September 28 2023

  • Flagship event returns on the 2nd October in Glasgow
  • Minster for Transport Fiona Hyslop MSP, Traffic Commissioner Claire Gilmore and Public Health expert Dr Margaret Douglas amongst key speakers

On the 2nd October, key stakeholders from the bus and coach sector will gather in Glasgow to discuss key issues affecting the country’s most used forms of public transport.

The Confederation of Passenger Transport Scotland, the trade association for the bus and coach sector, is holding their 45th annual conference, Progress Through Partnership. The event will bring together bus and coach operators, suppliers, national, regional and local government representatives to consider key issues including decarbonisation, designing city spaces and accessibility.

Other topical issues on the agenda include franchising and partnerships powers for local authorities, the new Community Bus Fund, the Fair Fares Review and the Bus Partnership Fund.

Delegates will also hear from speakers including the Minister for Transport, Fiona Hyslop MSP and Traffic Commissioner for Scotland Claire Gilmore. Dr Margaret Douglas will present on the important links between public transport and public health. The conference will also hear remotely from internationally renowned urbanist Brent Toderian.

CPT Scotland Director Paul White said:

“Our industry has faced some major challenges in recent years, but rather than dwelling on these, our Conference is designed to spark discussion around how we move on and unlock the many benefits associated with bus and coach travel, and the different roles we can all play in ensuring a positive future.

“Increasing the use of public transport, and especially bus, is key to cutting emissions, and reducing car use which will be crucial if we are to realise climate change ambitions.

“Scotland has many positives to shout about, including the manufacture and operation of zero emission buses, and free bus travel for U22s, encouraging young people to choose the bus and foster a lasting commitment to sustainable travel.”

The Conference is proud to support Beatson Cancer Charity.

Martin Cawley, CEO of Beatson Cancer Charity, said:

“We’re very grateful to be the chosen charity partner for the CPT Scotland Conference this year.

“Support like this allows us to continue offering our existing services and develop new ones to enhance the care and support cancer patients and their families receive during treatment.

“Thank you to everyone who helps raise funds for Beatson Cancer Charity at the event.”

The event will also include the Annual Dinner on the evening of the 2nd October, the sector’s networking event of the calendar year In Scotland.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS:

  1. The CPT Scotland 45th Annual Conference will be held at the Glasgow Hilton, G3 8HT, on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd #CPTScotCon23
  2. A full programme for the conference can be found here: https://www.cpt-uk.org/media/xdtcschj/cpt-scotland-conference-2023-programme-1.pdf
  3. The Confederation of Passenger Transport is the trade association for the bus and coach sector, with around 900 members in the UK.
  4. Queries or requests should be sent to scotland@cpt-uk.org
  5. Beatson Cancer Charity believes that no-one should face cancer on their own. This has always been the Beatson Cancer Charity’s aim and they work hard to continue to support even more people and families in the years to come.

14,172 patients have received therapies at the Wellbeing Centre Beatson Cancer Charity which works in close partnership with clinicians and researchers at The Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre and The Beatson Institute for Cancer Research to help to deliver life-saving research.

The Beatson is an internationally renowned cancer centre and the busiest in the UK in terms of clinical activity and patient numbers as well as being the second largest cancer centre in the UK delivering all of the radiotherapy and much of the chemotherapy to the population of the West of Scotland, with a catchment area of 2.5 million people, which is around 60% of Scotland’s population. Each year The Beatson sees more than 8,000 new patients and delivers more than 25,000 courses of chemotherapy and 6,500 courses of radiotherapy.

The Beatson is staffed by some 950 highly skilled and dedicated healthcare professionals across a range of disciplines.

Find out more about Beatson Cancer Charity at: https://www.beatsoncancercharity.org