From bus driver to Marketing and now Commercial, Stephen Pincott has spent 30 years at Stagecoach embracing change, supporting his colleagues and helping customers across the network.
If you asked Stephen Pincott 30 years ago where his career would take him, he probably wouldn’t have predicted quite the journey he has been on.
This August marks 30 years since Stephen joined Rhondda Buses, beginning a Stagecoach career that has taken him from the driver’s cab to the Marketing team and, today, into Commercial.
And through all those changes, one thing has remained the same, Stephen’s love of people.
“I’m a people person and I like talking to people,” he says.
Stephen’s career started in a very different place.
After college in Llanwit Major, where he gained NVQs in Building and Carpentry, he spent a couple of years working on building sites around Bridgend.
When work became quieter, a friend suggested that Stephen try bus driving.
He did and never looked back.
After passing his PCV test with Cardiff Bluebird, Stephen joined Rhondda Buses on 5 August 1996.
The buses he drove back then were a world away from those customers see today.
“Some of the buses were old Dennis Darts and Leyland Lynxes. There was no power steering, so you really had to work at the wheel!”
Stephen spent 23 years driving, building relationships with customers and colleagues and becoming a familiar face in the Valleys.
Away from his day-to-day role, Stephen has always been keen to support the communities around him.
Over the years, he and his colleagues have taken part in an impressive list of fundraising challenges, from a 28-mile walk from Maerdy to Cardiff to long-distance cycle rides between Rhyl and Cardiff, Cardiff and Land’s End, and Cardiff and Tenby.
There have also been football matches, charity car washes and other fundraising activities.
One of Stephen’s strongest memories is taking part in fundraising connected to leukaemia, a cause particularly close to his family.
“We’ve always done the charity work, and Stagecoach has always supported everything we’ve done,” he says. “It’s nice to give something back to the community.”
After 23 years driving buses, Stephen decided in 2019 that it was time for a new challenge.
He joined the Marketing team, working on roadside information and timetables.
“I wanted to see how the company worked from a different perspective.”
Suddenly, Stephen was seeing a side of Stagecoach that many drivers and customers never get to see.
His work took him to community events, including Clean Air Day at Caerphilly Castle and Armed Forces Day in Crosskeys.
The Armed Forces event remains one of his favourite memories.
“Talking to the veterans was a lovely experience. Hearing what they’d been through was quite shocking. You don’t always know what people have experienced.”
Stephen also became involved in a wide variety of behind-the-scenes work, from producing timetables and signage to supporting depot projects and helping with the introduction of tap-on and tap-off equipment.
In 2023, Stephen moved into the Commercial team.
His current role is hugely varied. He helps create and update timetables, maintains infrastructure records, manages roadside information and signage, works with local councils and suppliers, supports service changes and provides assistance to the wider Commercial and Marketing teams.
And perhaps surprisingly for someone who started his career behind the wheel, technology has become a major part of his job.
“I had very little experience with computers and software when I started. Now I’m using Crosstown for timetables and Adobe Illustrator for artwork and templates.”
Ask Stephen what a typical day looks like, however, and the answer is simple:
“There isn’t one!”
One day might involve timetables, another bus stop infrastructure, another signage or an event.
“A lot of drivers ask me what I do because no one knows! Sometimes I’m putting up signs, sometimes I’m doing timetables, sometimes I’m at events.”
Across 30 years, Stephen has seen huge changes in buses, technology and the way Stagecoach operates.
But for him, the best part of the job has always been the people.
“I like the people and I like working here. We’re all so close, and people get involved in our events and football teams.”
From the early days of double-clutch manual buses to modern vehicles and digital customer information, Stephen has experienced an enormous amount of change.
And he’s still enjoying it.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my 30 years so far and I’m looking forward to many more years working with the company and meeting many more great people along the way.”
Chris Hanson, Managing Director at Stagecoach South Wales, said:
“Stephen’s 30 years with Stagecoach is a fantastic achievement and we’re incredibly proud to celebrate this milestone with him. His career is a great example of the opportunities available in the bus industry, having progressed from driving buses for more than two decades to taking on new challenges in Marketing and Commercial.
“We hugely value colleagues like Stephen who bring so much experience, knowledge and commitment to our business. His story shows that a career in the bus industry doesn’t have to follow one path, there are opportunities to develop, learn new skills and take your career in different directions.
“After 30 years, Stephen continues to make a real difference to our business and to the experience of our passengers. We’d like to thank him for his dedication, hard work and the contribution he has made over the past three decades, and we look forward to seeing what the next chapter brings.”
Congratulations, Stephen, on an incredible 30 years, and thank you for everything you’ve contributed to Stagecoach over the past three decades!