Shortlisted finalists for the 2022 routeone Awards have been named by event organiser Diversified Communications. It follows extensive work by the judging panel, including a face-to-face meeting of all seven members in Birmingham 11 July.
68 finalists from 15 categories have been drawn from a strong field of entries. Winners will be announced at a black-tie presentation evening at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Wednesday 2 November, marking a return for the industry’s premier recognition ceremony after a three-year break. In the meantime, the judges will move ahead with the final stages of deliberation, which will include a call to interview where applicable.
For the first time, those individuals that are called to interview will be granted the choice of whether to attend in person or virtually when the judges reconvene on Wednesday 7 and Thursday 8 September.
2022 sees the debut of two new categories. The Above and Beyond Award will recognise an individual or a business that has gone the extra mile to support both their organisation and the wider coach and bus industry since 2020. The Outstanding Customer Experience category will reward the individual or team that has put their customers’ experience at the forefront of their thinking and intends to keep it there.
routeone Awards 2022: The list of finalists
Above and Beyond Award, in partnership with Drivetech
- Aaron Lockhart, Nottingham City Transport
- Candice Mason, Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
- Kevin Mayne, Maynes Coaches
- Mubarak Mahmed, First West Yorkshire
- Richard Bamber, Anthony’s Travel.
Manager of the Year, Small/Medium Operator, in partnership with Omnibus
- Candice Mason, Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
- Jim Thorpe, Uno Buses
- Mark Hodgson, Coatham Coaches
- Shane Grindey, Blackpool Transport Services
- Thomas Manship, Grant Palmer.
Manager of the Year, Large Operator, in partnership with Freeway Fleet Systems
- Adam Keen, Adventure Travel
- Chris Speed, First Eastern Counties
- Marc Reddy, First Hampshire, Dorset and Berkshire
- Richard Stevens, Go South West
- Richard Thomas, Edwards Coaches.
Outstanding Customer Experience, in partnership with Arthur Spriggs Busworld
- First South West Explorer
- National Express UK Coach
- Oxford Bus Company
- Stagecoach East.
Engineer of the Year, Small/Medium Operator, in partnership with Pelican Bus & Coach
- Barry Arents, Hunt’s Coaches
- Ian Scott, Stanley Travel
- Lee Ahern, Newport Transport
- Scott Johnson, Johnson Bros Tours and Redfern Travel.
Engineer of the Year, Large Operator, in partnership with Knorr-Bremse
- Laura Hill, Arriva
- Richard Mann, National Express West Midlands
- Simon Carlisle, First West Yorkshire
- Tom Linnecor, National Express UK Coach.
Best Use of Technology – up to 150 vehicles, in partnership with Siemens Financial Services
- Anthony’s Travel
- Blackpool Transport Services
- Go-Coach
- Oxford Bus Company – The Airline
- Stagecoach East – The Busway.
Best Use of Technology – over 150 vehicles, in partnership with Alfatronix
- Abellio Bus
- Go-Ahead London
- Go North East
- National Express UK Coach
- National Express West Midlands
- Nottingham Contactless.
Environment Award, in partnership with Switch Mobility
- First Glasgow
- Metroline
- National Express West Midlands
- Newport Transport
- The Big Lemon.
Rising Star, in partnership with PPG
- Glen Dring, Metroline
- Hayley Russell, FlixBus
- Laura Hill, Arriva
- Lynsey Milligan, Milligan’s Coach Travel
- Morgan Bond, First West of England
- Tom Linnecor, National Express UK Coach.
Small Coach Operator of the Year, in partnership with MAN Truck and Bus
- Anthony’s Travel
- R G Jamieson and Son
- Spencer Graham Coaches.
Medium Coach Operator of the Year, in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Buses and Coaches
- Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
- Maynes Coaches
- Golden Boy Coaches
- Passenger Plus
- Premier Coaches
- Stanley Travel.
Small/Medium Bus Operator of the Year, in partnership with Ticketer
- Blackpool Transport Services
- Ensignbus Company
- Prentice of Haddington
- Uno Buses.
Large Coach Operator of the Year, in partnership with Volvo Bus
- National Express UK Coach
- York Pullman.
Large Bus Operator of the Year, in partnership with Ticketer
- Brighton and Hove
- Diamond Bus North West
- Go North East
- Stagecoach East.
Special Award, in partnership with ESP Utilities Group
- At the judges’ discretion and to be revealed on the presentation evening.
Speaking about publication of the finalists’ list, Event Director Helen Conway says: “After two years of disruption across the sector, we are delighted to host the routeone Awards again in November.
“As ever, this year’s event seeks to reward people and operators for their exemplary achievements at a fantastic in-person presentation evening where we can truly celebrate the best in our industry. It is a huge achievement to be shortlisted, and we wish all our finalists the best of luck.”
Now in its 16th year, the routeone Awards boasts a judging panel of seven senior coach and bus industry figures.
Returning judges are Joan Aitken OBE, former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland; Richard Delahoy, Transport Consultant; Steve Dewhurst, former Managing Director of Volvo Bus; Kevin Middleton, former engineering consultant; and Peter Nash, former Head of Commercial Policy for Stagecoach UK Bus. Joining the panel for their first year are Mark Fowles OBE, former Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport; and Norman Thomas, former Product Engineering Manager for Volvo Bus.
The winners’ identities will remain a closely guarded secret until the presentation evening. Tickets for the highly anticipated event are available to book at the routeone Awards website.
