The finalists of the 2022 routeone Awards have been announced, revealing some of the most outstanding operators and people in the coach and bus industry.
The Awards are only open to those who have been nominated by their industry peers, so to have been invited to enter is an achievement in itself. All nominees were invited to submit an entry, detailing why they are deserving of the industry’s highest accolades.

Now, a diverse judging panel of industry experts have come together to create a shortlist of potential winners from an exceptional selection of entries. The finalists are now one step closer to being recognised as the best in the business at a spectacular black-tie event on Wednesday 2 November at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Says event director Helen Conway: “After two years of disruption across the sector, we are delighted to host the routeone Awards again in November.
“As ever, the Awards seek to reward people and operators for their exemplary achievements at a fantastic in-person presentation evening where we can truly celebrate the best in our industry. It is a huge achievement to be shortlisted, and we wish all our finalists the best of luck.”
A total of 68 finalists will compete across 15 categories, including two new categories. The Above and Beyond Award recognises individuals or businesses that have gone the extra mile to support their organisation and the wider coach and bus industry since 2020.
Outstanding Customer Experience rewards the individual or team that has put their customers’ experience at the forefront of their thinking and intends to keep it there.
The finalists are:
Above and Beyond
Partnered by Drivetech
•​Aaron Lockhart, Nottingham City Transport
•​Candice Mason, Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
•​Kevin Mayne, Maynes Coaches
•​Mubarak Mahmed, First West Yorkshire
•​Richard Bamber, Anthony’s Travel

Manager of the Year, Small/Medium Operator (up to 150 vehicles)
Partnered by Omnibus
•​Candice Mason, Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
•​Jim Thorpe, Uno Buses
•​Mark Hodgson, Coatham Coaches
•​Shane Grindey, Blackpool Transport Services
•​Thomas Manship, Grant Palmer

Manager of the Year, Large Operator (over 150 vehicles)
Partnered by Freeway Fleet Systems
•​Adam Keen, Adventure Travel
•​Chris Speed, First Eastern Counties
•​Marc Reddy, First Hampshire, Dorset & Berkshire
•​Richard Stevens, Go South West
•​Richard Thomas, Edwards Coaches

Outstanding Customer Experience Award
Partnered by Arthur Spriggs Busworld
•​First South West Explorer
•​National Express UK Coach
•​Oxford Bus Company
•​Stagecoach East

Engineer of the Year, Small/Medium Operator (up to 150 vehicles)
Partnered by Pelican Bus & Coach
•​Barry Arents, Hunt’s Coaches
•​Ian Scott, Stanley Travel
•​Lee Ahern, Newport Transport
•​Scott Johnson, Johnson Bros Tours and Redfern Travel

Engineer of the Year, Large Operator (over 150 vehicles)
Partnered by Knorr-Bremse
•​Laura Hill, Arriva
•​Richard Mann, National Express West Midlands
•​Simon Carlisle, First West Yorkshire
•​Tom Linnecor, National Express UK Coach

Best use of Technology (up to 150 vehicles)
Partnered by Siemens Financial Services
•​Anthony’s Travel
•​Blackpool Transport Services
•​Go-Coach
•​Oxford Bus Company
•​Stagecoach East – The Busway

Best use of Technology (over 150 vehicles)
Partnered by Alfatronix
•​Abellio Bus and Journeo
•​Go Ahead London
•​Go North East
•​National Express UK Coach
•​National Express West Midlands
•​Nottingham Contactless

Environment Award
Partnered by Switch Mobility
•​First Glasgow
•​Metroline
•​National Express West Midlands
•​Newport Transport
•​The Big Lemon

Rising Star
Partnered by PPG
•​Glen Dring, Metroline
•​Hayley Russell, FlixBus
•​Laura Hill, Arriva
•​Lynsey Milligan, Milligan’s Coach Travel
•​Morgan Bond, First West of England
•​Tom Linnecor, National Express UK Coach

Small Coach Operator of the Year (1-15 vehicles)
Partnered by MAN Truck and Bus
•​Anthony’s Travel
•​R G Jamieson & Son
•​Spencer Graham Coaches

Medium Coach Operator of the Year (16-50 vehicles)
Partnered by Mercedes-Benz Buses and Coaches
•​Golden Boy Coaches
•​Masons Minibus and Coach Hire
•​Maynes Coaches
•​Passenger Plus
•​Premier Coaches
•​Stanley Travel

Small/Medium Bus Operator of the Year (up to 150 Vehicles)
Partnered by Ticketer
•​Blackpool Transport Services
•​Ensignbus Company
•​Prentice of Haddington
•​Uno Buses

Large Coach Operator of the Year (over 50 Vehicles)
Partnered by Volvo Bus
•​National Express UK Coach
•​York Pullman

Large Bus Operator of the Year (over 150 Vehicles)
Partnered by Ticketer
•​Brighton & Hove
•​Diamond Bus North West
•​Go North East
•​Stagecoach East

Special Award
Partnered by ESP
•​To be announced

Interviews for six people categories will take place in September to help the judges to determine the winners.
There is no shortlist for the Special Award. It is the only category that is not open to entries and is, instead, decided between the judges based on who deserves special recognition for their contribution to the industry.
Now in its 16th year, the routeone Awards boasts a judging panel of seven senior industry figures, each bringing a wide level of knowledge and experience from a variety of disciplines. Returning judges include Joan Aitken OBE, former traffic commissioner for Scotland; Kevin Middleton, former engineering consultant; Peter Nash, former head of commercial policy for Stagecoach UK Bus; Richard Delahoy, transport consultant; and Steve Dewhurst, former managing director for Volvo Bus.

Former Nottingham City Transport managing director Mark Fowles OBE and former Volvo Bus product engineering manager Norman Thomas join the panel for their first year.

The identity of the winners remains a closely guarded secret until the presentation evening, which will be held on Wednesday 2 November at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
Tickets for the highly anticipated event are available for £173 + VAT from routeoneawards.com.