Latrobe Valley Bus Lines (LVBL) is a family company committed to providing professional bus services in the Latrobe Valley and surrounding areas for more than 50 years. They commit to continue to foster a culture of inclusion and continuous improvement of efficient, safe, quality bus service by caring, listening, and inviting all forms of feedback. Every LVBL team member has the opportunity through their contribution to make the workplace meaningful, enjoyable and challenging. We speak with Rhonda Renwick, Managing Director at LVBL to learn more about the role they play in their local community.
1. What makes your company Best For The World?Latrobe Valley Bus Lines (LVBL) is thrilled to be a B Corp and receive the Best For The World Community recognition. LVBL is supported by Kindred Spirits Enterprises (KSE); a philanthropic organisation founded by Rhonda Renwick. LVBL and KSE are committed to supporting appropriate education for all across Latrobe Valley, especially the first years of life, with a focus on early learning for better, healthier and equitable opportunities.
LVBL introduced an Australian first Volvo Hybrid Euro 6 route service bus in 2018. Hybrid technology significantly reduces harmful particulate and carbon being emitted into the atmosphere. Hybrid technology is silent when operating on battery, allowing for greater passenger and driver comfort and reduced noise in urban built up locations.
LVBL depots operate solar panels and have rain water collection and reuse facilities. LVBL operate a staff foundation where staff can nominate to contribute a percentage of their weekly wage to the foundation. Biannually KSE matches the staff contributions, and donations are made to a charity selected by the staff.
2. What makes you stand out from other companies?LVBL works hard to be an innovative and forward thinking company. We value the community we live and operate in, the passengers we carry safely and efficiently and our team of 125 staff that make this possible every day.
Becoming a B Corp member, challenged our business strategy and focused our commitment to our community and staff. Having B Lab, the non-profit organisation supporting the B Corp movement, acknowledge our efforts and awarding Best for the World, means a lot to us.
3. How do you plan to celebrate?We will be celebrating with our team and our industry partners. Publishing the recognition in our company staff magazine and presenting at our national bus industry conference, encouraging other bus companies to join the B Corp movement.
4. Part of being “Best for the World” is striving to always use your business as a force for good. What initiatives do you have planned for the coming year to continue to be Best for the World?
LVBL is working towards influencing the broader transport industry to implement Euro 6 and Hybrid bus technology. We are also working towards our Supervisors having the opportunity to volunteer their time during their worked paid hours at local not for profit charities and organisations.
5. What advice do you have for other B Corps and purpose-led businesses that want to improve their impact?
A great way to start looking at improving your companies impact is by networking with other registered B Corps. LVBL revise our company strategic plan based on our B Corp assessment, identifying areas for continued improvement. We work hard to maintain connection with our community through targeted engagement with passengers, community groups and local government.
