B & H Buses Bags Best Bus

Brighton & Hove Buses has won the City Operator of the Year award at the UK Bus Awards and came second in the overall UK Bus Operator of the Year category.

The award ceremony, held in London last night, comes only a month after the company won the award for Bus Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards.

Phil Hadley, a Brighton & Hove Buses driver, picked up bronze in the Top National Bus driver category. Mr Hadley had been highly commended in the National Transport Awards last month.

Electrical engineer Ashley Burrows who is responsible for ensuring the real-time signs at bus stops and the associated kit fitted into each of the company’s 280 buses are reliable also won a special commendation for outstanding service in the Unsung Heroes category.

The city’s timetable and route guide – Bus Times – was also specially commended for sustained marketing excellence, marking three decades of publication.

Martin Harris, Brighton & Hove Buses managing director said: “I’m very privileged to work with such talented and dedicated people…

“I’m delighted all my colleagues and their huge efforts have been recognised in this way.

“Winning the double in the same year is extremely rare if not unique and is a huge tribute to the people who work for the bus company.

“We’ve worked hard to make the company a great place to work and clearly some of that is now beginning to show.

“We can’t do what we do without the support of our partners in the city – in particular Brighton & Hove City Council who make it possible for us to deliver an award-winning bus service for our customers.”

UK Bus Awards chair, Mark Yexley said: “The judges were very impressed with (the company’s) continued growth.

“They felt that their dedication to improving the customer experience was outstanding.

“They also make great use of social media.”

The UK Bus Awards have been running for more than 20 years.

By Clare Calder