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Windscreen wiper company cleans up at First UK Bus supplier awards
Monday 27 October 2008
The inaugural First UK Bus Supplier Awards were held last week in Aberdeen. The awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the achievements of First UK Bus’ suppliers. The theme of the awards centred round maintaining First’s position as the leader in providing safe, innovative, reliable and sustainable transport services.
A panel of eight judges from First ranked suppliers in various categories resulting in four winners. Nicola Shaw, Managing Director of First UK Bus, said that the awards provided the opportunity to give something back to First’s suppliers: “Our suppliers are incredibly important to the business. Not only do these awards acknowledge their achievements internally, but also allows us to recognise publicly their good work. I hope it will also encourage our other suppliers to raise their standards even further.”
Representatives of almost forty suppliers attended the awards along with First UK Bus engineering and purchasing staff. The attendees saw Transwipers walk away with the First UK Bus Best Overall Supplier Award 2008. The Worcester based company specialises in the development of windscreen wipers and is one of First’s smaller suppliers with fourteen staff.
Simon Atkins, Managing Director of Transwipers, collected the prestigious award: “I am honoured and delighted to accept this award. When Britain’s biggest bus operator acknowledge publicly your services, it certainly provides a big boost to the business. This award has set a new benchmark for us and one we intend to improve on.”
Fuel suppliers Greenergy took the ‘Best Contribution to CSR’ accolade, while Carlyle Bus and Coach who supply bus parts from bodywork to electrical components picked up the ‘Best Contribution to Cost Reduction’ category. Finally, the ‘Best Contribution to Quality and Technical Improvement’ award was collected by Fabtech who specialise in on board cash payment handling equipment.
Nicola Shaw provided some insight as to why the winners were chosen: “The suppliers who were successful today proved that they listen closely to our needs as a company and are prepared to adapt and change.”
She added: “This year the awards were centred around our engineering suppliers, but as the awards continue to grow, we hope to extend the awards to all of First UK Bus’ suppliers.”