Category: General

Employee Spotlight – Olly Gough, Service Desk Manager

In this month’s employee spotlight we sit down with Service Desk Manager, Olly Gough who has worked for EPM for 14 years, providing high levels of service to customers and is a self-confessed bus geek and problem solver.

What is a day in the life of a Service Desk Manager like?

Fast-paced and never boring; no two days are the same. I have a lot of internal and client meetings and do a lot of data analysis to look for recurring issues and trends. Fortunately, I’m surrounded by a brilliant team who regularly go above and beyond which makes my life a lot easier.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

I’ve done a few things I’m proud of – I have a Masters degree from Bangor Uni, I also recently helped my Mum to relocate to a new city and find accommodation she loves but that also meets her needs. But I’d say my biggest achievement is that one of my nieces, who’s 12, told me she thinks I’m cool!

What is one hobby you would like to pick up? 

There are loads of things I’d like to try. I played rugby until a couple of years ago and would definitely pick that back up again if I had the time. I miss being part of a team (outside of work) and the social side, I don’t miss the bruises and pulled muscles. Otherwise, I’d love to be able to play any musical instrument really well.

When you are not working, what are you up to? 

I don’t have an awful lot of spare time but when I do I like spending time with my family – I have 9 nieces and 2 nephews so a lot of them to get around! I like cooking, trying out new restaurants and pubs with friends, and exploring the local parks with my partner and my Mum.

Where is your favourite place to go on holiday?

Iceland which was just incredible, or Ibiza – every time I’ve been, I’ve immediately booked my next trip out there.

Do you have any pets?

Yes, 2 cats. Molly who is everything you’d expect a cat to be, elegant, stand-offish and completely disinterested which just makes me want her attention even more; and Wilf whom we call Badger because personality wise, he’s closer to a Badger or a dog than a cat. Both are absolutely ruthless, so we get a lot of presents!

If you had to listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?

That sounds awful! I guess I’d probably pick anything by Faithless, or Loud Places by Jamie XX as they’re probably the most played songs on my playlist.

Do you have a favourite film?

Jaws 100%, I’ve watched it a million times and I never get bored.

What’s a secret talent that no one knows about?

I used to be a decorator so I’m not bad at painting and wallpapering. Essentially what that means is that I sometimes get support calls outside of work hours from those friends who do know this, and are having a decorating crisis.

If you could meet anyone in the world, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Any scientist from a couple of hundred years ago – I think it’s crazy that a lot of them used to test out theories on themselves out of necessity, so they sound like an interesting bunch. Failing that, Stephen Hawking – I have a lot of questions and that definitely appeals to my geeky sense of curiosity.

What music are you listening to at the moment?

My partner and I went to a Suede concert recently which was brilliant so we’re listening to a lot of their stuff at the moment. Also, Faithless and Jamie XX.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone who’s just started their career?

I’m not sure I’m in a position to advise anyone on that, but I think having a good work ethic is important. Treat people well and support the team around you, and definitely try to have a good work-life balance.

 

Read last month’s Employee Spotlight with Consulting Director, Jon Anton

Experts in Transport Management

EPM Group completes 3Squared acquisition

21 Oct 2021 – EPM Group has today, with the support of Literacy Capital, completed the acquisition of one of the UK’s leading transport software businesses, 3Squared Ltd.

The strategic acquisition sees EPM further strengthen its capability in providing high quality software solutions across the transport sector, focussed on improving operational and commercial performance.

(L-R) EPM Group - Ian Churchill, Chief Executive, 3Squared - James Fox, Co-Founder; Emma Marshall, Operations Director; Jonny Farmer, New Technical Director and Tim Jones, Co-Founder

3Squared is a Queen’s Award-winning digital solutions provider to the rail industry with a mission to enable the transportation sector to become safer, greener and more efficient through digitalisation.  Its flagship RailSmart suite of software applications continues to positively disrupt the rail sector as more passenger, freight operating companies, and suppliers to the rail industry use the software to increase productivity whilst reducing risk and cost.

EPM, formed in 1986, provides software to help bus operators and transport authorities reduce operational costs, improve financial performance and better serve their customers.  In addition, EPM is the UK’s leading BSOG auditor and concessionary reimbursement consultancy.

Ian Churchill, CEO at EPM, said: “The acquisition of 3Squared will support our focus on integrated transport whilst diversifying our activities into the rail sector.  We are excited by the opportunity this brings to deliver new solutions to common challenges across the bus and rail sectors.”

Tim Jones and James Fox, co-founders of 3Squared, said: “We are incredibly proud of the achievements of 3Squared over the last two decades. With the support of EPM, we are now ideally placed to accelerate our growth and further cement our position as a leading provider of integrated transportation solutions.  We are looking forward to working with the EPM team on this exciting next chapter.”

