With the Bus Services Act giving local authorities greater control over routes, timetables, connections and fares – and with zero emission vehicle funding available across the UK’s four nations – the bus sector is positioned to deliver impressive decarbonisation. There are still a large number of bus operators, however, that have not started the journey of introducing zero emission vehicles. That’s why SMMT is partnering with the Bus Centre of Excellence to introduce an all-new event, Meet the Bus Operator, to provide vital support for the transition.
Meet the Bus Operator takes place on 23 April at the new Bus and Coach Expo – co-located with the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham – as a new buyer-supplier matchmaking event. It will connect buyers – such as bus operators and local transport authorities (LTAs) that are looking to deliver zero emission bus projects – in one-to-one meetings with providers of products, services and funding needed to transition to electric and hydrogen buses.
We want to hear from suppliers, therefore, seeking new opportunities for their products, including UK vehicle manufacturers or importers, repowering and retrofit providers, charging and energy solution providers, charging infrastructure and depot delivery specialists, finance and funding organisations, and consultancy and project delivery support.
This event is free for SMMT members to attend but places for LTAs and bus operators are limited, so get in touch with SMMT to avoid missing out – while the deadline for suppliers to register their interest is 6 March. Suppliers that secure meetings with non-SMMT members will need to pay a small fee.
To gain even more exposure for your product, however, I would recommend businesses to consider taking a stand at the Expo – with SMMT members qualifying for a 15% discount. For more information on the Bus & Coach Expo, visit the event website here.
Next week, I’ll be attending the SMMT Regional Networking in Northern Ireland, giving businesses across the automotive sector the chance to see zero emission bus production up close while building new business partnerships. More on that next week!
