The UK Bus Awards has announced the finalists for the 2025 competition, celebrating the outstanding people, projects and organisations driving excellence across the nation’s bus industry.

From engineers and drivers to managers and marketing teams, the shortlisted entries showcase the creativity, innovation and dedication that keep the UK’s bus network moving – connecting communities, improving sustainability, and delivering exceptional service to passengers every day.

Each year, the UK Bus Awards highlight the best in the business across more than 20 categories, recognising not only operational excellence but also partnership working, environmental leadership and positive change across the industry.

This year’s finalists represent operators, authorities and partners from every corner of the UK, all united by a shared commitment to making bus travel better for everyone.

Independent and impartial judging

As always, the judging process is completely independent and impartial, undertaken by panels of industry experts, passenger representatives and professionals with no vested interests in the outcome. Each entry is carefully assessed against clear criteria, ensuring that every finalist earns their place purely on merit.

Alan Millar, Chairman of the UK Bus Awards, said:

“The quality of entries this year has been truly exceptional. Across the country, we’ve seen examples of innovation, dedication and teamwork that are helping to build a stronger, more sustainable and customer-focused bus industry.

Being shortlisted for a UK Bus Award is a huge achievement in itself – a mark of excellence and recognition from peers across the sector. Congratulations to all our finalists and thank you to everyone who took the time to enter.”

The 2025 UK Bus Awards Shortlist

Bus and the Community Award sponsored by Heathrow

Arriva Merseyside, Liverpool Zoe’s Place
First Bus North & West Yorkshire
Konectbus, Storybus
Lothian, Shelter Scotland
Somerset Passenger Solutions
Stagecoach East Midlands, Ask for Angel Street
Translink, Bangor Clerical Team

Culture Change Award sponsored by Intuitive Talent Solutions

Arriva Derby, Route 38 Rewired
Grant Palmer, Transforming the Duty Office
Go-Ahead, Fastrack
First Bus East of England, Alzheimer’s Awareness
Stagecoach East, Double Decker Diaries
Translink, Changing Gears
West Yorkshire Bus Alliance, Youth Engagement Programme
Women in Bus and Coach, Period Positivity campaign

Engineer of the Year Award

Andrew Warrender, Stagecoach Manchester
Andy Wilson, Go North West
Martin Haldane, Lothian
Graham Livesey, National Express West Midlands
Scot Nicholetti, Whippet
Steve Pither, Stagecoach South Wales
Tony Spencer, First Bus North & West Yorkshire

Environmental Innovation Award sponsored by CitySwift

First Bus, First Charge
Global, Closed-loop de-inking system
Grant Palmer, Right Bus, Right Route
Stagecoach Yorkshire, VEV-IQ
Translink, Greener from the ground up

London Bus Garage of the Year Award sponsored by Transport for London

Croydon, Go-Ahead London
Kangley Bridge, Stagecoach London
Sutton, Go-Ahead London
Tolworth, First Bus London
Westbourne Park, First Bus London

Luke Rees-Pulley Award for Top London Bus Driver sponsored by The Luke Rees-Pulley Charitable Trust and TfL

Katarzyna Boczkaja, First Bus London
Vincent Marcelo, First Bus London
Amal Marzouk, Transport UK London Bus
Musediku Mohammed, Metroline
Catherine Mulumba, Stagecoach London
Shaniya Pinnock-Johnson, Stagecoach London
Emma Samuels, Stagecoach London
Jay Songhurst, First Bus London

Manager of the Year Award

Aleksandra Husejko, Grant Palmer
Andrew Wilson, Translink
Chris Kelk, Stagecoach East Midlands
Gurpreet Sidhu, Metroline
Jack Wright, Stagecoach East Midlands
Jonathon Hunt, First Bus East of England
Sam Teggart, Transport UK London Bus
Toby France, Arriva Midlands