-END-

 

3Squared: https://3squared.com/

Press contact at EPM Group

Harminder Sangha
Harminder.sangha@epm-bus.com
07538 935 568

 

Employee Spotlight – Jon Anton, Consulting Director

In this month’s employee spotlight we sit down with Consulting Director, Jon Anton who has worked for EPM for 13 years; maximising operators’ concessionary fares reimbursement, as well as analysing the performance of networks and identifying areas for improvement.

Name three words you would use to describe your role

Varied, thought-provoking, challenging.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I would have to say the variety. Concessionary fares consultancy has a mix of desk based analysis, client engagement and negotiations with third parties, whether that’s Local Transport Authorities or their consultants. Then there’s the operational audit work, it does share some similarities to the consultancy work but for the most part requires a completely different mind-set.

What is your biggest achievement to date?

Personally, securing my ACCA Practising Certificate. It took some time to achieve it, but without it I wouldn’t be in the role I am today.

Professionally, it was demonstrating the value EPM could offer to one of the large bus operators in the UK in respect of their concessionary fares reimbursement. Following some proof of concepts that yielded double-digit percentage increases in reimbursement, we secured a contract to review reimbursement for the whole group – and have continued to do so since.

Are you working on any interesting projects at the moment?

One of the most interesting is an internal project to migrate our accounting to a new solution. We kicked off with EPM at the end of 2020 and then more recently we have brought across Omnibus into the same solution. There was a steep learning curve for me, however we’re already starting to see the benefits of the new solution and there’s still more to come.

What’s your favourite thing to do on the weekends?

Going for a long walk across the fields with my dogs, a whippet and a greyhound. They would much rather tear around the garden than walk though!

If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?

To be able to speak another language; maybe Spanish, German or French.

What’s an interesting fact about you?

Despite my answer to the previous question, at the age of 4 I was able to converse in French. My dad was on a work exchange placement in Montreal, I went to a French-speaking pre-school whilst we were there. Sadly I didn’t hold on to that skill, nor did it come back to me in my mid-teens when I was studying French GCSE!

Do you have a favourite film?
Home Alone. It’s far from the best film ever made, but it’s one that I can’t help but watch at least once a year!

What music are you listening to at the moment?

I’ve been listening to lots from the ‘90s and ‘00s recently – bands like Oasis, Stereophonics & Foo Fighters.

What three items would you take with you to a deserted island?

Can I have items that will help me get back to civilisation, after a short break of course? No? Then a book, probably something by Bill Bryson, a large bottle of whisky and some sun cream!

How do you think the bus industry will change in the next 10 years?

I’ll echo the thoughts of my colleagues; integrated transport networks will be prevalent across the country. Multi-operator ticketing will play a key part in this, so we’ll see these schemes becoming increasingly prominent.

What’s the best advice you can give to someone who’s just started their career?

Take every opportunity that presents itself to broaden your skills and experience. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions – you’re not expected to know everything!

Read last month’s Employee Spotlight with Software Director, Nick Brookes.

Experts in Transport Management

Job vacancies – Account Executives

Join our journey!

Driven by successful growth, we’re looking for people to join our Business Development team.

Do you want to work within a fast growing and ambitious organisation, alongside great people with a positive team culture, helping  customers as they search for the best solution for their needs?  If so, these roles could be perfect for you!

Roles: Account Executive and Senior Account Executives

We are looking for an Account Executive and a Senior Account Executive to support our on-going business growth.  These are new roles focussed on both the management of existing customer accounts along with the acquisition of new customers.  You will play a vital role securing existing contracts and developing new sales, helping to build revenue and achieve targets.

To be successful you will have a balance of great customer relationship skills, a determination to succeed, an understanding of the passenger transport marketplace (ideally within the bus sector),  and a successful track record in a sales or customer relationship role.

About us

We are an ambitious, fast moving software business serving the passenger transport marketplace and are growing both organically and through acquisitions. Although UK centric, we are also growing internationally with a footprint in mainland Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, Australia and New Zealand.  Established over 30 years, we have a large base of long standing customers including blue chip multi-nationals, public sector organisations, mid-market operators and small growing businesses.

In addition to our well established market leading solutions for public transport operators, we are continually developing and launching new products to help customers address the challenges presented by a constantly changing landscape.

In particular, the National Bus Strategy launched early in 2021 by the UK Government, backed by billions of pounds of funding, presents significant opportunities and challenges for the bus sector.  We have reacted quickly to evolve our existing products and develop new functionality to ensure our customers are fully equipped for the future.

Our people are the heart of our business and we have a genuinely people centric culture and team ethos.  All team members have clear objectives and are supported to achieve their best.  Personal development is positively encouraged and we recognise and reward individual achievements.

