Go South Coast has been named UK Bus Operator of the Year for the third time.

The Go-Ahead-owned operation took the accolade at the UK Bus Awards 2023 last night at the Troxy in London. It previously secured the title in 2017 and 2018.

The company also clinched the Top Shire Operator category before fending off formidable contenders Sanders Coaches and Brighton & Hove Buses to win the top gong in the Grand-Prix competition that pits the winners of the Top City, Top Shire and Top Independent Operator Awards against one another.

Adding to the prestigious occasion, Guy Opperman MP, the UK Government Minister responsible for buses and coaches in England, made one of his first appearances in his new role. He announced Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire as the Gold Award winner in the Buses for Leisure category, highlighting the importance of post-pandemic leisure travel to the industry.

Mariusz Losinski from Harrogate-based Transdev Blazefield secured the Gold Award in the Top National Bus Driver: The Chris Moyes Memorial Award category. Meanwhile, Marina Rudko received the Gold Award in the Luke Rees-Pulley Award for Top London Bus Driver category and the Gold Award for a Lifetime Contribution to the Bus Industry went to Ticketer co-founder John Clarfelt.

Dawn Murphy of Stagecoach Yorkshire was honoured as Manager of the Year. In this category Transdev Blazefield’s Alan Isherwood took the silver with the bronze award taken by Mark Mageean from Stagecoach Manchester.

Richard Greaves from Stagecoach Manchester was named Young Manager of the Year ahead of silver award winner Lauren Watson from Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire. The bronze in that category went to Go North East’s Dan Graham.

Lee Peters from Go South Coast emerged as a hero in the Unsung Heroes category, showcasing the often-overlooked contributions that make a significant impact and Stagecoach Manchester’s Middleton depot secured the Gold Award in the Top National Bus Depot category. Meanwhile, Stagecoach London’s Lea Interchange depot was named London Bus Garage of the Year.

“In a year that has tested the resilience of our industry, the UK Bus Awards 2023 stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment and brilliance of those who keep the wheels of the bus industry turning” – Alan Millar, Chair of the UK Bus Awards

Alan Millar, Chair of the UK Bus Awards, said: “In a year that has tested the resilience of our industry, the UK Bus Awards 2023 stands as a testament to the unwavering commitment and brilliance of those who keep the wheels of the bus industry turning. The dedication, innovation, and community spirit reaffirm the pivotal role of the bus in connecting people and communities. From seasoned players to new entrants, we’ve celebrated their successes, innovations, and contributions. Congratulations to all involved!”

The UK Bus Awards 2023 Winners

 

1) Bus and the Community sponsored by Heathrow

Winner, Gold Award: Behind the Bus, Stagecoach East

Winner, Silver Award: Care Experienced Travel, Arriva NE, Go NE Nexus and Stagecoach NE

Winner, Bronze Award: OurBus Bartons

Finalist: Gloucestershire Nightstop, Stagecoach West

Finalist: LibertyBus, Tower Transit

Finalist: Youth Engagement Programme, West Yorkshire Bus Alliance

2) Buses for Leisure

Winner, Gold Award: Lake District services, Stagecoach Cumbria and North Lancashire