Marketing for Growth Award

Brighton & Hove Buses, Route 1X
LibertyBus
Translink, yLink and Youth-Led Engagement
Edwards Coaches, 100 tickets for 100 years on the 100 service
Milton Keynes Council & partners, MK Loop
Heathrow Airport, Flightline
Reading Buses, Rejuvenating inter-urban routes

Partnership for Excellence: The Peter Huntley Memorial Award

Devon Bus Enhanced Partnership
Hull Bus Alliance
Moonbility and National Express West Midlands – WheelsOnBoard
Portsmouth Buses Partnership
Stagecoach East Midlands, trentbarton, Notts County Council and West Notts College – Student Travel Pass
Thomas Pocklington Trust & partners – Vision Awareness Training for Bus Drivers
West Northamptonshire Enhanced Partnership

Recruitment and Retention Award sponsored by Camilleri Appointments

Brighton & Hove Buses, Level Up
Go South Coast, More Women Like Us
McGill’s Bus Group
Stagecoach South
Stagecoach West
Transdev Blazefield

ROSCO Award for Contribution to Safer Driving

Busway Lion Scheme, Grant Palmer
Perry Avery, First Bus London
Specialist Passenger Solutions
Wayne Gibbins, Arriva London

Top City Operator sponsored by Init

Arriva Leicester
Brighton & Hove Buses
First Bus North & West Yorkshire
Lothian

Top Contracted Operator

Diamond Bus North West
Go North West
LibertyBus
Stagecoach Manchester

Top National Bus Depot

Aldershot, Stagecoach South
Bolton, Go North West
Coleraine, Translink
Dover, Stagecoach South East
Poole, Morebus
Rawmarsh, Stagecoach Yorkshire
Witney, Stagecoach West

Top National Bus Driver: The Chris Moyes Memorial Award

Andrew Bagshaw, Stagecoach Yorkshire
Iain Bonser, Stagecoach East Midlands
Alma Cox, Reading Buses
James Davidson, trentbarton
Leon Davies, Dews Coaches
Mike Foran, Stagecoach West
Zohra Rani, Nottingham City Transport

Top Shire Operator sponsored by Ticketer

Arriva Midlands
East Yorkshire Buses
First Bus York
Metrobus
Reading Buses
Stagecoach South Wales
Uno

Top SME Operator

Blackpool Transport
Grant Palmer
Huyton Travel
Sanders Coaches
Warrington’s Own Buses

Unsung Hero sponsored by Backhouse Jones

John Cowell, First Bus London
Will Dawson, Thames Valley Buses
Tracey-Anne Hancox, Stagecoach East
Bronagh McDonnell, Translink
Daniel Sanderson, Nottingham City Transport
Kevin Wallace, Translink

Young Manager of the Year sponsored by Young Bus Professionals

Onyemaechi Akutu, First Bus London
Stevie Collins, Go North West
Isobel Hedley-Jones, Fastrack
Khadija Janjua, Stagecoach London
Ana Stepic, Arriva Midlands
Henry Young, Stagecoach South Wales

Awards Presentation Ceremony

The winners of the 2025 UK Bus Awards will be revealed at the Presentation Ceremony, which will be held at Troxy, London on Tuesday 25 November 2025. The event will bring together industry leaders and colleagues from across the country for a day of celebration, networking and recognition.

More information about the ceremony, including how to book tickets, can be found at www.ukbusawards.org.uk.

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

• The UK Bus Awards celebrate and recognise the achievements of the UK bus industry, promoting excellence and innovation in public transport. The awards highlight the contributions of individuals and organisations committed to delivering outstanding bus services nationwide.
• For more information, visit www.ukbusawards.org.uk.
• The awards are independently judged by expert panels, ensuring integrity and transparency.
• The UK Bus Awards is committed to embracing and promoting innovation, inclusion and diversity within the bus industry.

26 November 2024

Over 600 dedicated professionals gathered today at the iconic Troxy venue in London to celebrate the 28th annual UK Bus Awards. This not-for-profit initiative, a cornerstone of excellence in the bus sector, brought the industry together to honour the remarkable achievements that keep communities connected and moving around the UK.