Both the Account Executive and Senior Account Executive roles come with a great package of strong basic salary, uncapped commission and attractive benefits including pension scheme and private health insurance.

Responsibilities of the roles

Both roles cover the following core responsibilities.

  • Manage relationships with all contacts within designated existing customer accounts to maintain high levels of customer satisfaction, ensuring they are gaining maximum value from our products and services, feeding back any issues into the business and driving through resolutions
  • Manage contract renewals with designated existing customers to secure renewals
  • Develop our presence within designated existing customer accounts, growing our contact network, building our understanding of their business challenges, identify new sales opportunities and growing revenue
  • Follow up new business enquiries generated from marketing activity or through personal contacts
  • Utilise our product and industry specialists in a pre-sales support capacity to identify the best solutions for customers
  • Own and develop a pipeline of sales opportunities, working with the marketing team to ensure the pipeline is sufficiently strong to meet sales targets
  • Identify, own, manage and win sales opportunities with both existing and new customers
  • Achieve sales targets for renewals, revenue growth and new business

Requirements for the roles

Account Executive – working with independent / mid-market bus operators and municipal bus companies

  • Knowledge of the public transport environment
  • Understanding of transport planning, scheduling and operations (ideally in the bus sector)
  • Experience of customer utilisation of IT systems and business applications (ideally in the bus sector)
  • Customer engagement experience (ideally sales)
  • Track record of successfully building customer relationships
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Problem solving or solution planning experience
  • Confidence in delivering presentations, demonstrating solutions and writing proposals
  • Strong planning and organisation skills

Senior Account Executive – working with multi-national organisations, PLC businesses and larger groups of bus operators

  • Proven track record managing large, strategically important customer accounts
  • Understanding of complex customer organisations, with multi-level and cross functional engagement
  • Ability to develop strong personal relationships with C-suite level contacts
  • Track record of developing new business within key accounts, identifying or creating sales opportunities
  • Demonstrable ability to execute value based sales campaigns
  • Knowledge of the public transport environment and an understanding of the IT systems used for transport planning, scheduling and operations in the bus sector
  • Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Problem solving or solution planning experience
  • Confidence in delivering presentations, demonstrating solutions and writing proposals
  • Strong planning and organisation skills

TO APPLY

If you think this could be right for you contact Gary Hyman, our Business Development Director, for more details: gary.hyman@epm-bus.com

Government to decarbonise all modes of domestic transport by 2050

bus driving through nice landscape
bus driving through nice landscape

14 July 2021 – The plan provides a world-leading ‘greenprint’ to cut emissions from our seas and skies, roads and railways, setting out a pathway for the whole transport sector to reach net zero by 2050.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said “Transport is not just how you get around. It is something that fundamentally shapes our towns, cities and countryside, our living standards and our health. It can shape all those things for good or for bad. Decarbonisation is not just some technocratic process. It’s about how we make sure that transport shapes quality of life and the economy in ways that are good.”

Starting with buses outside London, we want simpler, cheaper, often flat fares that you can pay with a contactless card, with daily and weekly price capping across operators. We must make buses and trains better value and more competitively priced.

Zero emission buses and coaches commitments made in the plan:

  • To deliver the National Bus Strategy’s vision of a transformed bus industry and a green bus revolution
  • Consult on modernising the Bus Service Operators’ Grant in 2021
  • Support delivery of 4,000 new zero emission buses and the infrastructure needed to support them
  • Deliver the first all Electric Bus Town or City
  • Consult on a phase out date for the sale of new non-zero emission buses
  • Consult on a phase out date for the sale of new non-zero emission coaches

Read the full announcement:  Government publishes world’s first ‘greenprint’ to decarbonise all modes of domestic transport by 2050

Read the report: Decarbonising transport: a better, greener Britain

Powering the future of your bus operations

Grow patronage, boost revenue, and drive operational efficiency.

£226 million package to support vital bus services

07 July 2021 – Bus operators across the country will benefit from £226.5 million in government funding to help ensure they continue to run vital services as COVID-19 restrictions are lifted.

The funding will run from September 2021 to April 2022 and will support operators across England, outside of London, cementing the government’s commitment to level up transport links as passenger numbers begin to return to pre-pandemic levels.

The scheme is part of the government’s drive to build back better and greener from the pandemic, as the UK prepares to host COP26 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Roads Minister Baroness Vere said:”The recovery funding will ensure vital services continue to run by supporting operators in those initial months, as restrictions are lifted and passengers begin to return in higher numbers.”

Read the full announcement – £226 million package to support vital bus services

Powering the future of your bus operations

Grow patronage, boost revenue, and drive operational efficiency.

VIDEO: Route profitability made easy with Insights

Insights software route profitability

As we start to emerge from the Covid pandemic, public confidence will lead to higher levels of patronage and government financial support will start to be phased out.  This means operators need REAL-TIME management information to rebuild revenues and reshape the network around customer demand in order to re-establish profitability.

