We're on the road to this year's really good service awards, to be hosted by Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson, aka Jim Royle, at Nottingham's Crowne Plaze Hotel this coming May.

Climax of the evening will be the announcement of Driver of the Year for 2011.  Judging has taken place in conditions of strict secrecy; the winner of the £1,000 holiday and extra day's paid leave every year will only be known when Ricky Tomlinson opens the sealed envelope on the night. The entrants comprise each of the Driver of the Month winners in 2010.

The presentations for the last Driver of the Month awards in 2010 have now been made and celebrate the work of the best performers in September through to December.

Derby's Richard Finn was September's winner. Winning the award whilst driving red arrow, Richard has since moved onto our newest brand, swift - and has already proved a hit with his newest customers in Ashbourne and Uttoxeter. Living at Hilton, Richard has only been with the company a little under a year and enjoys the great outdoors , and is a keen walker and cyclist.

It was two in a row at our Broadmarsh depot as Glen Harrold won the Driver of the Month award for October, followed closely by colleague Karl Pilsworth who took the title in November.

Glen joined us back in September 2002 and really enjoys driving on rainbow 4.  When he's on a break he enjoys nothing more than playing cards with his friends in the canteen. Glen describes himself as boring, although he is a very popular member of the team; he's also a keen angler in his spare time.

Karl has been at the Broadmarsh since coming through the driving school in December 2008, a regular face on indigo, Karl enjoys the variety each day brings, previously employed as a Press Operator making car seats for Volvo buses  Karl now drives a Volvo bus every day! He likes to shoot pool and spend time with his family when he's not at work, when he won the award he told us; "it's great to be recognised and appreciated for the job you do"

Then it's over to Sutton where Kylie Pike scooped the award for December. Kylie joined us back in September 2003 and currently is a team leader on rainbow 3 but is often seen on most routes around Sutton, she is always happy to help wherever it's needed. Kylie enjoys reading autobiographies, swimming, horse riding and home improvements. What Kylie enjoys most about the job is getting out, she says: "no two days are ever the same; I really enjoy meeting new people and variety of my job".

Alex Hornby, Commercial Director commented; "make no mistake, our drivers are absolutely key to what we do. Their consistent, quality performance ranks highly amongst any other bus company in the UK, so to be selected as a shining star amongst their peers, like our Driver of the Month winners have done, is excellent stuff and we're so appreciative of their hard work. Congratulations to all our winners in 2010, and we wish them all the very best of luck at the really good service awards in May!"

 

Photo caption: from left to right, Kylie Pike, Richard Finn, Glen Harold and Karl Pilsworth celebrate their achievements at trent barton's really good academy