People
STC brings together staff with practical experience of senior management, local government, and in depth understanding of special needs and young people’s travel. We use evidence based research, and accurate data, to provide innovative, pragmatic, up to date advice and solutions for clients.
We are involved with a range of relevant organisations including:
- Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport
- The US National Association for Pupil Transportation
- The Association of Transport Coordinating Officers
- Institute of Advanced Motorists
Working with children, young people and those with special needs we recognise the higher standards of care expected when undertaking consultation, or handling your data. Staff have enhanced CRB clearance, and have clear data protection registration and policies on receiving, storing and sharing sensitive information.
Sian Thornthwaite set up STC originally in 1991 and after a break in 2000 returned to the business in 2007. She has more than twenty years of school and special needs transport experience, working in consultancy and local government. She has a MSc in Transport Engineering and Operations and extensive knowledge of bus/coach, minibus, taxi and private hire car transport sectors. Her PhD on statutory provision of home to school transport in the US and UK was awarded in 1991, and she has since completed a MA Child Law and, in 2006, a Sloan Fellowship at London Business School.
She has worked with public and private sector clients throughout the UK, as well in Ireland, India, Germany, the Middle East and US and has extensive international experience of transport consultancy, child safety and school travel. Her work has ranged from developing innovative special school travel plans and travel training programmes, to introducing concessionary fare schemes and undertaking local authority strategic reviews generating £1m+ annual savings.
Previous clients have included the DfT, the DCSF, the US Department of Defense, the House of Commons Education & Skills Select Committee, Highways Agency, National Express, the Audit Commission, and numerous urban and rural local authorities.
She has provided expert witness evidence on three occasions for the High Court. Her school transport publications include two books on home to school transport; and guidance on travel training, managing special needs transport, health and safety, seat belts, and child safety. She was contributing editor to Croners’ Health and Safety and Coach and Bus Briefing.
Sian also has ten years experience of working in the criminal justice sector with prisons probation and courts. She is a trustee and treasurer of the Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, London.