The relevance of transport operator schemes to the Northern Powerhouse and Transport for the North

Whilst the Transport for the North strategy plans for future transport demands, the transboundary consultations occurring to date overlook key stakeholders in the transport sector themselves. This non-unionist perspective of the role of actual transport operators, and their responses to network development within the geo-spatially fixed boundaries of the Northern Powerhouse therefore overlook their views, many of whom use this area as an important route via, or as points of route commencement or service termination at major transport distribution hubs. Researching the case for freight operator recognition schemes as business readiness tools for the Northern Powerhouse and the Transport for the North development strategy, we have collected 10 interviews and 60 survey responses from operators across the UK, including the Northern Powerhouse, then analysed them from transport strategy, readiness and scale / sector factors, in relation to implementing a Total Quality Management system as a customer focused, change management tool to optimise operator efficiencies. We reveal decision processes linked to scale and organisational strategy; and identify the suitability of such schemes aligned to the Northern Powerhouse paradigms. Amongst other findings we note the potential of the Northern Powerhouse to promote a high degree of commonality in approaches to business friendly Local Transport Plans and key transport corridors.