The finalists’ list for the 2023 routeone Awards has been announced by event organiser Diversified Communications. 71 entrants in 15 categories make it through to the second round of judging ahead of the presentation evening on Wednesday 8 November at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Development of the shortlist of finalists follows significant work by the seven-strong judging panel to whittle down a stellar crop of entries. A second round of decision-making will come on 15 and 16 August in Birmingham, for which finalists in people categories will receive an invite to attend interview.
That meeting will help members of the panel to decide the winners in all 16 categories, with the Special Award to be decided at the judges’ discretion.
The 2023 routeone Awards come after a return in 2022 that drew acclaim from across the industry. Last year’s presentation evening was a sell-out some time in advance, and the 2023 gathering is expected to be the same. It brings the promise of excellent networking, fine food, top-line entertainment – and the opportunity to see which operators and individuals from the following are crowned the best in the business:
Rising Star, in partnership with PPG
- Leigh Brennand, Manchester Airport Group
- Kyran Flynn, Johnsons Coaches
- Gemma Redson, Reading Buses
- Carol Sim, First South and South West England
- Ella Spencer, Greys of Ely.
Manager of the Year, Small/Medium Operator
- Sergio Alves, Bella Road Services
- Charlotte Greenwood, KIS Coaches and Taxis
- Neal Hall, Lakeside Coaches
- Mark Hodgson, Coatham Coaches
- Simon Mohammad, Somerset Passenger Solutions
- Ella Spencer, Greys of Ely.
Manager of the Year, Large Operator, in partnership with Freeway Fleet Systems
- Dave Crowther, First Huddersfield
- Ben Gilligan, East Yorkshire Buses
- Kerry Jukes-Rowe, National Express West Midlands
- Rebecca Rathore, Stagecoach Manchester
- Andrew Wickham, Go South Coast
- Jonathan Ziebart, Ascendal Group.
Outstanding Customer Experience, in partnership with Arthur Spriggs Busworld
- First Bus Exmoor Coaster
- Green Destinations
- Johnsons Coaches, Own Products Department
- McGill’s Buses and FlixBus
- Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
- Metroline, Drivers.
Engineer of the Year, Small/Medium Operator, in partnership with Pelican Bus and Coach
- Joe Hall, Lakeside Coaches
- John Williams, Williams Coaches
- Neil Wilmin, Uno.
Engineer of the Year, Large Operator, in partnership with Knorr-Bremse
- Richard Harrington, Go-Ahead London
- Peter Mambara, First Bus
- Tony Probert, Stagecoach South
- Gurmail Sathi, Stagecoach Manchester
- Matt Smith, National Express West Midlands.
Coach Tourism Programme of the Year
- A & P Travel (Tours)
- Acklams Coaches
- Bakers Dolphin
- Clair’s of Derbyshire
- Johnsons Coaches
- Skills Holidays.
Best Use of Technology – up to 150 vehicles, in partnership with C9 Recruitment
- LibertyBus
- Passenger Plus
- Somerset Passenger Solutions.
Best Use of Technology – over 150 vehicles
- Go-Ahead Group
- Leicester City Council – Leicester Bus Partnership
- National Express West Midlands
- Transdev Blazefield.
Environment Award
- Ember
- First York
- National Express Coventry
- Prospect Coaches.
Small Coach Operator of the year, in partnership with MAN Truck and Bus
- Allenby Coach Hire
- Heathside Travel
- Henshaws Executive Travel
- Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
- Whites St Albans.
Medium Coach Operator of the Year, in partnership with Mercedes-Benz Buses and Coaches
- Bennetts Coaches
- Coatham Coaches
- Golden Boy Coaches
- Greys of Ely
- Passenger Plus
- Pulham’s Coaches.
Small/Medium Bus Operator of the Year, in partnership with Asset Alliance Group
- Bay Travel Coaches
- Grant Palmer
- LibertyBus
- Uno.
Large Coach Operator of the Year, in partnership with Volvo Buses
- Bakers Dolphin
- Johnsons Coaches
- Lakeside Coaches
- Maynes Coaches
- National Express.
Large Bus Operator of the Year, in partnership with C9 Recruitment
- Go South Coast
- Lothian Buses
- Stagecoach Midlands.
Special Award, in partnership with Ticketer
- At the discretion of the judges and to be announced on the presentation evening.
Once again, seven longstanding coach and bus industry experts make up the 2023 routeone Awards judging panel.
Returning for a further year in that chair are Joan Aitken OBE, former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland; Richard Delahoy, Transport Consultant; Mark Fowles OBE, former Managing Director of Nottingham City Transport; and Norman Thomas, former Product Engineering Manager for Volvo Bus.
Joining for 2023 are David Cattermole, former Managing Director of Galloway Travel; Nigel Eggleton, most recently Managing Director of First Midlands and South Yorkshire; and Graham Russell, a highly experienced bus engineer who has held senior roles in the UK, Hong Kong and North America. Read more about the judging panel here.
The winners’ identities will remain a closely-guarded secret until the presentation evening on 8 November. Tickets can be purchased now via the routeone Awards website at the rate of £184 plus VAT for individual seats or £2,208 plus VAT for a table of 12.
In addition, limited award partnership, event partnership and event supporter packages remain available. They represent the ideal opportunity for your business’s brand to be prominent at the coach and bus industry event of the year. Contact Sales Manager Martin Laverton via email to discuss opportunities.
