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 An “exceptionally polite and welcoming” bus driver has won the top prize in trentbarton’s 2025-26 really good service awards.

 

Louise Lawrence, who drives my15 from Ilkeston through Long Eaton and to East Midlands Airport, was judged the best of the best, winning Driver of the Year at the awards ceremony at Derby’s Museum of Making.

Louise, 55, who lives in Sutton, beat all the other winners of trentbarton’s driver of the month competitions from 2025-26 to win a big cup, an extra day off work every year and £1,500 to spend on a holiday.

The glittering ceremony was hosted by radio presenter Andy Miller and featured star speaker Maisie Adam, winner of Taskmaster and a star of the current comedy smash hit TV show Last One Laughing.

'Pleased and surprised'

Louise, who joined trentbarton in 2023 after a career as a security officer, said: “I was thinking about learning to drive lorries when trentbarton got in first and offered me a job. And I absolutely love it.

“I’m so pleased and surprised to win Driver of the Year. I love the people, I love my team, I love the route, and I love my customers.”

Mystery customer judges praised Louise as exceptionally polite and welcoming, consistently going above and beyond at every stop to greet passengers - including their four-legged companions.

The judges said: “Her warm, reassuring manner instantly puts people at ease, and her driving was described as flawless throughout.”

 

 

 

 

Customer Choice

Tina Gurpinar, above, retained the Customer Choice title she won last year, again securing the most votes from passengers. All three finalists were women.

Tina received glowing praise from customers, with the judges saying: “Each and every nomination mentioned her positive attitude, her caring nature and her ability to make everyone feel happy.”

Tina, 56, who lives in Wollaton and drives the ilkeston flyer, said: “I’m absolutely chuffed. A big thank you to all the customers who nominated me.”

 

 

 

Hero of the Year

Hero of the Year was won by Joss Freestone, above, for helping a customer who realised they were being followed after getting off Joss’s bus late at night.

Recognising the situation, Joss intervened immediately, bringing the customer back on board to ensure their safety and waiting until the individual had left the area.

The passenger is convinced that Joss’s quick-thinking actions prevented something far more serious from occurring.

Joss, 41, who lives in Sherwood and drives mainline between Nottingham and Bingham, has only been driving buses for seven months after careers as a chef and a roofer. He said: “I love driving buses and meeting people - it’s a great job.”

 

 

 

 

Colleague Choice

Colleague Choice was won by Dave Morley, above, the Lead Driver at Nottingham. The judges said: “Dave received countless nominations from his colleagues at Nottingham who all highlighted just how much Dave goes above and beyond on a daily basis without any fuss and with a constant smile on his face.

“It was noted that Dave probably doesn’t realise just how much he does for his colleagues and how much of a difference it makes to them.”

Voted as winner by the trentbarton team, Dave, 38, who lives in Basford, said: “I’m chuffed to have won. I love everything about my job, being able to work with everyone. It’s nice to get this recognition from my colleagues.”

Unsung Hero

Unsung Hero was won by trentbarton’s Admin Clerk at Langley Mill, Leslie Burridge.

Leslie was told: “The department would not be able to do what they do without you. This award is a token of how much you mean to the team.”

Engineering Team Member of the Year

Engineering Team Member of the Year is Aidan Lavendar. The award was sponsored by PSV Transport Systems.

The judges said: “Throughout the year, Aidan has demonstrated exceptional dedication to his role, consistently upholding high standards of professionalism, technical competence, and personal integrity.

“He leads by example, setting a clear benchmark for both work quality and behaviour within the team. Aidan’s depth of knowledge and practical skill are evident in everything he does, and he willingly shares this expertise to support the development of others.”

 

 

 

 

Apprentice of the Year

Apprentice of the Year is Tyler Dudley, 20, above, who lives in Eastwood. The award was sponsored by PSV.

The judges said: “Tyler continues to excel in the work that he does for the business; he is always willing to learn new skills and is currently working in the engine overhaul unit at Langley Mill.

“He has only been there a few weeks, but has already made a big impact. What a bright star Tyler is.”

At trentbarton for three years, Tyler said: “I’m very, very pleased to win that. I really enjoy my job, getting my hands dirty and getting into the work.”

 

 

 

 

Brand of the Year

Brand of the Year is H1, above, which runs between Derby, Heanor and Alfreton.

Team leader Arron Bakewell said: “It’s all about the team. It’s the team that makes the brand and winning this award means everything.”

 

 

 

 

Team of the Year

And a new award, Team of the Year, was presented to skylink Nottingham, above, with the award announced via a video message from 91-year-old regular customer Sandra.

Team leader Craig Sheppard said: “It’s unbelievable - we didn’t know anything about this award. The team goes above and beyond every day. Sandra is one of our family.”

Amazing achievements of a wonderful team

Tom Morgan, managing director at trentbarton, told his colleagues: “This is genuinely one of my favourite nights of the year, celebrating the amazing achievements of our wonderful team.

“Tonight is a celebration, a small way for us to say thank you for what you do to collectively make us the best in the business.”