Merseyrail passengers among the most satisfied in the UK

MERSEYRAIL passengers have been revealed as the most satisfied in the UK following a survey conducted by independent travel watchdog Transport Focus. The survey, which was completed by passengers over the last 12 weeks, showed that Merseyrail passengers had a 95% satisfaction rate with the rail operators' services, coming joint top in the country alongside c2c. Merseyrail also came top in satisfaction with punctuality and frequency, with a 95% satisfaction rate; cementing its reputation as the most punctual and reliable operator in the country. Merseyrail also took the top spot for satisfaction with frequency of trains; scoring 86% satisfaction. The Liverpool City Region rail operator also scored high in terms of value for money; coming 3rd in the whole country.

Andy Heath, Managing Director at Merseyrail, said:- "Providing our customers with the best possible service is our absolute priority and at the heart of everything we do here at Merseyrail. To score so highly in a customer satisfaction survey is a real honour and a testament to the hard work of all of our staff particularly through these challenging times. Looking ahead to 2022 and the introduction of the new, state-of-the-art trains on our network, I have every faith that we will continue to top these surveys and run a high-quality rail service that our customers can be proud of in the City Region."

The Rail User Weekly Survey asks approximately 500 passengers in Great Britain about experiences of travelling by rail and how satisfied they were with their most recent journey (made in the last 7 days). The train operating company satisfaction rates are calculated by consolidating 12 weeks of these surveys to provide an overview of general quarterly satisfaction.

Southport leads the countdown to The Good Business Festival 2022!

FAMILY values took centre stage as:- 'The Good Business Festival' hosted its 1st countdown event earlier this month. Liverpool City Region's festival spirit that has previously delivered unforgettable global events will return in 2022 with The Good Business Festival.

Major brands and inspiring leaders from business, media, music and academia are leading what is the world's largest responsible business festival, formed around 6 showcase events across Liverpool City Region and culminating in 3 days of events running from 22 March to 24 March 2022.

And, as part of the event's programme of showcase events, The Greater Good, Sefton businesses came together for a special event focusing on family businesses.

Held at Southport Market, which reopened earlier this year following a ₤1.4m refurbishment, it set the scene for an exciting series of countdown events to The Good Business Festival 2022.

Delivered in partnership with InvestSefton, Sefton Council's enterprise, business support and inward investment service, it gave audiences the chance to hear from a panel of Sefton based business owners, as they delved into the dynamics of working with family, the challenges it brings and how to move forward.

Among those taking part in the event were Julie Swarbrick, business growth advisor at InvestSefton; Peter Salt, Company Director at Immersive Interactive; and James Maddocks, Co-Director of Redwraps Ltd.

Norman Wallis, owner of Southport Pleasureland opened the event with the announcement that the much loved attraction is to become net-zero, making it the 1st amusement park in the UK to do so.

A Sefton Council spokesperson said:- "It was fantastic to see so many Sefton businesses all under 1 roof at our incredible Southport Market eager to discuss, and hear about, the ups and downs of family business. We have some incredible entrepreneurs and thriving companies here in our borough, so it's great to be part of The Good Business Festival's legacy. It's so great to see events like this reinvigorating and reshaping the way we do business in a really positive way."

The Good Business Festival's eagerly anticipated in person return in 2022 will see events covering a range of topics, including:- housing, ethical consumerism, sustainable transport and ethical investment, as well as a focus on the young trailblazers who are designing sustainable systems for the future.

Since a digital version of the event took place in October 2020, The Good Business Festival has attracted global prominence for its imaginative blend of arts, culture and business focused on helping businesses future proof themselves by adapting to new market realities and changing consumer and employee expectations.

Upcoming showcase events will take place in:- St Helens, Halton, Wirral, Liverpool City Centre and Knowsley.

Hosted across different quarters in the City Centre, venues for next year's events include:- 'Oh Me Oh My' on Liverpool Waterfront, The University of Liverpool Guild of Students in the Knowledge Quarter, and 'CONTENT' in the Baltic Triangle.

Major names taking part include:- Innocent, Arbonne, musician and activist Louis VI, as well as Joe Iles from The Ellen MacArthur Foundation; Kelly Beaver, CEO of Ipsos Mori; Felicia Odamtten, Founder of The Black Economists Network; Jude Kelly CBE, CEO and Founder of The WOW Foundation; Forbes 30 Under 30 and Founder of Bundlee Eve Kekeh; and Andrew Sandoz, CCO at Deloitte.

Joining them at the event to also share their insight will be a host of local businesses and speakers, including:- Joanne Holden, Sustainability Director at Peel L&P; Carl Beer, Chief Executive Merseyside Recycling and Waste Authority; Dorcas Seb, multi disciplinary artist; The Regenda Group, while Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram will also be speaking.

Mayor of Liverpool City Region, Steve Rotheram said:- "The Good Business Festival has been on quite a journey since it was 1st launched. What was originally planned as a 3 day summit has transformed into a programme of virtual and in-person events lasting more than a year. We know that the Coronavirus Pandemic has hammered people and businesses across our Region and around the world, but the time in lockdown last year also gave us an opportunity to pause and think about the kind of City Region, and world, we want to build. Throughout the last few years, we've delivered an unprecedented package of support to protect and grow the local economy before, during and after COVID, and have launched projects like The Good Business Festival to reimagine, revitalise and reshape the way that we do business. I'm sure we're all looking forward to be able to meet in person and have the festival we originally hoped for!"

The Greater Good showcase events will bring the event even closer to Regional business audiences on a tour of interesting and unusual venues across Liverpool City Region's boroughs.

Greater Good will focus on local good business issues with national and international significance, highlight pioneering local sectors and good business leadership and champion a greater understanding of purposeful business practices originating from each borough.

Claire McColgan MBE, Director at Culture Liverpool, said:-"The Greater Good events are an extremely exciting addition and will allow us to build momentum ahead of March. Each Regional event will complement a topic we'll be tackling at the festival, taking expert thinking on important issues and translating it into relevant, practical and inspirational knowledge for local SMEs, business communities, start ups and budding entrepreneurs. The events will be open to anyone to come and learn, teach and debate on the big topics of our time, whilst exploring 1 of the UK's most exciting Cities."

For more information about upcoming Greater Good events and tickets to The Good Business Festival, visit:- TheGoodBusinessFestival.Com.

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Merseyrail passengers among the most satisfied in the UK

Southport leads the countdown to The Good Business Festival 2022!