Stagecoach leads UK Bus Awards shortlist

A total of 135 finalists have made the shortlist of this year’s prestigious UK Bus Awards, with the winners set to be announced on November 28

 
Koli Begum of Go-Ahead London won last year’s Top London Bus Driver award

 
The UK Bus Awards, the flagship national award scheme, has announced a 135-strong shortlist after another bumper year for entries.

People, projects and bus operators will be competing across 23 categories, with the presentation ceremony taking place on November 28, at Troxy, London.

The independent judging process, a cornerstone of the UK Bus Awards, has included mystery travelling for both driver and operator finalists. Additionally, it featured face-to-face interviews for some of those shortlisted.

Stagecoach, the UK’s biggest bus operator, once again received the highest number of shortlisted entries (46), a third of all finalists. The group has been shortlisted in 17 award categories.

Claire Miles, Stagecoach’s newly-appointed CEO, said: “To have such a substantial amount of shortlisted nominations is a true testament to Stagecoach’s commitment to continued innovation, supporting local communities and fostering a positive working culture.”

The Go-Ahead Group received the second largest number of shortlisted entries (15), followed by Arriva (11).

As always, the winner of the prestigious Bus Operator of the Year award will be selected from the winners of the Top City Operator, Top Independent Operator and Top Shire Operator categories. Last year’s winner was local authority-owned Blackpool Transport.

[They] represent the best of the UK’s bus industry. Their dedication to excellence and innovation is truly commendable

Alan Millar, chair of the UK Bus Awards, congratulated this year’s finalists: “[They] represent the best of the UK’s bus industry. Their dedication to excellence and innovation is truly commendable, and I congratulate each and every one of them on their outstanding achievements. The UK Bus Awards is proud to celebrate their contributions.”

He continued: “We can’t wait to recognise, reward and inspire the bus industry when we reveal the winners at Troxy, London on November 28th.”

The winners of the UK Bus Awards 2023 will be revealed at the prestigious Troxy, London, on Tuesday, November 28th. Tickets for the event are now available at: www.ukbusawards.org.uk

 

 

The UK Bus Awards 2023 Shortlist

BUS AND THE COMMUNITY SPONSORED BY HEATHROW

Arriva NE, Go NE, Nexus and Stagecoach NE – Care Experienced Travel
OurBus Bartons
Stagecoach East – Behind the Bus
Stagecoach West – Gloucestershire Nightstop
Tower Transit – LibertyBus
West Yorkshire Bus Alliance – Youth Engagement Programme

BUSES FOR LEISURE

Go South Coast – Breezers
Lothian Buses – Royal Highland Show
Reading Buses – London Line 702 & Flightline 703
Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire – Lake District services
Stagecoach Midlands – X46/X47
Transport for Wales – Sherpa’r Wyddfa

CULTURE CHANGE SPONSORED BY INTUITIVE TALENT SOLUTIONS

Arriva East and South Midlands – High Wycombe Depot
Arriva East and South Midlands – Punctuality Sprint
RATP Dev Transit London – Garage Life Programme
Stagecoach – Employee Networks
Stagecoach East – Keep Our People Safe
Stagecoach London – Fatigue
Stagecoach London – Women’s Committee
Stagecoach Services – Creating Connections
Warrington’s Own Buses – Dallam Lane Depot

ENGINEER OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY IRTE

Andrew Fisher, Stagecoach East
Jason Hodgson, RATP Dev Transit London
Richard Mason, Stagecoach Midlands
Colin Smith, McGill’s
Oliver Thong, Stagecoach London
Neil Wilmin, Uno

ENRICHING THE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE SPONSORED BY TRACSIS

Nominated by Heathrow – Carlone
Lothian Buses – Accessibility
Sanders Coaches – X55
Stagecoach – Going digital
Stagecoach Midlands – Simplifying Tickets
Transdev Blazefield – De-Stressing the Bus
TrawsCymru T1, Transport for Wales

ENVIRONMENTAL INNOVATION SPONSORED BY CITYSWIFT

First Bus Scotland – Electrification of Aberdeen and Scotstoun depots
First York – Electric drivetrain upgrade and solar panels
Liverpool City Region Combined Authority – Hybus
McGill’s Bus Group – Journey to net zero
National Express West Midlands and Zenobe – Electric Transportation as a Service
Stagecoach London – Greener depots
Stagecoach West Scotland – Service 1

GOING FOR GROWTH SPONSORED BY INTSOL

FlixBus UK
Go South Coast – Bluestar
Grant Palmer – Hi
Stagecoach East – 100% Club
Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire – 59
Transdev Blazefield – The 36
Transport for Wales – Sherpa’r Wyddfa

LONDON BUS GARAGE OF THE YEAR SPONSORED BY TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

Barking, Stagecoach London
Croydon, Arriva London
Lea Interchange, Stagecoach London
Sutton, Go-Ahead London
Waterloo, Go-Ahead London
Willesden Junction, Metroline

