{"id":5267,"date":"2025-11-25T16:30:32","date_gmt":"2025-11-25T16:30:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ukbusawards.org.uk\/new\/?p=5267"},"modified":"2025-11-28T11:54:58","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T11:54:58","slug":"celebrating-excellence-winners-announced-for-the-2025-uk-bus-awards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ukbusawards.org.uk\/new\/celebrating-excellence-winners-announced-for-the-2025-uk-bus-awards\/","title":{"rendered":"CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE: WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR THE 2025 UK BUS AWARDS"},"content":{"rendered":"

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25 November 2025<\/p>\n

Seven hundred industry professionals came together today at London\u2019s iconic Troxy to celebrate the 29th annual UK Bus Awards – the national showcase for excellence, innovation, and leadership across the bus sector. As a proudly not-for-profit independent initiative, the awards once again highlighted the standout people, partnerships and projects that keep communities connected and push the industry forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The ethos of the UK Bus Awards remains the same: recognise, reward and inspire. From engineering excellence and environmental breakthroughs to community initiatives and frontline heroes, the 2025 winners demonstrate the energy, creativity and passion that power the UK bus industry every day.<\/p>\n

Integrity and fairness continue to be at the heart of the awards. Each category is assessed through a rigorous, fully independent judging process, bringing together expert panels, detailed submission assessments, and, in key operational categories, mystery travelling audits based on more than 30 customer-focused criteria. This impartial approach ensures that every award reflects genuine performance, innovation, and commitment to excellence.<\/p>\n

Alan Millar, Chairman of the UK Bus Awards, said:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cEvery year, the UK Bus Awards remind us that this industry is built on people – people with skill, ability and a determination to make a difference. Our 2025 winners and finalists showcase the power of innovation, collaboration and community. Their achievements inspire the whole sector, and we\u2019re proud to celebrate them.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

A day of standout achievements<\/strong><\/p>\n

The top honour of the day, UK Bus Operator of the Year, was awarded to Blackpool Transport, who impressed judges with their consistently high standards, customer focus and operational excellence. Their win came after securing Gold in the Top SME Operator category, before triumphing against Diamond Bus North West (Top Contracted Operator), Reading Buses (Top Shire Operator) and Lothian (Top City Operator) in the final head-to-head.<\/p>\n

Other major accolades offered a snapshot of the diverse strengths of the sector.<\/p>\n

Championing communities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Bangor Clerical Team (Translink) took Gold in Bus and the Community, recognised for their remarkable commitment to local support, compassion and community connection.<\/p>\n

Culture change at its best<\/strong><\/p>\n

Grant Palmer\u2019s \u201cTransforming the Duty Office\u201d won Gold for Culture Change, marking a powerful demonstration of organisational improvement, staff empowerment and operational transformation.<\/p>\n

Celebrating engineering talent<\/strong><\/p>\n

The intensely contested Engineer of the Year title went to Martin Haldane (Lothian), praised for technical excellence, leadership and an unwavering commitment to keeping fleets safe and reliable.<\/p>\n

Driving sustainability forward<\/strong><\/p>\n

In Environmental Innovation, Global claimed Gold for their Closed-loop de-inking system\u2014a breakthrough approach reducing waste and environmental impact across the print and advertising cycle.<\/p>\n

Honouring a lifetime contribution<\/strong><\/p>\n

A major moment of the ceremony was the presentation of the Lifetime Contribution to the Bus Industry Award to Martin Dean (The Go-Ahead Group), recognising a career defined by leadership, advocacy and service to the industry.<\/p>\n

Celebrating those behind the wheel<\/strong><\/p>\n

Receiving the Top National Bus Driver, Chris Moyes Memorial Award, was Zohra Rani (Nottingham City Transport), honoured for her exceptional professionalism, customer care and leadership as a role model for drivers across the UK.<\/p>\n

In London, Katarzyna Boczkaja (First Bus London) secured Gold in the Luke Rees-Pulley Award for Top London Bus Driver, praised for her outstanding service to passengers and her exemplary safety record.<\/p>\n

Leaders of today and tomorrow<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Manager of the Year Gold Award went to Jonathon Hunt (First Bus East of England), recognised for his strategic leadership, innovation and a positive impact on people and performance.<\/p>\n

Rising talent shone in the Young Manager of the Year category, where Isobel Hedley-Jones (Fastrack) was awarded Gold for her impressive vision, capability and early-career leadership.<\/p>\n

Partnerships, innovation and operational excellence<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year also demonstrated the importance of collaborative working and operational improvement:<\/p>\n