Press releases

Arriva, one of the largest transport services organisations in Europe, is helping UK online get its 'Get Started' campaign on the move.

The government campaign, which is one of the greatest ever technology giveaways to encourage people to use the internet and experience its benefits, was launched this week by secretary of state for trade and industry, Patricia Hewitt, e-Envoy Andrew Pinder, Arriva plc's chief executive Bob Davies and chief executives from the other private and voluntary sector campaign partners.

Arriva is supporting 'Get Started' by using its operations, which include an extensive range of bus and train services across the UK and a national vehicle rental business, to significantly raise the profile of 'Get Started' and encourage more people to consider trying the Internet via one of the 8,000 online centres in the UK.

Bob Davies, chief executive of Arriva plc, said:

Technology provides the opportunity for people to broaden their horizons and realize their potential. It is essential that everyone has access to the Internet and that we avoid a digital divide.

I am delighted that Arriva is one of the UK online partners and that our bus, rail and vehicle rental businesses are helping to raise the profile of the UK online campaign.

During the campaign we will be encouraging our customers and employees to get involved and find out how the Internet can contribute to their everyday lives.

The group's UK Bus division is providing free advertising on around 4,500 of its buses which serve customers in the North East, North West , South East of England, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Scotland and Wales .

At Arriva's two UK rail businesses – Arriva Trains Northern and Arriva Trains Merseyside – hundreds of posters will be placed in train stations across the North of England and thousands of leaflets will be distributed to customers at stations and road shows over the coming months.

Meanwhile Arriva Vehicle Rental, which has a fleet of around 11,000 vehicles, will be distributing information at its 42 locations - from Sunderland to Taunton .

Arriva's businesses are also promoting the campaign through a range of customer and employee newsletters and magazines which will be distributed to tens of thousands of people over the coming months.

The campaign is aimed at Internet non users which typically include older people, people with disabilities, those on low incomes, ethnic minority groups, the long-term unemployed and lone parents. Over 8,000 online centres are now offering free internet starter sessions until the end of June. Anyone taking part in a session will be entered into a prize draw with the chance of winning holidays, digital cameras, free internet connections and PCs.

Anyone wishing to find their nearest participating online centre should call Freephone 0800 771 234 (Textphone 0800 085 0853 for people with hearing difficulties ). Those with Sky TV can press the 'interactive' button on their remote control and then number eight for UK online.

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Note to editors

• A digital photo of Bob Davies, chief executive of Arriva plc with Patricia Hewitt, secretary of state for trade and industry at the launch can be downloaded from the photo library on www.e-envoy.gov.uk or can be emailed by Arriva's corporate communications department.
• The 'Get Started' campaign runs from now until 30 June 2003. It is supported by Arriva, Age Concern, Cable & Wireless, Citizens Advice, Dixons Store Group, Expedia, Ethnic Minority Foundation, Granada Media, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Microsoft, the National Library for the Blind, One Parent Families, Packard Bell, the RNID and The Prince's Trust. In addition, the BBC is coinciding its WebWise campaign with 'Get Started'.