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First's commitment to safety nets charities £60,000
Monday 17 March 2008
FirstGroup, the world’s leading transport company, has donated £60,000 to Save the Children and a number of local charities throughout Britain, thanks to the company’s commitment to safety.
‘If you cannot do it safely, don’t do it’ is the message that First has driven home to its 135,000 workforce. The company’s annual safety conference in December re-emphasised the message that safety is First’s number one priority and core value. The conference, which was attended by over 120 senior management and included representatives from each of First’s companies, saw First TransPennine Express, First Hull Trains and bus company, First in South Yorkshire receive a special ‘safety award’ in recognition of their exceptional approach to safety performance. Their prize was £10,000 each to donate to local charity, or charities nominated by the staff of the company.
FirstGroup also agreed to donate a matching amount (£30,000) to First’s charity partner, Save the Children.
With its £10,000 Hull Trains has pledged to support many locally based charities including Dove House Hospice and East Riding Youth Orchestra. First in South Yorkshire donated its prize to Sheffield and Doncaster Children's Hospitals, Rotherham Coronary Care Unit and Help a Hallam Child. Finally, First TransPennine Express will support a number of charities in its catchment area.
“Across the entire Group, we have implemented an inclusive and powerful safety culture,” said First’s Group Safety Director, Naveed Qamar. “All our companies have a strong safety focus, but First Hull Trains, First in South Yorkshire and First TransPennine Express in particular have demonstrated a robust and resolute approach to safety and fully deserve their safety awards. Going forward we will continue to forcefully deliver the safety message and ensure that all our companies meet at the Group Safety Conference in December 2008 with an even better safety record.”
Moir Lockhead, FirstGroup’s Chief Executive, said: “Linking our companies’ safety performance with charitable donations can be a great motivator for staff. By demonstrating the potential charitable rewards for delivering outstanding safety performances, I hope we will further increase the focus on safety amongst our staff within our companies in 2008.”