Aberdeen, Scotland, 2013-11-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — First Bus, the UK’s leading bus operator, enjoyed a successful afternoon yesterday picking up four prizes at the UK Bus Awards, the industry’s equivalent of the Oscars.
The Sheffield Bus Partnership excelled by winning two awards, Making Buses a Better Choice and the Local Authority Bus Project of the Year, and runner up in another category (Innovation). The Sheffield Bus Partnership is a groundbreaking agreement between First, SYPTE, Sheffield City Council and other bus operators. With co-ordinated bus services and multi-operator ticketing many customers are now paying lower fares and can get around the city more easily.
First West Yorkshire employees Simon Carlisle and Jon Croxford both won prestigious individual awards. Simon, who started work with the company as an apprentice fitter 29 years ago and who has played a key part in First’s Depot Transformation Process, won Engineer of the Year. Jon, who joined First as a graduate trainee in 2008 and is currently Bramley Depot Manager, won Young Manager of the Year.
First West Yorkshire finished runners up in two more categories. A mentoring project involving First staff and pupils at Roundhay High School in Leeds was recognised in the Bus in the Community Award and First’s involvement in the Leeds A65 Bus project in partnership with Metro and Leeds City Council also earned it a silver medal.
A further 11 First submissions were ‘highly commended’, meanwhile First Aberdeen’s Denis Noble received a special commendation in the innovation category after he turned inventor and designed a piece of kit which has improved the maintenance of bendy buses.
First UK Bus had been nominated for a record 18 awards at the UK Bus Awards – the event taking place at the London Hilton Hotel in Park Lane on Tuesday 19 November.
“It was a great afternoon for us,” said Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First Bus. “The North Region in particular has been recognised for the outstanding achievements and hard work invested by its staff and managers.
“At First we recognise the importance of strong partnerships and so I was especially pleased that the efforts of all the partners, including First, in the Sheffield Bus Partnership was widely recognised.”
He added: “First received a record 18 nominations at this year’s awards. I’m delighted that our teams across the UK are being recognised for their partnership approach, improving services and attracting more customers.”
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