BCoE releases first annual report

The Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) has published its first annual report, with details of membership, live events, webinars and awards. Since its launch in 2023, BCoE has established itself as a “vital hub for bus sector knowledge, collaboration, and professional development,” said the centre’s Head Stelios Rodoulis.

“Our commitment to capability building has resulted in new e-learning courses, expanded professional networks, and national conferences that address the most pressing issues in our field – from bus franchising and decarbonisation to safety and the social value of buses.”

The annual report lists BCoE aims for the next 12 months including a new website & booking process, more in-person events and conferences, training courses, and more webinars and networks.

Achievements listed in the report include six in-person events across four cities and four free e-learning courses.

Since its launch, BCoE has also hosted 19 webinars and attracted over 1,800 followers on LinkedIn. It now has 74 members on the public sector members network, 70 members on the bus knowledge sharing & incident network, 61 members on the Zero Emission Buses Drop-in Session, and 101 members on the Franchising Network.

Membership to the Bus Centre of Excellence is free and includes access to free events, webinars and conferences, and free or heavily discounted training courses. As part of our membership offering, you can also access our networks for free (according to professional interests and/or relevance to your job).

BCoE is supporting Quality Bus on 23-24 September with funded tickets for the public sector: apply here and meet the BCoE team

The BCoE Project Team is made up of three full-time members of staff: Head Stelios Rodoulis; Digital Engagement Officer Harriet Awofisan; and Bus Policy and Engagement Officer Annalucia Bellisario. The team works together to plan and deliver webinars and events, manage networks, maintain the BCoE’s website content and all training and membership services.

BCoE is governed by a Project Board and an Advisory Board. The BCoE Advisory Board is chaired by Leon Daniels OBE, an ex-Managing Director of Surface Transport for Transport for London, and is made up of bus sector stakeholders operating at a senior level within local authorities, operators, advocacy groups and independent experts. The Advisory Board was set up so that the industry could feedback on BCoE’s work and help set the direction of travel.

The BCoE Project Board provides strategic oversight of the BCoE and is composed of senior representatives from the DfT and CIHT.

Bus Centre of Excellence Annual Report