Neil Wood has started his new job as General Manager for the Nottingham Tram Consortium, following two years with Transdev on the Edinburgh Tram scheme, and has vowed to improve relations with staff following last years industrial action.
Mr Wood told the Nottingham Evening Post: “I have got to run this business and deliver profits that we said we would deliver. There will be changes to some of the structures within the organisation. But my first goal will be to build relationships, some of which were damaged last year with industrial action and protracted wage negotiations. What I have done, in my second week here I had some 'breakfast with the boss' sessions with all the staff, where anyone can come along. I provided muffins and a breakfast bar and coffee, and sat and listened to what people had to say to me. I know changes will have to be made, and I am not hiding from them, but I don't know what they will be yet."
He added: “Some of the other relationships I have got to build are with the promoter and with the residents of Nottingham, who have a very high regard for the tram. We have got a 94% satisfaction rate, which is incredible. I know if we have another series of strikes this year, and I don't anticipate we will, but you would lose some of the faith the people of Nottingham show in the tram. They put up with quite a bit last year but they still showed goodwill towards the tram staff because the staff are great. My principal role here is to manage this business and put it in a shape that we can go through to NET Phase Two and be successful. I didn't come here in a short-term role. I didn't come to be a caretaker. I'm looking forward to Phase Two. I think it will be a great boost to the city. The public have already shown how much they love the tram and this will make it accessible to more people. It should be reducing congestion and it will reduce carbon emissions."
Mr Wood took over the role from Helen Goulding, who left at the start of the year.
Source: This is Nottingham