Awards

We have retained the same procedure as last year, which is as follows:

Votes for all the ‘operator’ categories are invited from everyone on the supplier database. These votes will be used to establish a shortlist for each category. An entry form will be sent and the information supplied used as the basis for judging.
Nominations for the ‘people’ categories will also be invited from their line manager.

Entry forms will be sent to each person nominated and these will be used as the basis for determining a shortlist. The shortlisted people will be interviewed.

Continuing in 2011 are Coach Operator Innovation of the Year, and Bus Operator Innovation of the Year. Minibus Operator of the Year - an operator who specialises in small vehicles - has been retained.

The thresholds within the coach and bus sectors categories recognise the way the markets are structured – e.g. 1-30, 31-100, 101-plus.  As you will see from the above, there is a continued role for a panel of judges made up of experienced industry experts who will decide who are the winners in each sector.

The finalists for 2011 are…

It should be remembered that no decision has been made as to who any of the winners are. The results will follow a final round of judging and will be kept a closely-guarded secret until 5 October when they will announced before 650 guests. Meanwhile the following are confirmed as finalists:

Operator Training Award:
East Yorkshire Motor Services
Go Goodwin
Lucketts Travel
Nottingham City Transport
Ruskin Private Hire
Warrington Borough Transport

Coach Manager of the Year:
Subject to interview

Bus Manager of the Year:
Subject to interview

Coach Engineer of the Year:
Subject to interview

Bus Engineer of the Year:
Subject to interview

Coach Operator Innovation of the Year:
Decision deferred

Bus Operator Innovation of the Year:
Decision deferred

Green Award:
East Yorkshire Motor Services
First UK Bus
Johnsons Bus & Coach Travel
Stagecoach UK Bus
Southern Vectis

Excellence in Minibus Operation:
Decision deferred

Small Coach Operator of the Year, 1-10 vehicles:
R Drury Coaches
Garfield Executive Travel
Green Mountain Travel
Stanley Travel
Timberbus Tours

Small Bus Operator of the Year, 1-30 vehicles:
Coastal Coaches
Go Goodwin
Johnson Bus & Coach Travel
Perryman’s Buses
Safeguard Coaches

Medium Coach Operator of the Year, 11-30 vehicles:
Andrews of Tideswell
Anthony’s Coaches
Golden Boy Coaches
Prentice Coaches
Pulham & Sons (Coaches) Ltd
Stewarts of Mortimer
Whytes Coaches of Newmachar

Medium Bus Operator of the Year, 31-100 vehicles:
Bakerbus
De Courcey Travel
Ensign Bus
Express Motors
Henderson Travel
Norfolk Green
York Pullman

Large Coach Operator of the Year, 31-plus vehicles:
Clarkes of London
Eddie Brown Tours
Excelsior Coaches
Johnsons Bus & Coach Travel
Lucketts Travel
Marshalls Coaches
Minibus Executive Travel
Prospect Coaches
Roberts Coaches

Large Bus Operator of the Year, 100-plus vehicles:
Arriva Yorkshire
East Yorkshire Motor Services
Nottingham City Transport
RAPT Yellow Buses
Warrington Borough Transport
Western Greyhound

Special Award: (4)
Decision deferred

Further searching questions are now being asked of all those on the shortlist and interviews scheduled for candidates in the five ‘people’ categories. Only when this final round of the judging is complete will the judges declare the results, which will remain a closely guarded secret until the gala awards dinner on 5 October at the National Motorcycle Museum. Demand for tickets is certain to ensure that the event, timed to coincide with this year’s coach and bus industry trade show, Coach & Bus Live, will be sold out, so the advice is to make an early booking either by visiting the Route One website or by contacting Helen Conway either by email at helen.conway@expom.co.uk or by phone on 01926 455265.