National Express Drives Forward Partnership With South and City College Birmingham

National Express is driving forward its partnership with a Digbeth-based college by donating a coach to enable students to broaden their horizons.

Building on a long-standing partnership between two organizations, the Birmingham-based National Express has donated the vehicle to South and City College Birmingham. The coach will be used by the college to take students on a variety of trips around the UK.

Located in close proximity, both the college and National Express have led the regeneration of the Digbeth area over the past few years, while both provide education, employment and training opportunities for the community.

The donated coach previously served much of the National Express national network and it has now been rebranded with the college's vibrant pink and purple branding to will carry staff and students around the country. The trips will include residential stays in Wales, National Trust excursions and visits to London.

National Express will continue to support the operation of the coach, as engineers from National Express West Midlands will ensure the vehicle is regularly serviced and maintained.

National Express UK Coach Managing Director Tom Stables said, “We are delighted to be able to donate this vehicle to South and City College Birmingham which plays a very important role in the local community’s education. We hope that it helps as many students as possible to further their education or gain employment. We are pleased that our colleagues in National Express West Midlands will continue to support the maintenance of the coach in future.”

Transport Manager for the college, Andrew Williams said, “Without National Express donating these vehicles, students could miss out on educational, valuable trips.  Hiring coaches is a large expense so to have our own has made things significantly easier.”

Principal of the college, Mike Hopkins said," I am immensely grateful to National Express for their support in providing this coach, it will be a great asset for our students and support them with educational visits and activities.  We have an excellent working relationship with National Express and this shows their commitment to Birmingham and to education.”

The pink coach was officially handed over to the college on May 27th as part of a presentation morning hosted at National Express’ coach station in Digbeth.