Blackpool Transport are currently advertising for a new Tramway Operations and Safety Manager as they seek to strengthen their senior leadership team on the tramway side of the business. This comes as the company embarks on a bold programme of service and safety enhancements.
The Tramway Operations and Safety Manager will help to drive improvements across the tramway. It will report directly to the organisation’s Head of Service Delivery, with the successful candidate expected to provide strategic input into business planning while delivering on key objectives set for the tramway. The job description states that this role will “manage the LRT and Heritage operations to ensure the safety and compliance with all company and legislative systems and procedures on the Tramway and related functions”.
The role also sees liaison with key stakeholders, including the local authority, suppliers and contractors, the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board, and statutory bodies such as the Office for Rail and Road, and Rail Accident Investigation Branch.
Jane Cole, Blackpool Transport Managing Director, said: “The role offers the ideal opportunity for an established transport professional to take their career to the next level. As part of a dynamic, forward-looking team, they will have wide-ranging responsibilities as we strive to drive service and safety standards to new heights.
“To achieve this, they must have the knowledge, skills and enthusiasm to inspire colleagues to achieve excellence in all aspects of tramway operations – from ensuring vehicles are available for service to effective risk management and mitigation.”
The salary for this role is between £65,000 and £75,000 depending on experience alongside a host of attractive benefits, including workplace pension scheme and development opportunities.
I wonder how the talented dedicated people who have left the company in the last few weeks because of her desperate attempts to slash costs and avert the catastrophic implosion feel seeing this advert.
One has to ask why there is a need for this role, in the light of your comment about the recent redundancies at Rigby Road. There is too much of this ‘forward looking’ tripe these days in many fields. It’s always couched in the current jargon. Transport in Blackpool has always been successful; I know having been a long time visitor to the resort and of having relatives who lived at South Shore many years ago. It all seems to add up to ‘meddling’ when none is required, in my opinion. To digress, it is very sad-the situation with the old tram depot and works, with stagnation being the present ‘modus operandi’.
The description of the post seems to be ‘corporatespeak’ to say the least. The impression is of a Toronto or Melbourne style operation, rather than of 18 vehicles operating a less than frequent service on what is effectively a single line.
Still, perhaps the funds for this ‘established transport professional’ will come from the money saved by making some of those who formerly maintained the heritage fleet redundant, whilst redeploying the rest, as BTS recently informed the Fylde Tramway Society would be happening.
I couldn’t agree more with everything everyone above has said. Although somebody new on the management team has got to be better than those they currently have.
I wonder whether Blackpool Transport is planning to be floated on the Stock Market and become Blackpool Transport Services PLC! All they are looking for seems to be in keeping with an orgainisatiion accountable to shareholders. Although I can’t imagine why this would happen with a provincial tramsport operator, maybe there’s something none of us knows. It certainly seems odd to be investing such sums of money in a new role, given that they are letting go of certain members of staff for financial reasons, according to what has been stated to date. Certainly, it seems a bold attempt is being made to impress someone!
‘I wonder whether Blackpool Transport is planning to be floated on the Stock Market and become Blackpool Transport Services PLC!’
Probably highly unlikely, as it is difficult to see what appeal a tiny, apparently struggling, currently Council-owned organisation would have to any potential investor. Those British transport companies which are on the Stock Exchange, such as FirstGroup, Stagecoach, and National Express, are not so much in a different league as on a different planet!
Moreover, there are also the political implications. Blackpool at present is a unitary authority, a district council which also performs the functions of a county council. The possibility of such a council privatising the Transport Arm, especially under the present government, must be considered remote at best.
I think that ‘N.Y.P.’ had his/her tongue in cheek when posting that comment, Geoff. The exclamation mark was a clue.
I wish I had your confidence that the comment really was tongue in cheek.
£75k? No wonder there is no money for maintaining services.
I’m simply intrigued by the whole situation. I can’t say I was totally serious or indeed concerned that the business was about to be floated as a PLC. However, this move to recruit is more in keeping with such a process and leaves one wondering why there are suddenly such titanic ambitions afoot. Of course, there can hardly be any harm in having aspirations but does the operation warrant such expenditure, I wonder? Time will tell what is in the offing and it will be very interesting to see. Maybe there are still hopes of absorbing the Blackpool South to Kirkham railway line into the system with these tram-train vehicles tthat are becoming ever more popular.