ms McGuinness has made clear her intentions to franchise bus services in the North East of England, with creation of an integrated ‘Angel Network’ in the mould of the Greater Manchester Bee Network as one of her five priorities for the region.
Other confirmed conference speakers thus far include Go North East Operations Director Josh Devlin; Northstar Bus Managing Director Dan Graham; and Arriva UK Bus Managing Director Regions Alistair Hands.
Young Bus Professionals was formerly known as the Young Bus Managers Network. It changed name in early 2024 to recognise the bus industry’s evolving landscape and increase the involvement of representatives of public sector bodies and consultancies.
The County Hotel is opposite Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station and will host a buffet lunch on the first day of the conference ahead of the site visit. Dinner will be at 1900hrs for 1930hrs, while the second day’s conference sessions will start at 0845hrs and conclude at 1515hrs.
Residential and non-residential packages are available for delegates. The former includes arrival lunch, dinner, single occupancy accommodation, breakfast, conference sessions, refreshments and a light lunch at £284 plus VAT until 17 January, and then £312 plus VAT.
Non-residential captures all the above except accommodation and breakfast. It is priced at £210 plus VAT until 17 January, and then £231 plus VAT.
Book conference places via the Young Bus Professionals website.
