Five Arriva employees were invited to Number 10 Downing Street by the Prime Minister for a garden party along with other transport workers.
The group of employees were recognised for their outstanding contributions since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The event recognised the vital role that public transport and its workers have played in keeping communities connected, linking key workers with jobs, and enabling other crucial services to continue to operate across the country.
Among the five recognised were two employees from UK Bus: Muhammad Mubarqa and Neil Atherton who work in the North West. Mr Mubarqa, a driver from Wrexham depot, was recognised for helping to rescue a victim of a serious car crash in Mold, North Wales in June.
Mr Atherton, a CPC instructor, was invited following his efforts to boost the numbers vaccinated in and around Liverpool while behind the wheel of the Arriva Merseyside vaccination bus. He was regularly seen shepherding passers-by to the bus to get their jabs to fight the virus, while lifting spirits and cracking jokes.
Paul O’Neil, Managing Director of Arriva UK Bus, says: “I am so proud of our employees and delighted their great work has been recognised by the Prime Minister. The past 18 months have been extremely difficult but my colleagues across Arriva have gone the extra mile for the communities we serve. The pandemic has shown the true value of public transport to our society.”
