The company’s Arriva Bus division is in the final stages of talks with four agencies over a six-figure retained UK consumer and corporate brief.
The pitch comes as the operator looks to shift its efforts towards corporate and stakeholder work, following transport minister Norman Baker’s pledge that more transport funding decisions would be taken at a local level.
Arriva Bus UK marketing manager Nick Gordon said that in the current climate, it was vital to maximise relationships with those who have a say over bus contracts, such as local authorities and transport executives.
‘Those relationships are important as they deal with things like contracts and subsidies and business rates,’ he said. ‘Our negotiations with them determine what revenue we get from the schemes.’
Last month Baker revealed that decisions for funding transport schemes that ‘have a significant impact on people’s lives’ would now be taken at a local level.
Gordon added that the account would also include a review of social media channels for Arriva Bus, and how they could be used for stakeholder engagement.
