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The second event of 2013 took place on 23rd and 24th October in Manchester at the Mercure Piccadilly in the heart of the city centre.

We welcomed a wide variety of speakers representing the variety that we enjoy in our industry. Nigel Featham from Arriva updated us about the improvements in their operations in Yorkshire and the North East, and the exciting Sapphire project, amongst other things from the world of Arriva.

Meanwhile, local career busman Les Burton, who has just retired from his role of Operations Director at Stagecoach Merseyside & South Lancashire after 47 years' service, gave us his fascinating story from the many years on the buses in Manchester and Merseyside from being under public control to private ownership, and under the umbrella of Stagecoach. Les has been through many varied experiences in one of the biggest bus markets in the UK and tells it as it is – so this should make for a really stimulating presentation.

Ian Jones and James Backhouse of specialist transport lawyers Backhouse Jones presented an informal, best practice session on all things 'legal'. With the need for more local, focused Transport Managers expressed by the Traffic Commissioner, this was an invaluable session for future leaders in the industry. Backhouse Jones are viewed by many to be the leading law firm in the transport sector and have many high-profile clients in the bus industry – offering many lessons to take home.

And, back by popular demand, came customer service guru Alex Warner. A past business leader across bus, train, air and now working in the logistics sector, Alex is passionate about seeing improvements in how we deal with our customers and improve aspects of our service for greater success. Everybody went away highly energised to campaign for positive change after listening to him!

The event got under way at 6pm on Wednesday 23rd October, and we started with something different for the evening get-together, with a quick trip on Manchester's buses and a visit to the city's famous Curry Mile. 

The workshop session also made a welcome return, as delegates shared their ideas on future marketing and branding, with the assistance of Richard Soper from FirstGroup.