Boss replaced in Sheffield bus company turnaround plan

Managing director Garry Birmingham has moved to a new role and a team from the Midlands parachuted in to steer the 1,240-strong company back to success.

In the last 12 months First was forced to apologise and offer discounts after a new timetable caused long delays, drivers threatened to strike over pay until bosses backed down, a driver was stabbed and profits fell.

Nigel Eggleton, managing director First Midlands, said: “We certainly don’t want to go back to those days.”

He added: “It’s a reflection that the South Yorkshire business has not been performing as well as we would like and needs a new pair of eyes.

“We need to see improvements in reliability and punctuality and will work with local authority partners to achieve that.”

The 436-bus fleet did not look as professional as it should, Mr Eggleton added.

But his big challenge was restoring confidence during the pandemic.

This week buses in Sheffield are running at 25 per cent capacity, following new government guidance on social distancing

He added: “Passengers have had a bit of a fright and we need to restore confidence and persuade them ‘back to bus'.

“We need to have a safe environment, we are following the emerging guidance closely and offering a product that is reliable, punctual, clean and friendly."

During lockdown 40 per cent of services were running, with only 10 per cent of the usual passengers.

Forty per cent of staff were furloughed and the industry was propped up by grants, including £254 million from government last week.

A member of the Doncaster management team had sadly died of the virus, Mr Eggleton said.

Now he and a three-strong executive team will run First South Yorkshire after it was merged with First Midlands.

Mr Eggleton said he had a ‘huge amount to learn' but he hoped to improve performance by repeating successful projects from his old patch including ‘route branding' and marketing.

And they would give South Yorkshire three quarters of their time at first.

He added: “We aim to use our entrepreneurial skills and record of success in the Midlands and bring it to South Yorkshire.

“This is the time to do it. We have the comfort of a grant from government and time to stand back.

“We want to do our best to ensure the business is in better shape and to restore confidence.”

In an email to stakeholders, outgoing managing director, Garry Birmingham, said: “I’ve been proud to have led this business with dedicated colleagues working hard with you, for our customers, in the region.

“I am confident that Nigel and his team will build on this progress as we face a changing world of challenges and opportunities for public transport.”

First South Yorkshire has a depot at Olive Grove Road, Sheffield, and offices in the city centre, and offices and a depot in Doncaster.