Over 80 shortlisted finalists for the 2024 routeone Awards have been named ahead of the glittering presentation evening on Wednesday 13 November at The Vox at Resorts World Birmingham.
Finalists are in 15 categories, with the winner of the 16th – the Special Award, recognising a lifetime’s contribution to the industry – to be decided solely at the judges’ discretion. The shortlist captures operators and people from across the industry, extending from small coach operators to the members of the largest bus groups.
All have been shortlisted on the merit of their submissions, with the judging panel leveraging its seven members’ unrivalled experience in and knowledge of the industry. While the judges have already met, they will do so again during the first week of September to hold interviews in people categories and then settle on all 16 winners.
At a new venue of The Vox at Resorts World Birmingham for 2024, the routeone Awards presentation evening is expected to welcome over 800 industry members to celebrate the winners and finalists.
It will sit alongside the Euro Bus Expo trade show, held at the adjacent NEC Birmingham between 12 and 14 November, and when the two events are combined the industry sees the unquestionable highlight of its year.
Against a buoyant field of entries sits stakeholder support for the 2024 routeone Awards that has once again been strong. Many businesses on the supply side of the sector were again quick to pledge their backing.
Organiser Diversified Communications has thanked those organisations and acknowledged that with neither them nor the judging panel, the Awards could not happen. The shortlisted finalists for 2024 are:
Rising Star, partnered by PPG
- Anna Courtier, First Bus North and West Yorkshire
- Hayden Mustafa, Stagecoach East
- Jodie Sweeney, First Bus East of England
- Mel McDougall, Stagecoach South
- Reece Backman, Ensignbus
- Rebecca Mayne, Maynes Coaches
- Steven Parker, Vectare
- Tom Berry, Mobico Group.
Manager of the Year, small/medium operator (up to 150 vehicles), partnered by IntSol Recruitment
- Danny Henshaw, Henshaw’s Executive Travel
- Ella Spencer, Greys
- Kevin Hart, LibertyBus
- Martin Marsh, Stagecoach East, Bedford Depot
- Nathan Hadley, Prospect Coaches.
Manager of the Year, large operator (over 150 vehicles), partnered by Freeway Fleet Systems
- Charlton Thornhill, Stagecoach East
- Gemma Redson, Reading Buses
- Jonathon Hunt, First Bus East of England
- Leanne Irving, Go North East
- Richard Thomas, Edwards Coaches.
Outstanding Customer Experience, partnered by Arthur Spriggs Busworld Tewkesbury
- A & P Travel (Tours)
- Edwards Coaches
- Green Destinations
- LibertyBus
- Maynes Coaches
- Metroline Driver: Mirela Mandzhukova.
Engineer of the Year, small operator (up to 150 vehicles), partnered by Pelican Bus and Coach
- Derek Catchpole, Passenger Plus
- John Williams, Williams Coaches
- Mark Tomlinson, Roberts Travel Group
- Peter Collins, Stagecoach East, Peterborough Depot
- Stewart Fletcher, Dartline Coaches.
Engineer of the Year, large operator (over 150 vehicles), partnered by Knorr-Bremse Systems for Commercial Vehicles
- Barry Radcliffe, First Bus East of England
- Jack Abbott, Stagecoach Yorkshire
- Peter Manning, First Bus
- Philip Cummins, Arriva UK Bus
- Tom Ranson, Reading Buses.
Coach Tourism Programme of the Year, partnered by Bonded Coach Holidays
- Acklams Coaches
- Bakers Dolphin
- Edwards Coaches
- Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
- Motts Leisure and Crusader Holidays
- Parrys International
- Skills Holidays
- Tally Ho Coaches.
Best Use of Technology – Coach, partnered by JMW Solicitors LLP
- Maynes Coaches
- OMC Global
- Roberts Travel Group.
Best Use of Technology – Bus, partnered by Backhouse Jones
- Blackpool Transport Services
- Buses.gg
- National Express
- Somerset Passenger Solutions.
Environment Award, partnered by Zenobē
- First Bus North and West Yorkshire
- Newport Transport – FlixBus
- Stagecoach East
- Stagecoach London
- Stagecoach South Wales
- Transdev Blazefield.
Small Coach Operator of the Year (up to 15 coaches), partnered by MAN Truck and Bus UK
- A & P Travel (Tours)
- Heathside Travel
- Henshaw’s Executive Travel
- Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
- Parrys International
- Woods Travel of Bognor Regis.
Medium Coach Operator of the Year (16-40 coaches), partnered by Daimler Buses UK
- Bennetts Coaches
- Roberts Travel Group
- Wheelers Travel
- Whites St Albans.
Small/Medium Bus Operator of the Year (up to 150 buses), partnered by Asset Alliance Group
- DRM Bus
- Diamond Bus North West
- Grant Palmer
- LibertyBus
- Stagecoach East, Peterborough Depot.
Large Coach Operator of the Year (over 40 coaches), partnered by Volvo Bus UK and Ireland
- Alfa Coaches
- Bakers Dolphin
- Edwards Coaches
- Skills Motor Coaches.
Large Bus Operator of the Year (over 150 buses), partnered by C9 Recruitment
- Arriva Merseyside
- Brighton and Hove Buses and Metrobus
- Go-Ahead London
- Go South Coast
- Nottingham City Transport
- Reading Buses
- Stagecoach East.
Special Award, partnered by Ticketer
- To be announced on the night at the judges’ discretion.
Speaking about the 2024 finalists reveal, Event Director Helen Conway says: “The routeone Awards stand as a beacon of recognition in the coach and bus industry. Each year, the calibre of entrants surpasses expectations, reflecting the dynamic nature of the industry.
“The finalists announced today represent the very best, and it is an honour to recognise their achievements.”
The judging panel remains the same for 2024 as 2023. More details of each judge can be read here; the line-up is made up of:
- Joan Aitken OBE, former Traffic Commissioner for Scotland
- David Cattermole, former Galloway Travel Managing Director
- Richard Delahoy, Transport Consultant
- Nigel Eggleton, former First Bus Midlands and South Yorkshire Managing Director
- Mark Fowles, former Nottingham City Transport Managing Director
- Graham Russell, former holder of multiple director-level posts with First Bus and FirstGroup
- Norman Thomas, former Product Engineering Manager, Volvo Bus UK and Ireland.
Bookings for tickets and tables for the black-tie presentation evening are now open via the routeone Awards website. Each ticket is £195 plus VAT and includes a networking drinks reception, a three-course dinner with wine, and entertainment.
