DVSA earned recognition announces Guild of British Coach Operators module
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency’s earned recognition scheme has launched a new module to help apply for membership of The Guild of British Coach Operators.
The new module will provide earned recognition Public Service Vehicle (PSV) operators with the opportunity to join over 20 of the UK’s top coach companies in the prestigious Guild membership that has been established for 37 years.
Like the DVSA earned recognition scheme, The Guild of British Coach Operators membership is only open to coach operators who can demonstrate the highest standards in their operations.
Customers can be confident that by hiring any Guild member, they are choosing a supplier who is customer-focused and delivers a quality service.
Both DVSA earned recognition and The Guild of British Coach Operators audit standards, supports and encourages operators to have the best policies and procedures in place to exceed and maintain the highest standards.
These standards include maintenance reporting and driver management, helping keep vehicles roadworthy, drivers well trained and unfatigued.
The collaboration will provide businesses and local authorities additional reassurance that coach operators who are both members of the earned recognition scheme and the guild demonstrate they are the most competent, safe, and socially conscious operators within industry.
Before the launch of the earned recognition module, only operators who were nominated by other Guild members could apply to become a Guild member. The new ER module will enable earned recognition members to apply directly without a nomination.
The Guild of British Coach Operators module is optional, and in addition to the recently updated audit standards that operators need to demonstrate to qualify for earned recognition. It follows DVSA’s recent Transport for London earned recognition module announcement.
DVSA’s Enforcement Director, Marian Kitson said:
“We are delighted to work with The Guild of British Coach Operators to further incentivise passenger vehicle operators proving they are among the ‘exemplary’ within industry.
“Every passenger should expect a safe journey, and we hope working with The Guild will provide local authorities and travel businesses assurance that member operators are doing everything they can to deliver on these expectations.”
Steve Whiteway, from the Guild of British Coach Operator’s said:
“The Guild of British Coach Operators has always set itself the highest standards of operation, with membership only available to those who choose to follow the same path through an exacting audit.
"Earned Recognition mirrors many aspects of the Guild audit and therefore, is a natural fit to partner with DVSA and more generally, a positive move for the coach industry, to publicly demonstrate quality and safety of operation”.
Further information about the ER scheme and the module is available on GOV.UK or by emailing: [email protected].
