Nottingham City Transport (NCT) Managing Director David Astill (pictured, right) was presented with the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE) Lifetime Achievement Award at the Quality Bus Conference in Manchester in late September.
The award recognises an individual’s exceptional contribution to the bus sector in England. Mr Astill received it from Leon Daniels (pictured, left) in his capacity as President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
Mr Astill has a life-long passion for buses, and he joined the industry immediately after graduating from the University of Westminster in the 1980s.
Having held various positions within First Bus, he joined NCT as Commercial Manager in 2007. He was elevated to Commercial and Operations Director in 2018 and Managing Director in 2021 following the retirement of Mark Fowles. He recently marked 41 years of working in the bus sector.
Mr Astill is also highly active within ALBUM, where he serves as a board member, and he will oversee NCT’s organisation of the Association’s 2025 conference. He is also regional Chair of the Confederation of Passenger Transport and sits on its Bus Commission.
Nottingham Bus Partnership Independent Chair Jon Parker – who sits on the Department for Transport BCoE Advisory Board – nominated Mr Astill, noting that he is “an exceptional leader and ambassador for bus excellence in Nottingham.”
Adds Mr Parker: “When I considered nominating David for the award, I reached out to many of the Nottingham bus stakeholders who were unanimous in their support for his nomination, which is testament to the highest regard that the bus industry has for David. He is a very worthy winner.”
Speaking about the award, Mr Astill says: “Having recently accumulated 41 years since I first started working on the buses, I was surprised but delighted to be recognised with this Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Of course, I have not achieved anything in my career without the support and hard work of those I have worked with in this wonderful industry and for that I am so grateful.
“The fact that I was nominated for this award by the board of the Greater Nottingham Enhanced Bus Partnership is testament to the esteem in which the company I am fortunate and proud to lead, Nottingham City Transport, is held by the local community and our key stakeholders.”