The ethos of the UK Bus Awards is recognising, rewarding, and inspiring. It celebrates the best of the sector – from innovative engineering to community-focused campaigns, from outstanding operators to the unsung heroes on the frontline who deliver bus services daily.

A key element of the awards’ credibility remains its rigorous and independent judging process. This includes comprehensive mystery travelling audits, where anonymous customers evaluate service quality against a detailed checklist of over 30 criteria. This impartial approach ensures that every award reflects genuine excellence, integrity, and dedication to the customer experience.

Commenting on this year’s winners, Alan Millar, Chair of the UK Bus Awards, said:

“This event is a testament to the passion, dedication, and ingenuity of those in the bus industry. It’s not just about buses; it’s about people, connection, and progress. Every winner and finalist inspires the wider industry to continue striving for excellence.”

A Day of Triumphs

Among the day’s highlights was Nottingham City Transport, which was crowned the Gold Winner in the tightly contested UK Bus Operator of the Year category. After winning Gold in the Top City Operator category, they went on to beat Sanders Coaches (Top Independent Operator) and Reading Buses (Top Shire Operator) in the prestigious Grand Prix-style competition to become Britain’s best bus operator.

But individual achievements also shone brightly:

• Safiyyah Saiyed took home Manager of the Year, for showcasing her visionary leadership as Operations Manager at RATP Dev Transit London’s Hounslow Garage and its sister site at Hounslow Heath.
• Another RATP Dev Transit London colleague, Donnette Miller, was celebrated as a Top London Bus Driver. Judges praised her for her encyclopaedic knowledge of the public transport network and for her often helping customers find the right bus stop and bus to their ultimate destination.
• The Unsung Hero award went to Filica Patranoiu for his incredible behind-the-scenes contributions as the Operations Supervisor for Arriva’s Stamford Hill Garage in London.
• Ulsterbus driver Ivan Cochrane earned the title of Top National Bus Driver for his exemplary service and professionalism. His calm and approachable manner has led him to become a Driver Mentor, and he always goes above and beyond to ensure that a new driver is competent and confident and supported in their new role

A Spotlight on Innovation and Community

This year’s awards also highlighted the dynamic and essential role of buses in shaping communities and tackling challenges:

• First West of England’s won Gold in Bus and the Community for a campaign last year that marked the 60th anniversary of the Bristol Bus Boycott, which began after a prospective bus driver, Guy Bailey, was rejected for the job because of the colour of his skin. First West of England joined forces with community, religious, political and other organisations to mark the significant anniversary and the bus operator also commissioned a specially wrapped bus that has since travelled fifty thousand miles around the city.
• Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus earned Gold in the Culture Change category for overhauling their training programmes and replacing generic PowerPoint presentations with engaging and memorable videos that aim to give training a fresh and different approach.
• Translink won Gold in the Environmental Innovation category for its Augmented Engineer initiative, which uses augmented reality technology to provide remote expert assistance to engineers working on its new fleet of electric buses.

Looking Ahead

The UK Bus Awards have evolved alongside the industry, steadfastly committed to recognising the innovation, integrity, and progress that drive the bus industry forward.

As Alan Millar remarked:

“These awards remind us why buses matter. They’re about connection – connecting people to jobs, education, and each other. It’s inspiring to see how the industry continues to do just that while continuing to innovate and excel. Congratulations to all of our very worthy 2024 winners and finalists.”

As the curtains close on another inspiring year, the UK Bus Awards will continue its mission to celebrate the people, projects, and organisations that shape the future of public transport.

Here’s to another year of excellence on the road!

