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Avril Connor
Senior Inspector, Ulsterbus
Newcastle

Avril Connor, Senior Inspector, Ulsterbus Newcastle

(extract taken from Winter 2007 Expresslines)

1. Describe your job?

I am one of two senior inspectors who work in Newcastle bus station and I am also responsible for two sub depots, Ballynahinch and Kilkeel. I am responsible for the day-to-day running of each which includes: making sure things run smoothly, handling complaints, allocating buses and overtime to drivers etc. My job also consists of a lot of administration, i.e. the policing of the working time directive, driver hours recording, and fuel recording and ordering.

2. How long have you worked for the company?

Twelve years, I joined the company July 1995.

3. What did you do before this current job?

I was a bus driver for four years, Temporary Inspector for over three and a half years and I have been a Senior Inspector since April 2004.

4. What qualifications or special qualities do you need for your job?

You need good people management skills, a good geographical knowledge of the area, good knowledge of the various driver and other employment rules and regulations. I have also been through the various competencies with the company and I have attained the national Certificate of Professional Competence.

5. What do you find most challenging about your job?

The last minute coverage of overtime, and the fact that no two days are the same.

6. What projects have you been involved with?

I was involved with the Ulsterbus Strategic Review for the Newcastle Area in July 2007. This was a major project which covered all the operational and delivery functions of Ulsterbus in Newcastle.

7. What aspect of your job do you enjoy most?

I actually enjoy every aspect of my job.

8. What departments or colleagues within the company do you have contact with through your job?

As my work is varied I actually have contact with a lot of people within the company, i.e. Engineers in Newcastle and Downpatrick, Clerks and Inspectors in both my own depot and other depots, Wages Office, IT Department, HR Department, Ticketing Office and the Area Office and not forgetting the Complaints Department and the Call Centre.

9. What are your main hobbies or interests outside work?

I don’t have much time for hobbies at the moment as I have two young daughters, Leah who is five and Abbie who is two and they tend to keep me busy. But I love to travel and I have travelled over the world quite a bit: Australia, America, the Far East and the Middle East. I would love to do more travelling in the future, go to Cape Town in South Africa and maybe do a Safari.

10. Where is your favourite place in the world?

As I have travelled quite a bit, I would have to say Dubai as the weather is really nice and it is a rich man/woman’s paradise!

11. Who would you most like to be stuck in a lift with?

Bryan Adams as I really like his music and would love to meet him.

12.What TV programme makes you mad?

Jackass.

13. Which celebrity would you most like to have dinner with?

Kylie Minougue as she is a true icon and her music has spanned decades.

14. If you won the lottery, where would you like to live?

With the rich, and famous, in Holywood, Los Angeles.

15. If you had to change career, what would you like to be?

I would love to be a Midwife or a Police Officer and have done so since I was a young child.