A UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel is to be created. It will bring together industry experts and local leaders to explore ways of ensuring that the UK remains a leader in bus building; help local authorities to deliver transport ambitions; and begin to seize opportunities to embrace zero-emission transport technologies, the Department for Transport (DfT) says.
Announcement of the panel follows hot on the heels of plans by Alexander Dennis to shed 160 manufacturing jobs in Scotland. In announcing that proposal, the business blamed what it says is government policy that “disproportionately” benefits competitors from lower-cost economies.
As part of the plan to create the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, Secretary of State for Transport Louise Haigh will on 8 October meet with key bus industry figures, including Wrightbus owner Jo Bamford and Chief Executive Jean-Marc Gales.
Those efforts will see her “reaffirm the government’s commitment to decarbonising local transport and fostering an environment for investment in the UK manufacturing industry, bringing sustained economic growth and supporting jobs,” according to DfT. Further details of the panel will be announced in due course.
Announcement of the panel comes as the Go-Ahead Group confirmed an agreement with Wrightbus for 1,200 zero-emission buses over three years. It precedes the International Investment Summit on 14 October that will see UK leaders and global investors and businesses discuss how partnerships can be deepened to drive investment and growth.
The Confederation of Passenger Transport has welcomed creation of the panel. CEO Graham Vidler says that a transition to net-zero “will be achieved through strong partnerships between government and industry, like the UK Bus Manufacturing Expert Panel, and a long-term approach to funding and policy.”
Mr Vidler adds that appropriate use of public money “can leverage substantial private sector investment, as demonstrated by recent funding schemes like Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas, where every £1 of government money invested generated, on average, £2.50 of private sector investment.”
The Department for Transport says that buses “have been prioritised by this government from the outset,” and that Ms Haigh “has made improving bus services and delivering greener transport two of her five core priorities.”