Winner, Silver Award: Sherpa’r Wyddfa, Transport for Wales

Winner, Bronze Award: London Line 702 & Flightline 703, Reading Buses

Finalist: Breezers, Go South Coast

Finalist: Royal Highland Show, Lothian Buses

Finalist: X46/X47, Stagecoach Midlands

3) Culture Change sponsored by Intuitive Talent Solutions

Winner, Gold Award: Dallam Lane Depot, Warrington’s Own Buses

Winner, Silver Award: Garage Life Programme, RATP Dev Transit London

Winner, Bronze Award: Fatigue, Stagecoach London

Highly Commended: Punctuality Sprint, Arriva East and South Midlands

Finalist: Creating Connections, Stagecoach Services

Finalist: Employee Networks, Stagecoach

Finalist: High Wycombe Depot, Arriva East and South Midlands

Finalist: Keep Our People Safe, Stagecoach East

Finalist: Women’s Committee, Stagecoach London

4) Engineer of the Year sponsored by IRTE

Winner, Gold Award: Colin Smith, McGill’s

Winner, Silver Award: Andrew Fisher, Stagecoach East

Winner, Bronze Award: Richard Mason, Stagecoach Midlands

Highly Commended: Oliver Thong, Stagecoach London

Finalist: Jason Hodgson, RATP Dev Transit London

Finalist: Neil Wilmin, Uno

5) Enriching the Customer Experience sponsored by Tracsis

Winner, Gold Award: De-stressing the Bus, Transdev Blazefield

Winner, Silver Award: Improving route 442, Carlone

Winner, Bronze Award: X55, Sanders Coaches

Finalist: Accessibility, Lothian Buses

Finalist: Going digital, Stagecoach

Finalist: Simplifying Tickets, Stagecoach Midlands

Finalist: TrawsCymru T1, Transport for Wales

6) Environmental Innovation sponsored by CitySwift

Winner, Gold Award: Electric Transportation as a Service, National Express West Midlands and Zenobe

Winner, Silver Award: Journey to net zero, McGill’s Bus Group

Winner, Bronze Award: Hybus, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority

Finalist: Electrification of Aberdeen and Scotstoun depots, First Bus Scotland

Finalist: Electric drivetrain upgrade and solar panels, First York

Finalist: Greener depots, Stagecoach London

Finalist: Service 1, Stagecoach West Scotland

7) Going for Growth sponsored by Intsol Recruitment

Winner, Gold Award: FlixBus UK

Winner, Silver Award: Bluestar, Go South Coast

Winner, Bronze Award: 59, Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire

Highly Commended: Sherpa’r Wyddfa, Transport for Wales

Finalist: 100% Club, Stagecoach East

Finalist: Hi, Grant Palmer

Finalist: 36, Transdev Blazefield

8) Lifetime Contribution to the Bus Industry sponsored by Transport Benevolent Fund

Winner, Gold Award: John Clarfelt

9) London Bus Garage of the Year sponsored by Transport for London

Winner, Gold Award: Lea Interchange, Stagecoach London

Winner, Silver Award: Croydon, Arriva London

Winner, Bronze Award: Barking, Stagecoach London

Finalist: Sutton, Go-Ahead London

Finalist: Waterloo, Go-Ahead London

Finalist: Willesden Junction, Metroline

10) Luke Rees-Pulley Award for Top London Bus Driver sponsored by The Luke Rees-Pulley Charitable Trust and TfL

Winner, Gold Award: Marina Rudko, RATP Dev Transit London

Winner, Silver Award: Andy Beckers, Stagecoach London

Winner, Bronze Award: Thomas Brade, Arriva London

Finalist: Carmen Brigo, RATP Dev Transit London

Finalist: Karl Diamond, Go-Ahead London

Finalist: Suryakant Tank, Metroline

Finalist: Heidi Williams, RATP Dev Transit London

Finalist: Christopher Wilson, Go-Ahead London

11) Manager of the Year sponsored by Kemp Recruitment

Winner, Gold Award: Dawn Murphy, Stagecoach Yorkshire

Winner, Silver Award: Alan Isherwood, Transdev Blazefield

Winner, Bronze Award: Mark Mageean, Stagecoach Manchester

Finalist: Katie Cringle, Warrington’s Own Buses

Finalist: Toby France, Arriva South and East Midlands

Finalist: Joe Gilbey, Stagecoach London

Finalist: Karishma Patel, Metroline

Finalist: Sarah Taylor, Lothian Buses

12) Marketing Campaign of the Year sponsored by Euro Bus Expo 2024

Winner, Gold Award: Free to Explore, First Bus Scotland

Winner, Silver Award: Get ‘round for a pound, North East Enhanced Partnership

Winner, Bronze Award: YOU are not a bus driver, Go North East

Highly Commended: CAV Forth, Stagecoach Group

Finalist: Believe in Bus, Cornwall Council

Finalist: Encourage modal shift, National Express West Midlands

Finalist: Get Your Freedom – Get Your Free Bus Pass, Transdev Blazefield

Finalist: Student Campaign, Nottingham City Transport

Finalist: Your Ticket to Freedom, Stagecoach West Scotland

13) Partnership for Excellence: The Peter Huntley Memorial Award sponsored by Confederation of Passenger Transport

