Reading Buses appoints new engineering supervisory team to continuing its award-winning local services

Reading Buses has made a number of new appointments in a bid to continue its award-winning 24/7 local services.

The company has introduced three new positions following a restructure of its engineering supervisory team to provide more clarity around its roles and responsibilities.

Those appointed in the new roles will be working behind the scenes to support the company’s bus network, checking and monitoring all maintenance activity to generate improved fleet availability and reliability.

To help lead the new team, Scott Honey, an engineering service controller with Reading Buses for 39 years, has been promoted to the new role of workshop manager.

Mr Honey, from Tilehurst, will assist on implementing standards, processes and planning.

His fellow colleagues – Jordan Hicks, from Tilehurst, Richie Barlow, from Kintbury, and Andy Gordon, from Reading — all with a combined service of 36 years, have been promoted to the position of workshop supervisor.

Mr Hicks, a master technician who started out as an apprentice, will run the day shift seven days a week with the help of Mr Barlow, an engineer at Thames Valley Buses.

Mr Gordon, one of the current engineers in Reading, will perform a similar role with the late shift five days a week.

“It is a pleasure to announce the restructure and promotion of Scott and some of the team at Reading Buses,” said chief engineer for the firm, Tom Ranson.

“Scott will lead the department, along with a yet to be appointed engineering manager to raise our standards even higher than they already are.”

Mr Ranson added: “We pride ourselves on being the best in the business, but you can only stay ahead of the pack by evolving.

“This is what we hope to achieve with these changes to make sure the people of Reading get the best buses and therefore the best experience they can when travelling with us.”

The company, an early member of the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s (DVSA) Earned Recognition scheme, aims to maintain vehicles well above the minimum legal requirements.

As part of the scheme, Reading Buses has been voluntarily sharing all its maintenance records with the agency for several years.