This post’s about nanotechnology, society in 25 years time, the huge implications for our workforce…and the priceless press coverage afforded by a 15-year-old lad.

The Pace of Change

They say that most people don’t plan more than five years ahead because, beyond that, we can’t readily predict what’s on our own horizon.

Yet, one young Bournemouth lad feels confident enough about his future that he’s already applied to drive for Transdev Yellow Buses. 15 year old Luke Brady’s put his name forward to be a driver—in six year’s time. Luke is the sort of publicity gift the industry simply cannot ignore. Said Luke, “I have been very attracted to this job for some time, even when I was younger”.

A lot could happen in six years, of course. But, assuming Luke starts with TYB in 2014, what might he find? Perhaps:

• Petrol might be so expensive that there’s a real golden age on the buses.
• Demand might be such that Transdev Yellow Buses will operate Optare Rapta double decks alongside Optare Versas and Tempos.
• Hybrid technology will be sufficiently robust and commonplace to reach the provinces.
• The Local Transport Act might have shaped bus services differently.
• Bournemouth and Poole unitaries might’ve merged to form an Integrated Transport Authority.
• The Big Five might be the Big Four.
• Who knows, TYB may even have merged with Wilts & Dorset.
  

In 25 years time, when Luke’s 40 and half way through his career, what then? Will our society be so structured that nanotechnological- or robotics-driven solutions make routine bus journeys all but redundant? Like everyday medical operations in our own home rather than at the Royal Bournemouth Hospital?

What’s certain at the point Luke reaches 40 is that for every retired person over 60, there will be just two people of work age. There will be double the number of men over 75 and two-thirds the women, compared to now. All this has huge implications for all industries, not least our own. Think of free travel, if it’s still here and affordable. And how attractive will bus driving be when there is such competition for jobs in the workplace? And, what implications does this have on labour costs and staffing?

And then there's the Bournemouth monorail...