Engineering specialist gets on board at trentbarton

One of the East Midlands’ best known bus companies has strengthened its leadership team with an experienced hire.

John Bickerton has joined trentbarton and its parent company Wellglade as group engineering director.

Bickerton, a chartered engineer, will officially take up the newly created role in January. He joins trentbarton from Arriva UK Bus, where he was head of zero emissions.

Bickerton has also worked for Reading Buses, East West Rail and First UK Bus.

At trentbarton, he will be responsible for the care of over 400 buses and coaches, leading a team of engineering managers and around 100 engineers and apprentices.

He said: “I’m very much looking forward to joining Wellglade. The group is an admired name in the industry for its focus on customer service, high standards and quality fleet presentation.

“I travelled on the group’s buses when I went to school so it is exciting to resume the journey now in my career in public transport.

“The next decade is going to be extremely interesting for bus operators as the nation moves towards a zero carbon future. We already carry more people per tailpipe than any other sector and buses will be a big part of decarbonisation, including at Wellglade.”

Wellglade chairman Brian King added: “John has a first class track record in public transport engineering and we are very pleased that he will be joining us.

“He impressed us with his passion for public transport that is both environmentally and commercially sustainable and that chimes with our desire to provide services that are green, clean and attractive for our customers.”

trentbarton recently named Tom Morgan as its new managing director following Jeff Counsell’s decision to call time on his 50-plus-year career in the transport industry.

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