Derry celebrates success at Translink’s SPIRIT Awards

People may be getting into the festive spirit as the holiday season approaches but Translink staff at the North West Transport Hub have been getting into the SPIRIT for the past year scooping Platinum Status in the 2024 SPIRIT of Translink Awards.

The initiative run in partnership with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful (KNIB), saw 36 Translink Bus and Rail facilities taking part with the aim of promoting a safe and pleasant environment for both customers and employees, whilst ensuring Translink upholds its environmental-responsibility focus. In total 14 of the participating facilities achieved Platinum status – the highest score available – 17 Gold, 4 Silver and 1 Bronze.

The initiative supports Translink staff in developing a culture of continuous improvement, giving public recognition to staff who have gone above and beyond in creating a more attractive environment for passengers and colleagues. 

Assessed by KNIB, each facility is judged across a set of key criteria examining key areas including resource efficiency, energy and carbon, biodiversity, health and wellbeing activities, stakeholder, employee, and community engagement as well as employee culture, behaviour, and leadership.  

Each facility which participates in the Spirit Awards has an appointed Spirit Ambassador who works hard to deliver initiatives and projects throughout the year relating to safety culture, biodiversity, health and wellbeing, and community engagement.

It’s evident that the North West Transport Hub’s team has worked hard to put the Translink SPIRIT into action! The Spirit Assessment noted the station has provided excellent customer experience to all of its passengers and created opportunities for customers to engage with while they’re passing through or waiting for their train – including tourist maps for the city and local area, historic displays and places of interest along the railway.

Staff have also organised Christmas stalls inside and outside the station to promote local products and food.

The North West Transport Hub has also been proactive in areas relating to resource efficiency through the installation of a rainwater collection system which provides water for the toilet facilities at the station.

Upkeep of its single-use plastic bottle bin was also cited in the assessment - an endeavour that encourages staff and customers to dispose of their single-use plastics responsibly. Pupils from local schools are also encouraged to collect their plastics bottles from home and school for recycling at the hub.

Chris Allen, Translink’s ESG Manager said: “The Translink SPIRIT Awards embrace Translink’s corporate responsibility themes Go Safe, Go Eco, Go Healthy and Go Together and recognises staff who go the extra mile to make our facilities better connected to planet and people. Well done to the North West Transport Hub!”

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Dr Sue Christie, Interim Chief Executive, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said: “These awards are a testament to the value Translink places on reducing their environmental impact, and their consideration of health and wellbeing, alongside community engagement. Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has always advocated the need for behaviour change and encouraging people to use public transport is a key part of fighting the climate emergency.

"It is heartening to see so many sites achieving Gold and Platinum awards this year and we celebrate the hard work of the staff at these sites whose innovation and teamwork are at the core of achieving and maintaining these high standards. Well done to all facilities who took part!”