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Madalina Pufu -
27 April, 2026
Last month, the Realise Transport team proudly sponsored and attended the CPT North Dinner Weekend in Leeds, a two-day event celebrating the passenger transport sector.
The weekend brought together operators, suppliers, industry professionals and trade representatives, creating an opportunity to share expertise, strengthen partnerships and highlight the skills that keep the passenger transport industry moving.
Friday 6 March - Networking at the Royal Armouries
The event kicked off with an informal networking evening help at the Royal Armouries in Leeds. It was encouraging to see so many operators, suppliers and CPT staff, all demonstrating their commitment and support to promote the passenger transport.
Paul Smith, Head of Transport Academy, said: It was a pleasure to catch up with industry colleagues including Blackpool Transport, Yorkshire Buses, Pelican Bus & Coach, and Dawson Group, as well as meeting with partners from across the transport trade and speaking with CPT President Kathryn Pulham. Events like this are important for strengthening relationships and sharing ideas that support the future of the industry.”
Saturday 7 March – Ride and Drive day
Saturday brought plenty of excitement with the Ride and Drive event, where visitors had the chance to get behind the wheel of a range of vehicles, from modern buses to heritage models.
One of the highlights for the Realise team was hosting the assessed driver challenge. Participants took on a demanding course in one of our Realise buses, testing their driving precision and control. It was great to see so many people get involved and give it their best shot.
The top three drivers were recognised for their skills and precision on the course, earning them a well-deserved trophy for their performances, handed by Kairon Flowers, our Transport Director. The winners of the Drive and Ride were:
1st: Simon Harris – Blackpool Transport
2nd: Garry Trotter – First Travel Solutions
3rd: Jake Temple – Connexions Buses
A successful weekend for the sector
The CPN North Dinner weekend proved to be a great opportunity to celebrate how much the passenger transport has achieved while strengthening relationships across the sector.
Kairon Flowers adds, “A special thanks to Andrew McGuinness and Alistair Timmis for their hard work in organising the event for the CPT. I would also like to thank the Realise team Jenny Smith, Alison Fordham, Jamie Juniper, and Andy Mallinson for their dedication in making the weekend such a success.”
We were delighted to be part of such a well-organised and engaging event and look forward to supporting similar initiatives in the future.
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