Electric Bus Pioneer Honoured by the University of Salford

A University of Salford graduate who pioneered the development of electric buses in the UK has been recognised with a special award.

Lancastrian Jim Sumner graduated from Salford in 1989 with a 1st in Electrical & Electronic Engineering and had a long, successful and varied career in the corporate world before turning his hand to investing in technology businesses.

And today he returned to Maxwell Hall to receive an honorary doctorate in recognition of his achievements, which also include creating to scholarship to help people from underprivileged backgrounds attend University.

Jim, from Penwortham, near Preston, began work as an apprentice with Leyland Trucks, who later sponsored him to go to Salford for his initial degree. Ten years after graduating he returned to Leyland Trucks and eventually became Managing Director, the youngest in the company’s history. While in that role he transformed the company and more than quadrupled turnover from £180m to £880m. The company won numerous awards including the Queens Award for export in 2009 during his time there.

From Leyland he moved to and rescued struggling bus manufacturer Optare plc as CEO of the company. He turned the business around and moved it into developing low carbon bus technology. The company was the first to put electric busses on the streets of the UK and Jim’s influence is still felt today as many of the buses he pioneered are still in use. He also personally launched the Government's Green Bus initiative on the steps of Downing Street in 2009 with then Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Opare later won the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Trader’s prestigious innovation award in 2012 for their electric bus technology which has subsequently transformed the industry. He now invests in small and medium sized technology business across the UK, across Vehicle tracking technology, Cyber security, Advanced materials, Counter drone systems, IoT and IT services.

Jim, who grew up on a Preston council estate said: “I’m lucky that Salford and Leyland Trucks gave me a chance in life that I may not have had. Some of my friends from school didn’t get those opportunities and are not around now, through drinks and drugs. It was a tough time with an underclass of people who couldn’t find work.

“Now I try to make thing better by growing businesses and creating employment and also through scholarships”