National Express West Midlands drivers through to final
National Express West Midlands drivers Lee Grantham, Christopher Godridge and Carl Griffin will represent their company at next month’s 2025 UK Bus Driver of the Year competition.
Over 95 bus drivers entered National Express West Midlands’ Bus Driver of the Year competition. 18 finalists then completed a series of challenges at the bus company’s training centre in Walsall, including a driving challenge, a bus simulator test, and a timed theory test. Lee from the Acocks Green depot secured first place at the bus operator’s competition, Christopher from the Pensnett depot came second, and Carl from the Walsall depot placed third. All three are now through to the UK final in September where they will compete against other UK bus operators’ best drivers.
“My partner Sarah and my children Charlie Alana Lola-Rose and Tommy are super proud of their daddy so I want to do it for them!” – Lee Grantham
In 2023 Lee was crowned the UK Bus Driver of the Year after coming out on top against more than 100 other UK finalists. Lee said: “I’m super proud of my achievements, having first won the National Express West Midlands bus driver competition in 2022, and then winning every year since. I won the UK Bus Driver of the Year title in Blackpool in 2023 and hope to do the same again this September. My partner Sarah and my children Charlie Alana Lola-Rose and Tommy are super proud of their daddy so I want to do it for them!”
National Express West Midlands’ UK Bus Driver of the Year finalists Lee Grantham, Christopher Godridge and Carl Griffin with (second from left) Operations Director Sarah East
The 2025 UK Bus Driver of the Year final takes place on 14 September 2024 in Blackpool, where the competition has been held since 1982.
“Our driver development team’s unwavering commitment and support for our drivers and these events is what makes this possible year after year” – Sarah East, Operations Director at National Express West Midlands
Sarah East, Operations Director at National Express West Midlands, said: “As always, our Bus Driver of the Year competition proved popular again this year with nearly 100 applications from drivers who wanted to take part in local depot heats, ahead of our local final with 18 participants.
“Our driver development team’s unwavering commitment and support for our drivers and these events is what makes this possible year after year, and we’re all really proud of everybody that took part, demonstrating their skills during a tough competition.
“We wish all three of our UK Bus Driver of the Year finalists the best of luck for September and will be keeping everything crossed that they bring some silverware back to the West Midlands once again.”