We are delighted to announce that Graham has been shortlisted in the finals of the Joe Wood Scheduler of the Year Award for 2021.
The Covid crisis has challenged the capabilities of all bus company employees – not least the schedulers. Many regarded them as unsung heroes before the pandemic. However, the speed and ingenuity that schedulers have demonstrated since March 2020 has led to enhanced recognition of the vital role they play.
Recognition of schedulers and their important role has also been boosted by the inaugural Joe Wood Scheduler of the Year Award, which was launched by Passenger Transport Magazine and CitySwift, the specialist data engine that uses AI to improve bus network reliability and efficiency, last year.
The awards received nominations from bus companies large and small, from across the UK and beyond. The judging panel, which included Deputy Editor of Passenger Transport Andrew Garnett, 2021 CPT President Jane Cole, Go North East MD Martijn Gilbert and last year’s winner – trentbarton scheduler Richard Sherratt, has reviewed all the entries and selected their shortlist.
The judges said, “Graham’s can-do attitude is a breath of fresh air. He is willing to take on additional responsibilities that a traditional scheduler would not see as part of their role – from making sure the right duties are loaded into the ticket machine to ensuring that the journey planner on the website, the real timings on the roadside and the Bus Open Data are all correct and aligned”.
During the pandemic, the Yellow Buses network was updated around 15 times. Each time, Graham produced schedules for the drivers, timetables for the public, updated the ticket machines and changed the destination blind.
They continued, “Graham is willing to take on additional responsibilities that a traditional scheduler would not see as part of their role”.
David Squire, Managing Director said, “I am absolutely delighted for Graham, he thoroughly deserves his place as a finalist in this competition, he is a fountain of knowledge of all things Yellow Buses, and can turn his hand to anything, nothing is too much trouble and he goes above and beyond in ensuring that every last detail is sorted”.
Graham travels to Galway on 25 February for the Awards ceremony, he is up against stiff competition from schedulers employed by First, Stagecoach, National Express West Midlands and Abellio, Yellow Buses being the sole representative of the independent bus sector.
The award is a tribute to Joe Wood, a widely respected young bus manager who died in 2019. Joe had worked in scheduling roles at Go-Ahead, Stagecoach and Reading Buses before joining CitySwift’s fast-expanding team. He posthumously received the President’s Award at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport’s Annual Awards for Excellence.