Automated. Seamless. Dynamic.

Route profitability made easy.

Getting visibility of route profitability can be a very time-consuming and resource intensive process as there can be many data points to analyse, held in several systems across the organisation, and it can easily become outdated as new information gets fed into the system.

Our Insights software automatically consolidates data across multiple sources of the business, delivering a 360-degree view of your bus operations – supporting you to improve network performance.

In just a few clicks you can easily find out the routes that are performing well and those that are not contributing to the business – watch the video to see how easy it is….

Powering the future of your bus operations

Grow patronage, boost revenue, and drive operational efficiency.

Employee Spotlight – Nick Brookes, Software Director

In this month’s ’employee spotlight’ we sit down with Software Director, Nick Brookes who has worked for EPM for 20 years.

Undertaking a range of roles from BSOG auditor to concessionary fares consultant, Nick uses his wealth of bus industry knowledge to help shape products and services; staying at the forefront of passenger transport technology.

What three words would you use to describe your role?

Challenging, fast-paced and interesting.

What does a typical day look like for you?

My days are typically spent talking to customers about our products to identify new requirements and ways that we can add value for our clients. I also work closely with our Product Owner and CTO around the development programme and our Service Delivery Manager.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I have a black belt in karate – well I did when I was 13 anyway!

If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Probably Australia – I like the good weather, but my foreign language skills are not up to much!

What is the one thing you can’t live without?

Friends – I think we have all missed the opportunity to go for a beer with friends in recent months.

Do you have a favourite book?

Probably more of a guilty pleasure but I always read a John Grisham book when I am on holiday!

What music are you listening to at the moment?

Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds

Do you have any hobbies?

I like going to the gym and running. Not so much my hobbies but my children are both very active, so I enjoy watching them take on a range of activities from the side-lines as well.

If you could get a new skill in 10 minutes, what would it be?

My son plays the guitar, which looks pretty cool – fortunately for him he has inherited his mother’s musicality not mine, which is non-existent.

Given a chance, who would you like to be for a day?

I recently watched the Last Dance and played lots of basketball when I was younger – so maybe Michael Jordon at his peak or any professional athlete just to experience what it would be like to be that good for a day!

How do you think the industry will change in 10 years?

The vast majority of vehicles will be zero emission as the investment that our clients have started making in alternative fuel vehicles continues. Autonomous vehicles will still be a little way off, but integrated transport networks in major towns and cities will be the norm.

What advice would you give to someone who’s just started their career?

Work hard and take on the responsibility as it is offered to you and be prepared to learn from both your successes and failures!

Read last month’s Employee Spotlight with BSOG Manager, Sarah Bayliss

Experts in Transport Management

Bus Service Improvement Plan guidance follows NBS

empty bus seats
empty bus seats

17 May 2021, Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) guidance document has been published, part of the National Bus Strategy, by the Government.

BSIP submissions will need to set out a high-level vision and key interventions to deliver it, with the overarching aim will be to grow patronage.

The timetable for Local Transport Authorities to submit a BSIP :

  • 30 June: Decide whether to pursue Enhanced Partnership (EP) or develop a franchising assessment
  • 31 October: Publish a BSIP
  • 31 March 2022: Have either an EP in place or be following the statutory process to develop a franchising assessment

Access to a share of the £3bn to be provided by the Government for buses required these deadlines to be met.

 

Download the National bus strategy: bus service improvement plans – guidance to local authorities and bus operators

Read the full Government announcement on the £3 billion bus revolution

Download the Bus Back Better: national bus strategy for England

Powering the future of your bus operations

Grow patronage, boost revenue, and drive operational efficiency.

EPM and Omnibus to exhibit at ITT Hub 2021

Join EPM and Omnibus on 30th June and 1st July at ITT Hub 2021 – a new industry event which supports the government’s decarbonisation of transport plan – taking place at the Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre.

Exhibiting the best in road-transport innovation and technology for fleet operators, planners, and policy makers; ITT Hub combines an indoor exhibition, outdoor interactive display, and demonstration space with a high-profile Future Logistics Conference.

Visit us on stand A33 and speak to EPM’s Software Director, Nick Brookes and Product Manager, Mark Jones; Omnibus’ Managing Director, Peter Crichton and Technical Account Manager, Kieran Proctor on the latest passenger transport software to increase commercial, financial, and operational performance; from scheduling, to staff rostering, depot allocation and timetabling.

Visit the website: ITT Hub 2021

Address:

Farnborough International Exhibition and Conference Centre
Etps Rd, Farnborough
GU14 6FD

ITT Hub 2021

30 June – 1st July
Farnborough International Conference & Exhibition Centre