The UK’s top coach and bus operators were revealed last night (2 October) at the routeone Awards 2019.
Held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, following the first day of the Coach & Bus UK trade show, the annual awards – now in their fifteenth year – recognise the achievements of both operators and individuals working within the coach and bus industry.
Arriva Yorkshire, Passenger Plus, Abellio London, Bluestar, Woods Travel, Greys of Ely, Warrington’s Own Buses, The Kings Ferry, and Oxford Bus Company were among the winning operators at this year’s awards. Individuals from Arriva Derby, Arriva Luton and Arriva Milton Keynes, Arriva Yorkshire, Ensignbus Co, Go North East, and National Express West Midlands took home prizes in the ‘people’ categories.
David Luckett MBE, Chairman of Lucketts Group, a leading family-owned coach operator based in Fareham, Hampshire, received this year’s Special Award – the only category nominated directly by the judges.
The evening kicked off with a performance from actor and comedian Hugh Dennis, who was then joined by co-host Tim Deakin, editor of routeone, to present the Awards to the 2019 winners.
“The routeone Awards have established themselves as the most important annual celebration of the very best in the business,” says Helen Conway, event director at Diversified Communications UK (organiser of the Awards and the Coach & Bus UK show).
“Once again the quality of this year’s Awards finalists was exceptional. Standing out from the crowd is no mean feat in such an innovative, creative and dedicated industry, but our 2019 winners do just that.
“From the big names to the smaller operators, they have been singled out for their continuing commitment to delivering an all-round incredible passenger transport experience. Congratulations again to each of our fantastic winners,” she says.
“But let’s not forget our finalists. They contributed greatly to the event’s success and we look forward to seeing them, and others, at a future routeone Awards presentation evening.”
The 2019 routeone Awards winners are:
Operator Training Award
Winner: Arriva Yorkshire
Manager of the Year, small/medium operator, up to 150 vehicles
Winner: Raj Chander, Arriva Derby
Manager of the Year, large operator, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Linsey Frostick, Arriva Luton and Arriva Milton Keynes
Engineer of the Year, small/medium operator, up to 150 vehicles
Winner: Jason Jackson, Ensignbus Co
Engineer of the Year, large operator, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Colin Barnes, Go North East
Rising Star
Winners: Emily Bainbridge, Arriva Yorkshire; Katie McGrath, National Express West Midlands
Best Use of Technology, up to 150 vehicles
Winner: Passenger Plus
Best Use of Technology, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Abellio London
Environment Award
Winner: Bluestar
Excellence in Minibus Operation
Winner: Passenger Plus
Small Coach Operator, 1 – 15 vehicles
Winner: Woods Travel, Bognor Regis
Medium Coach Operator, 16 – 50 vehicles
Winner: Greys of Ely
Small/Medium Bus Operator, 1 – 150 vehicles
Winner: Warrington’s Own Buses
Large Coach Operator, over 50 vehicles
Winner: The Kings Ferry
Large Bus Operator, over 150 vehicles
Winner: Oxford Bus Company
Special Award
Winner: David Luckett, Lucketts Group
This year’s judging panel was made up of leading industry professionals, including Tony Kennan, former Prodmutual Transport Group Director; Chris Heaps, former Traffic Commissioner; Richard Delahoy, Coach and Bus Training Consultant; Joan Aitken, former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland; Kevin Wood, Key Account Director at Alexander Dennis Limited; Kevin Middleton, Engineering Consultant; Steve Dewhurst, former Volvo Bus Managing Director; and Peter Nash, former Head of Commercial Policy for Stagecoach UK Bus.
For further information, please visit www.routeoneawards.com.
Coach & Bus UK 2019 at NEC Birmingham
The second day of Coach & Bus UK is open from 9.30am to 4pm today in halls 17-19 at the NEC Birmingham.
Highlights include sessions from Sonya Veerasamy (Women in Transport), Martin Harris (Brighton and Hove Buses), Steve Whiteway (S R Whiteway & Son), and Steven Salmon, (Confederation of Passenger Transport UK), plus the Innovation Challenge live finals and results.
For more information, please visit www.coachandbusuk.co.uk.
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Media enquiries to:
Grace Donnelly, PR Executive
t: +44 (0)1273 916523
e: [email protected]
Website: www.divcom.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/DiversifiedUK
Emma-Louise Jones, Head of PR
t: +44 (0)1273 645134
e: [email protected]
Christina Glenister, Group Marketing Manager
t: +44 (0)1733 889690
e: [email protected]
Website: www.routeoneawards.com
Twitter: www.twitter.com/routeoneteam #routeoneAwards
Awards and ticket enquiries to:
Tracey Harrison, routeone Awards
t: +44 (0)1733 405739
e: [email protected]
Partnership and exhibition enquiries to:
Martin Laverton, Group Sales Manager
t: +44 (0)1733 405735
e: [email protected]
routeone Editor:
Tim Deakin
e: [email protected]
Website: www.route-one.net
Event Director:
Helen Conway
e: [email protected]
Website: www.coachandbusuk.co.uk
Twitter: www.twitter.com/coachandbusuk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/coachandbusuk
Notes:
High resolution images are available upon request:
https://routeoneawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/RouteOne_058.jpg
https://routeoneawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/RouteOne_059.jpg
https://routeoneawards.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/ROA-2019-logo.jpg
Diversified Communications UK Ltd (Diversified UK) is a fast-growing trade event organiser and publisher based in Brighton, Peterborough, Nailsworth and London. Diversified UK’s transport & travel portfolio includes Coach & Bus UK; Euro Bus Expo; routeone magazine; routeone Awards; British Tourism & Travel Show; British Coach Tourism Awards; CDC News; and CDC Tourism Yearbook. For more information, visit: www.divcom.co.uk.
Diversified UK is part of Diversified Communications, a leading international media company with a portfolio of face-to-face exhibitions and conferences, online communities and digital and print publications. As producers of these market-leading products Diversified Communications connects, educates and strengthens business communities in over 15 industries including: food and beverage, healthcare, natural and organic, business management and technology. Established in 1949 and headquartered in Portland, Maine, USA with divisions and offices around the world, Diversified Communications remains a privately held, third generation, family-owned business. For more information, visit: www.divcom.com.