Winners of 13 categories to be announced at ceremony on May 10 in Blackpool
Organisers of the UK Coach Awards (UKCA) have announced the list of finalists for their 2018 competition, praising the high standards and hard work demonstrated by all the people, projects and organisations that have made the final stages.
The list is the largest ever for the awards in their present form and comprises a total of 67 finalists – covering people, projects or organisations in 36 different companies. They cross 13 categories covering the whole range of activities involved in the planning, promotion and operation of coach services. The winners of four other awards will be announced at the Annual Presentation Ceremony on Thursday, May 10.
Congratulating all the finalists, UKCA Chairman John Gilbert commented: “Our awards are recognise and reward excellence and good practice at all levels in the industry, amongst all operators, large or small, and in all types of work. I am really pleased that all these different types of business and company appear on this year’s longest ever list of finalists. Winning is about what you do and how you do it, not the size of your business.”
The judging was undertaken by two independent panels of highly experienced people with intimate knowledge of coach operations, marketing and tourism. John said: “We are once again most grateful to our panels for all their hard work. As usual, they faced some difficult decisions in a very strong field.”
The final results will be announced at the Annual Presentation Ceremony compered by popular television personality Carol Kirkwood, which will take place at the Viva Blackpool. Visit www.ukcoachawards.co.uk for more information.
Technical and Professional Awards
Coach Marketing Award
- Safer School Coach Travel Campaign, Bakers Dolphin Coach Travel
- Launch of new coaches, megabus.com
- Declare your own National Holidays!, National Holidays
- Express City Connect, Stagecoach East Scotland
Digital Communications Award
- No short-list, winner to be announced on 10 May
Domestic Coach Travel Programme
- Day Breaks & Holidays, Bayliss Executive Travel
- Bugler Day Trips by Coach, Bugler Coaches
- Britain & Europe by Coach 2018, Crusader Holidays
- UK travel programme, Gardiners NMC
- UK & Continental Holidays, Kirbys Coaches
- Innovation and occupancy, Lucketts Travel
- Enjoy Britain, National Holidays
- UK Holidays & Day Excursions, Woods Travel
European Coach Travel Programme
- Holidays Brochure, Bayliss Executive Travel
- Europe by Coach 2018, Crusader Holidays
- UK & Continental Holidays, Kirbys Coaches
- Innovation and occupancy, Lucketts Travel
Innovation Award
- Distinctive System Coach Manager Online Portal, Distinctive Systems
- Luxuria, Leger Holidays
- Contactless Payments, Scottish Citylink Coaches
- Making Coaches a Better Choice
- A Brief Encounter with Leighton Hall, Carnforth Station Heritage Centre & Leighton Hall
- Door-to-Door Coach Tours, Ellen Smith Tours
- Day Excursion and Theatre Experience, Kirbys Coaches
- Development of the Caetano Levante III, National Express
- Days Out: Route 2, Skills Holidays
- Express City Connect, Stagecoach East Scotland
ROSCO Award for Innovation in Road Safety
- No short-list, winner to be announced on 10 May
Awards for Industry People
The Award for Services to the Coach Industry
- No short-list, winner to be announced on 10 May
Customer Service Award
- Leigh Olsen, Belle Vue Manchester
- Debbie Jackson, Crosskeys Coaches
- Kirstie Pike, Vicki Excel & Ryan Yerrell, Eastons Holidays
- Office Staff, Ellen Smith Tours
- Fiona Bucksey, Hythe and Waterside Coaches
- Jacqueline Withey, Hythe and Waterside Coaches
- Customer Response Team, National Express
- Teresa Kearns, Woods Travel
Support Staff Award
- Reece Deakins, Belle Vue Manchester
- Eastons Support Team – Chris Smith, Alastair Douglas & Carl Sturman, Eastons Holidays
- Clare Petrou, Greys of Ely
- Daniel Almond, R S Tyrers
- Charlotte Woolley and Hayley Hicks, Skills Holidays
Top UK Coach Driver
- Sarah Jane Pyne, Oxford Bus Company
- Neil Swan, Crosskeys Coaches
- Shaun Raven, Alfa Coaches
- Robert Gill, Belle Vue Manchester
- Justin Roberts, Crosskeys Coaches
- Mark Breslin, Maynes Coaches
Unsung Heroes Award
- George Docherty, Belle Vue Manchester
- Merlyn Bryan and Ann Colley, National ExpressJim
- Orr, Scottish Citylink Coaches
- Young Coach Industry Professional
- No short-list, winner to be announced on 10 May
Awards for Coach Operation
Top Express Operation
- megabus.com, megabus.com
- Service 900 and Citylink Air, Scottish Citylink Coaches
- Express City Connect, Stagecoach East Scotland
- South West Falcon, Stagecoach South West
Top Large Fleet Operator
- Edwards Coaches
- The Kings Ferry
- Lucketts Group
- megabus.com
- National Express
- R S Tyrers
- Shearings Holidays
Top Medium Fleet Operator
- Alfa Travel
- Grey’s of Ely
- Maynes Coaches
- Williams Coaches
- Pulham and Sons (Coaches)
- York Pullman Bus Company
Top Small Fleet Operator
- Woods Travel
- Hythe and Waterside Coaches
- Bayliss Executive Travel
UK Coach Operator of the Year
The winner will be selected from the winners of the Top Small, Top Medium and Top Large Fleet Operators.
