We’ve returned from the huge UK Bus Awards event at London’s Park Lane Hilton with no fewer than four honours with Sutton based Allan Gilmour named as the Top National Bus Driver.

Allan Gilmour, the new Top National Bus Driver, 

The judges also recognised our efforts to tempt motorists out of their cars, presenting us with a Making Buses a Better Choice Award, and our first Graduate Management Trainee, Tom Morgan, walked away with the Young Bus Manager Award. 

We enjoyed further success in the Marketing Excellence category with our innovative, long standing campaign to promote MANGO. