Stagecoach bus boss named unsung hero

Stagecoach's Operations Manager for Portsmouth, Colin Ashcroft, was recently named in The Guardian's list of readers' unsung heroes of 2020.

The Guardian's list of heroes - which followed nominations by readers from across the UK – included people working within the NHS, supermarket staff and people who carried on doing essential work for our society throughout the pandemic.

Nominated by one of his bus drivers, who said of Colin and his assistant manager Shane: “He is loved by all his staff, is a huge mental health supporter, and leads by example. When the pandemic started, he would don his overalls and go back to his bus cleaning days to make them safe. During all of this, since March, they have been on our side as bus drivers, keeping us safe, always having our backs, and just being good people, and we all appreciate Colin and Shane so much.”

Colin, a local Portsmouth resident, has worked within the transport industry throughout his career. He started at Stagecoach, as a cleaner in the early 1990s and very soon after qualified as a bus driver serving the Worthing, Littlehampton, Brighton and Horsham area.

Career progression has seen Colin work his way up to manager serving in roles such as Depot Controller, Inspector and Assistant Manager.

Having previously served at management level in Basingstoke and Worthing, Colin was appointed as Operations Manager for Portsmouth in 2016.

Colin is also a great supporter of community focus and engagement.

Gordon Frost, Operations Director for Stagecoach South said of Colin's recognition "We’re so very proud of Colin, for being named by The Guardian as one of their readers’ heroes of 2020.

He expertly manages the health and wellbeing of each member of our Portsmouth team, helping us to develop as an organisation. Put simply, he has embraced  a fresh approach and fresh thinking to management, which is underpinned by his determination, passion and genuine interest in building and maintaining a good rapport with his team.

Colin is a great ambassador for the business and it is through the good work of Colin and his fellow Portsmouth depot management team that we have a real’ family’ atmosphere at the depot”.