LUKE REES-PULLEY AWARD FOR TOP LONDON BUS DRIVER SPONSORED BY THE LUKE REES-PULLEY CHARITABLE TRUST AND TRANSPORT FOR LONDON

Andy Beckers, Stagecoach London
Thomas Brade, Arriva London
Carmen Brigo, RATP Dev Transit London
Karl Diamond, Go-Ahead London
Marina Rudko, RATP Dev Transit London
Suryakant Tank, Metroline
Heidi Williams, RATP Dev Transit London
Christopher Wilson, Go-Ahead London

MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Katie Cringle, Warrington’s Own Buses
Toby France, Arriva South and East Midlands
Joe Gilbey, Stagecoach London
Alan Isherwood, Transdev Blazefield
Mark Mageean, Stagecoach Manchester
Dawn Murphy, Stagecoach Yorkshire
Karishma Patel, Metroline
Sarah Taylor, Lothian Buses

MARKETING CAMPAIGN OF THE YEAR

Cornwall Council – Believe in Bus
First Bus Scotland – Free to Explore
Go North East – YOU are not a bus driver
National Express West Midlands – Encourage modal shift
North East Enhanced Partnership – Get ‘round for a pound
Nottingham City Transport – Student Campaign
Transdev Blazefield – Get Your Freedom – Get Your Free Bus Pass
Stagecoach Group – CAV Forth
Stagecoach West Scotland – Your Ticket to Freedom

PARTNERSHIP FOR EXCELLENCE: THE PETER HUNTLEY MEMORIAL AWARD SPONSORED BY CONFEDERATION OF PASSENGER TRANSPORT UK

Arriva NE, Go NE, Nexus and Stagecoach NE – 2022 Great North Run
Leicester City Council with Arriva, Centrebus, First Bus, Kinchbus, Roberts Travel and Stagecoach – Leicester Buses Enhanced Partnership
Lothian Buses – Operation Unicorn
Scottish Citylink and Stagecoach with HITRANS – Bikes on Buses
Stagecoach East Scotland and the University of St Andrews – 75% discount
Stagecoach Manchester – Parklife festival transport
West Yorkshire Bus Alliance – Youth Engagement Programme

RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION

Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus – Driver recruitment
Go North East – YOU are not a bus driver
National Express West Midlands – Driver simulator
Nottingham City Transport – Recruit Retain
Reading Buses – Supporting refugees
Stagecoach East Midlands – Driver recruitment

TOP CITY OPERATOR SPONSORED BY INIT

Brighton & Hove Buses
Lothian Buses
Nottingham City Transport
Translink

TOP EXPRESS SERVICE

AIR – Scottish Citylink
Clyde Flyer 901/906 – McGill’s Bus Group
Manchester-Newcastle – FlixBus
X6 Leicester-Coventry – Arriva East and South Midlands

TOP INDEPENDENT OPERATOR

Grant Palmer
Sanders Coaches
Uno

TOP NATIONAL BUS DEPOT SPONSORED BY VOLVO

Chester, Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire
Middleton, Stagecoach Manchester
Milewater Service Centre, Translink
Milton Keynes, Arriva East and South Midlands
Northampton, Stagecoach Midlands
Porth, Stagecoach South Wales

TOP NATIONAL BUS DRIVER: THE CHRIS MOYES MEMORIAL AWARD SPONSORED BY PERSONAL GROUP

Ben Anderton, Diamond Bus North West
Brian Brotherston, Belfast Metro
Freddie Dempsey, Trentbarton
Clive Egan, Morebus
Tika Gurung, Nottingham City Transport
Mariusz Losinski, Transdev Blazefield

TOP SHIRE OPERATOR SPONSORED BY TICKETER

Go South Coast
McGill’s Bus Group
Preston Bus
Reading Buses
Stagecoach in South Lancashire
Stagecoach Midlands

UNSUNG HERO SPONSORED BY BACKHOUSE JONES

Andy Allen, Arriva East and South Midlands
Robert and Mandy Bilham, Stagecoach Yorkshire
Gavin Brackett, RATP Dev Transit London
Karen Morrison, Abellio London Bus
Nick Painter, Stagecoach Manchester
Lee Peters, Go South Coast (Damory)
Alison Wood, Stagecoach South Wales

YOUNG MANAGER OF THE YEAR

Christopher Beattie, McGill’s Bus Group
Dan Graham, Go North East
Richard Greaves, Stagecoach Manchester
Amber Olney, Stagecoach East
Reece Stannard, Stagecoach London
Lauren Watson, Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire

 
DON’T MISS OUT – GET YOUR COPY! – click here to subscribe!

The post Stagecoach leads UK Bus Awards shortlist first appeared on Passenger Transport.

​