Buses order safeguards jobs

AROUND 1,000 engineering jobs were safeguarded yesterday after transport giant Stagecoach placed an order for 330 new buses.

The £35m deal with Falkirk-based bus maker Alexander will provide double and single-decker vehicles for Stagecoach's network of regional bus operators.

Alexander, which builds around 1,500 buses a year, said the award of the contract had been crucial to its future.

"This is going to help us secure 1,000 jobs during what is a tough year in the bus market," a spokesman said.

"This flies in the face of everything that is happening in the British automotive industry at the moment."

The contract was awarded on the same day that Chancellor Gordon Brown was visiting Alexander's factory.

Around 30 new jobs are likely to be created through the order, although the company believed the deal would also have a knock-on effect for its suppliers.

Dennis, which makes the chassis for Alexander buses, will also benefit from the Stagecoach announcement.

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