There is no-where quite like West Yorkshire. A region with a rich heritage, and a modern blend of urban dynamism, rurality, and natural beauty. West Yorkshire boasts diverse landscapes from the Pennine uplands, to the Vale of York, to thriving cities and towns such as Leeds and Huddersfield. A vibrant and diverse region, West Yorkshire spans 750 square miles and is home to 2.3 million people speaking 180 languages. There are many different ethnicities, backgrounds and different lived experiences.

West Yorkshire has always been at the forefront of innovation and industry. From the Industrial Revolution to today, it is a region known nationally and internationally for determination, creativity, and hard work. It is home to the UK’s leading professional services hub outside of London and offers access to a highly skilled workforce of 1.1 million people.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority) is the regional governing body responsible for coordinating and improving various aspects of public services, connecting people to better living standards, higher-earning jobs, and improving overall health and well-being.

In March 2024 the decision was made to bring buses back under local control in the biggest shake-up of the region’s transport network in decades. Franchising, or local control, puts the public at the heart of our bus network, ensuring buses truly serve the needs of our communities.

Our new Programme Director Bus Franchising will be responsible for leading the successful implementation of a sustainable Bus Franchising programme for West Yorkshire, ensuring the programme achieves its objectives, balancing programme, budget and quality dynamics. They will ensure the implementation is attractive to the market, including market engagement and oversight of dialogue and the negotiation process in the franchise services, and other key procurements.

For a confidential conversation with one of our advisors, please contact:

Marek Dobrowolski

Marek.dobrowolski@erwickpartners.co.uk

+ 44 7793 529 576

Corinne Attwood

Corinne.Attwood@berwickpartners.co.uk

+44 121 654 5954