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Homecoming branded buses unveiled
05/02/2009
Buses in the country's three biggest cities are helping to promote the Homecoming Scotland message.
FirstGroup's new branded buses were unveiled in Edinburgh this afternoon by First Minister Alex Salmond and Marketing Manager of FirstGroup Avril Gill.
FirstGroup will operate three buses wrapped in Homecoming Scotland advertising in Scotland's biggest cities - Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow - throughout Scotland's Homecoming Year.
The UK's largest transport operator, FirstGroup, is the latest company helping to promote Scotland's Homecoming message. The Scottish firm has donated full size adverts, with a commercial value of more than £70,000, on three of its double-decker buses to further increase awareness of Homecoming 2009.
Scotland's Homecoming celebrations mark the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robert Burns. Homecoming 2009 will celebrate Scotland's great contributions to the world: Golf, Whisky, Great Scottish minds and innovations, Scotland's rich ancestry, culture and heritage and Burns himself.
A Homecoming programme of more than 300 events, festivals and activities started on Burns Night and runs through to St Andrews Day.
FirstGroup is one of many large and successful companies supporting Homecoming. In addition to the donation of the bus advertising, FirstGroup will be promoting Homecoming through the websites of its North American companies; are promoting the campaign through its Scottish companies' websites, including the First ScotRail website; and is supporting the 'As Others See Us' photography exhibition (a testament to Burns' relevance and influence on Scots today).
Mr Salmond said:
"Homecoming 2009 promises to be the biggest celebration of Scottish culture, heritage and innovation yet, and I am delighted that FirstGroup will operate Homecoming branded buses on routes in three of Scotland's largest cities.
"Established in Aberdeen, FirstGroup is one of Scotland's most successful companies and I welcome all its efforts to help promote this special year of celebration
"The eye-catching design of these buses will help communicate our Homecoming message to hundreds of thousands of visitors and residents in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen throughout 2009.
"Corporate engagement is a very important aspect of Homecoming and it is great that FirstGroup is the latest company to develop a special project to support and promote what is a special year for Scotland."
Marketing Manager of FirstGroup Avril Gill said:
"Although FirstGroup is a now global company, our roots are very much here in Scotland. Homecoming Scotland is a fantastic initiative and we are pleased to be able to support the campaign by providing these striking bus adverts. 2009 will be a really exciting year for Scotland and we are delighted to be lending our support to Homecoming in such a visible way."
FirstGroup is Britain's largest bus operator running more than one in five of all local bus services. A fleet of nearly 9,000 buses carries approximately 3 million passengers a day in more than 40 major towns and cities.