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.
