CILT(UK) has some exciting news to share regarding the rebirth of the Institute’s Bus & Coach Forum and BusMark 2025.
The Institute’s Bus & Coach Forum has been revitalised to serve as a dynamic platform for professionals across the passenger transport sector.
Additionally, during the Institute’s attendance at the Euro Bus Expo in November, CILT Hosted a coffee morning with industry advocate, Austin Birks FCILT, Board Member, Chair of the Bus & Coach Forum and BusMark, where he announced BusMark would be returning.
The relaunch would not be possible without original members, Chris Ruanne, Helen Hardy, Lee white, Andrew Hunter and John Carr.
The significance of the forum
The Forum represents dedication in the sector, fostering innovation, collaboration and knowledge.
Its mission is to share and address key challenges and opportunities in bus and coach operations.
Connecting operators, policymakers and stakeholders, the Bus & Coach Forum and independent policy group aims to shape sustainable, efficient and customer-focused solutions that drive the industry forward.
This rebirth underscores CILT(UK)’s commitment to supporting members with insights, networking opportunities and advocacy to navigate an evolving transport landscape, ensuring the sector thrives in meeting today’s and tomorrow’s mobility demands.
Austin Birks said: “The Institute has always been, for me, this brilliant platform where everyone comes together, different backgrounds, different perspectives, but all united.
“And now, with this forum, what I'm aiming for is to evolve it. We will have strategic leaders with different responsibilities in the forum who are going to jump at projects and make them their own.
“All involved will have the common goal of amplifying the challenges, success and innovative initiatives this sector has to offer.”
Lee White FCILT has also taken up the role of CILT(UK) Bus & Coach Policy Group Chair, where he will oversee and work with industry experts to help advise on policy reports and provide commentary on key issues, challenges, and successes within the sector.
BusMark 2025
The original BusMark benchmarking club was 18 months in the making, during which the member steering group consulted with various bodies, including the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Launched in 2015, it grew to 50 operators, and a total fleet of over 27,000 buses and coaches.
However, members trying to collate 100+ answers, required for the annual survey, from departments across their organisation became similar to the challenge of ‘herding cats’.
Therefore, to meet member demand, an improved BusMark is being worked on, which will introduce four short quarterly surveys on member-selected "hot topics", replacing the time-consuming annual survey.
The highly popular weekly bulletins will be returning, whilst a host of positive activities will also be offered to BusMark members, with plans to launch in 2025.
New Bus Qualifications 2025
The recently launched Bus Service Commissioning and Operations (BSCO) Practitioners Certificate is now out in the public domain to support those in local authorities with public transport responsibilities, bus operators, and related fields to deliver improved services for passengers.
The programme begins with a Practitioners Certificate in Bus Service Commissioning, with progression options to an Advanced Practitioners Certificate and ultimately, the Professional Certificate.
It has been developed through collaboration between CILT(UK), the Department for Transport (DfT), the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT), ATCO and a number of local authorities and bus operators to ensure the competency requirements needed to deliver effective bus services have been mapped and aligned to the professional standards of the Chartered Institute which form the CILT(UK) Competency Framework.
Why are CILT(UK) forums and policy groups important?
Our members have a voice, a purpose, and a platform to make a meaningful impact in the logistics, transport, and supply chain sectors.
The Institute serves as the professional body enabling both experts and newcomers to achieve exactly that.
It provides a range of active forums and policy groups designed specifically to align with your sector, profession, and interests.
Only through CILT(UK) can you access specialised activities and multi-sector engagement via these dedicated forums and policy groups.
How to join
You can view all of our specialist forums and policy groups by visiting, https://ciltuk.org.uk/About-Us/Forums-Communities and if you are interested in joining any, please contact: volunteer@ciltuk.org.uk