A class act earns Arriva top award

Using actors to dramatise typical workplace scenarios has earnedtransport group Arriva a top industry award.

The innovative approach it uses to promote diversity awarenesswas commended by the inaugural CBI Human Capital Awards, whichrecognise organisations' investment in people.

The glittering ceremony saw Arriva receive an award alongsidebusiness and industry leaders including Nationwide, BMW, KPMG andRoyal Bank of Scotland.

For the Innovative Ways of Working category, judges looked forbusinesses that had radically changed their working practices inresponse to competitive challenges and could show demonstrableresults.

Judges pointed to the male-orientated image of the transportindustry and Arriva's efforts to encourage a more diverseworkforce, where peoples' differences are valued and welcomed.

Involvement from the Arriva main board to supervisor level hasensured that the messages underpinned by its Valuing and WelcomingDifference programme filter through the company.

Workshops feature actors who help employees become more aware oftheir own attitudes and behaviours and how they may affectothers.

A unique factor is that the 'Valuing and Welcoming Difference'workshops are delivered by employees from across Arriva businesses.These trained facilitators work for Arriva in roles ranging fromclerical workers to depot managers. They signed up to the programmeafter hearing of Arriva's aims.

“We're thrilled”, said Alison O'Connor,director of human resources for Arriva plc:

Feedback from employees attending the courses has beenterrific. They have a better understanding of the true meaning andbenefits of a diverse workforce. And, back in their workingenvironments, they are the ones who can really make adifference.

Arriva introduced the initiative following national statisticswhich indicate that the UK labour pool will change significantlyover the next few years. Alison O'Connor added:

As a business, we need to anticipate changes in thelabour market, and as an employer, we need to ensure that weprovide a working environment that people enjoy, and that we are anemployer of choice

Notes to editors

• Arriva is one of the largest private sector providers ofpassenger transport in mainland Europe, employing nearly 33,000people and providing more than one billion passenger journeys everyyear.
• Arriva provides transport services including buses, trains,commuter coaches and water buses, and operates in eight Europeancountries: Denmark, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal,Spain, Sweden and the UK.
• Arriva is the largest private bus operator in Italy, Denmarkand the Netherlands and is London's largest bus operator.
• Revenue from Arriva's mainland European operations has doubledin the past three years to £621.2 million.
• Arriva was the first UK transport company to become a signatoryofthe European Road Safety Charter.