Winner, Gold Award: 2022 Great North Run, Arriva NE, Go NE, Nexus and Stagecoach NE

Winner, Silver Award: Youth Engagement Programme, West Yorkshire Bus Alliance

Winner, Bronze Award: Leicester Buses Enhanced Partnership, Leicester City Council with Arriva, Centrebus, First Bus, Kinchbus, Roberts Travel and Stagecoach

Highly Commended: Operation Unicorn, Lothian Buses

Finalist: 75% discount, Stagecoach East Scotland and the University of St Andrews

Finalist: Bikes on Buses, Scottish Citylink and Stagecoach with HITRANS

Finalist: Parklife festival transport, Stagecoach Manchester

14) Recruitment and Retention

Winner, Gold Award: Recruit Retain, Nottingham City Transport

Winner, Silver Award: YOU are not a bus driver, Go North East

Winner, Bronze Award: Driver recruitment, Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus

Highly Commended: Supporting refugees, Reading Buses

Finalist: Driver recruitment, Stagecoach East Midlands

Finalist: Driver simulator, National Express West Midlands

15) Top City Operator sponsored by INIT

Winner, Gold Award: Brighton & Hove Buses

Winner, Silver Award: Lothian Buses

Winner, Bronze Award: Nottingham City Transport

Finalist: Translink

16) Top Express Service sponsored by Coach & Bus Week

Winner, Gold Award: AIR, Scottish Citylink

Winner, Silver Award: Clyde Flyer 901/906, McGill’s

Winner, Bronze Award: X6 Leicester-Coventry, Arriva East and South Midlands

Finalist: Manchester-Newcastle, FlixBus

17) Top Independent Operator sponsored by Buses

Winner, Gold Award: Sanders Coaches

Winner, Silver Award: Grant Palmer

Finalist: Uno

18) Top National Bus Depot sponsored by Volvo

Winner, Gold Award: Middleton, Stagecoach Manchester

Winner, Silver Award: Chester, Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire

Winner, Bronze Award: Milewater Service Centre, Translink

Finalist: Northampton, Stagecoach Midlands

Finalist: Porth, Stagecoach South Wales

19) Top National Bus Driver: The Chris Moyes Memorial Award sponsored by Passenger Transport

Winner, Gold Award: Mariusz Losinski, Transdev Blazefield

Winner, Silver Award: Tika Gurung, Nottingham City Transport

Winner, Bronze Award: Freddie Dempsey, trentbarton

Finalist: Ben Anderton, Diamond Bus North West

Finalist: Brian Brotherston, Belfast Metro

Finalist: Clive Egan, Morebus

 

20) Top Shire Operator sponsored by Ticketer

Winner, Gold Award: Go South Coast

Winner, Silver Award: McGill’s

Winner, Bronze Award: Reading Buses

Finalist: Preston Bus

Finalist: Stagecoach in South Lancashire

Finalist: Stagecoach Midlands

21) UK Bus Operator of the Year sponsored by Gallagher and Allianz

Winner, Gold Award: Go South Coast

Winner, Silver Award: Brighton & Hove Buses

Winner, Bronze Award: Sanders Coaches

22) Unsung Hero sponsored by Backhouse Jones

Winner, Gold Award: Lee Peters, Go South Coast (Damory)

Winner, Silver Award: Karen Morrison, Abellio London Bus

Winner, Bronze Award: Gavin Brackett, RATP Dev Transit London

Finalist: Andy Allen, Arriva East and South Midlands

Finalist: Robert and Mandy Bilham, Stagecoach Yorkshire

Finalist: Nick Painter, Stagecoach Manchester

Finalist: Alison Wood, Stagecoach South Wales

23) Young Manager of the Year sponsored by Young Bus Professionals

Winner, Gold Award: Richard Greaves, Stagecoach Manchester

Winner, Silver Award: Lauren Watson, Stagecoach Merseyside and South Lancashire

Winner, Bronze Award: Dan Graham, Go North East

Finalist: Christopher Beattie, McGill’s

Finalist: Amber Olney, Stagecoach East

Finalist: Reece Stannard, Stagecoach London