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

• A full gallery of photos from this year’s event will be available at the UK Bus Awards website at www.ukbusawards.org.uk .
• The UK Bus Awards celebrate and recognise the achievements of the UK bus industry, promoting excellence and innovation in public transport. The awards highlight the contributions of individuals and organisations committed to delivering outstanding bus services nationwide.
• For more information, visit www.ukbusawards.org.uk.
• The awards are independently judged by expert panels, ensuring integrity and transparency.
• The UK Bus Awards is committed to embracing and promoting innovation, inclusion and diversity within the bus industry.

28 November 2023

The prestigious UK Bus Awards 2023 marked a triumphant return to recognising, rewarding and inspiring innovation in the bus industry today with Go South Coast crowned UK Bus Operator of the Year for the third time, having previously secured the title in 2017 and 2018.

The company also clinched the Top Shire Operator category before fending off formidable contenders Sanders Coaches and Brighton & Hove Buses to win the top gong in the Grand-Prix competition that pits the winners of the Top City, Top Shire and Top Independent Operator Awards against one another.

Adding to the prestigious occasion, Guy Opperman MP, the UK Government Minister responsible for buses and coaches in England, made one of his first appearances in his new role. He announced Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire as the Gold Award winner in the Buses for Leisure category, highlighting the importance of post-pandemic leisure travel to the industry.

The event once again also showcased outstanding individuals in the industry, with Mariusz Losinski from Harrogate-based bus operator Transdev Blazefield securing the Gold Award in the Top National Bus Driver: The Chris Moyes Memorial Award category. Meanwhile, Marina Rudko received the Gold Award in the Luke Rees-Pulley Award for Top London Bus Driver category and the esteemed Gold Award for a Lifetime Contribution to the Bus Industry was bestowed upon Ticketer co-founder John Clarfelt.

Dawn Murphy of Stagecoach Yorkshire was honoured as Manager of the Year. In this category Transdev Blazefield’s Alan Isherwood took the silver with the bronze award bagged by Mark Mageean from Stagecoach Manchester.

Richard Greaves from Stagecoach Manchester was named Young Manager of the Year ahead of silver award winner Lauren Watson from Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire. The bronze in that category went to Go North East’s Dan Graham.

Lee Peters from Go South Coast emerged as a hero in the Unsung Heroes category, showcasing the often-overlooked contributions that make a significant impact and Stagecoach Manchester’s Middleton depot secured the Gold Award in the Top National Bus Depot category. Meanwhile, Stagecoach London’s Lea Interchange depot was named London Bus Garage of the Year.

The awards ceremony was a celebration of resilience, creativity, and dedication, with Alan Millar, Chair of the UK Bus Awards, expressing his admiration for this year’s cohort of winners.

He said: “In a year that has tested the resilience of our industry, the UK Bus Awards 2023 stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment and brilliance of those who keep the wheels of the bus industry turning. The dedication, innovation, and community spirit reaffirm the pivotal role of the bus in connecting people and communities. From seasoned players to new entrants, we’ve celebrated their successes, innovations, and contributions. Congratulations to all involved!”

The event, held at Troxy London, was a testament to the industry’s commitment to delivering a first-class experience for bus passengers across the UK.

ENDS.

Notes to Editors:

• Images from the ceremony will be available to download from the UK Bus Awards website at www.ukbusawards.org.uk.
• The winner of the UK Bus Operator of the Year was selected from the highest-scoring contestants of the Top City Operator, Top Independent Operator and Top Shire Operator Awards. Our experienced team of independent mystery travellers make anonymous visits to each of these operators and assess service delivery on the ground against a checklist of more than 30 items. These results are then collated and assessed to identify the overall winner.
• The UK Bus Awards has been recognising, rewarding and inspiring since 1996.
• Lifetime Contribution to the Bus Industry Award recognises a significant and sustained contribution to the success of the industry by an individual who has consistently gone beyond the call of normal duty to improve and promote the bus industry for its users or the wider community over a period of years. This award is made by the UKBA Management Committee.
• The awards are independently judged by expert panels, ensuring integrity and transparency.
• The UK Bus Awards is committed to embracing and promoting innovation, inclusion and diversity within the bus industry.

22 June 2023

As the deadline for entries in the 2023 competition approaches, Chris Cheek reflects on their purpose and continued importance in the 2020s.

The entries for the 2023 competition for the UK Bus Awards close on 28th July, so firing the starting gun on the process of registering, judging and in many cases mystery shopping the entries in the 27th annual competition. The winners will be announced on 28th November at Troxy, the East London venue that has been home to the awards since 2017.

After the traumatic events of the last three years, it is right for people to wonder whether celebration is appropriate, and whether as an industry we can afford the time and effort to organize such an event. Not surprisingly, as a co-founder of the scheme back in 1996, my answer would be an unequivocal “yes”.

Like now, the mid 1990s were a time of rapid evolution for the bus industry – including aspects that still have powerful echoes today. Then, a decade on from the upheaval of deregulation and privatisation, change was still in the air: ownership was changing rapidly and there was much talk of new legislation. An exhausted Tory government was facing defeat in an upcoming general election, and there were promises of re-regulation and re-nationalisation led by Labour’s shadow Transport Secretary.

Operators were increasing investment levels, and we stood at the dawn of the low-floor bus revolution. Led by pioneers such as Trent Barton, interest was growing in the power of route branding, and in the transformation that could be achieved by focusing on improving customer service standards.

Locally, operators and local authorities were recognising the need to work together to achieve desired outcomes in bus policy – so giving birth to the first Quality Bus Partnerships.

In the mid-1990s, then, the industry was about developing partnerships, future regulatory change and revolutionising the way we delivered the product. Sound familiar?

Back then, all the team helping to launch the awards were agreed: there was a positive story to be told about the efforts by bus companies and local authorities to improve bus service provision. That story could help to change perceptions of the industry, but it was not being told.

All these years later, we’re still fighting the same uphill battle to change public perceptions, something that is particularly difficult in the wake of the Government’s messaging during Covid and continuing stories about bus cuts and staff shortages. The annual awards scheme can help.

It’s impartially judged and mystery travelled, and can introduce words and concepts not normally associated with buses to the public discussion. Words like quality, winning, excellence, getting gold, and so forth. Being judged to be one of if not the best in the country offers a powerful boost to local brand reputations, to local morale amongst frontline staff and management and ultimately, to perceptions of local buses. I can think of no other way of achieving that so simply and effectively.

So the UK Bus Awards (known as the Bus Industry Awards until 2004) were born. In 1996, six awards were presented before an audience of 200 in the City of London – growing and evolving over the years since. In 2022, we presented over 20 awards to before an audience of over 600.

The Award scheme was set up as an industry-wide initiative with three objectives – which we’ve stuck to ever since:

• to provide an opportunity for positive coverage of bus transport in the media (to recognise)
• to incentivise bus companies, local authorities and industry suppliers to adopt best practice (to reward)
• to provide a forum in which best practice would receive wider coverage within the industry (to inspire).

In that first year, we also laid down several key principles, which remain vital to our mission today:

• Independent ownership by a not-for-profit organisation
• Robust and independent judging by experts in their field
• Mystery shopping visits where appropriate to check service delivery on the ground
• Wide and continuous consultation with industry stakeholders to ensure continued development and relevance.
• Extensive PR activities to support and promote the award winners.

In 2023, the industry has an enormous agenda ahead of it – continued recovery from Covid, the transition to Zero Emission Buses, and – perhaps biggest of all – helping to meet the modal shift targets set by the Carbon Budgets to deliver Net Zero.

It’s not going to be easy – but then it never has been. And at the heart of it, the old challenges about changing public perception of buses remain. We believe that our inclusive business model and our proven track record of promoting victory, excellence and gold medal performance means that UK Bus Awards is still uniquely well placed to make a contribution to the battles that lie ahead.

In short, for all sorts of reasons, “Flying the Flag of Excellence in the UK Bus Industry” is as important today as it ever has been.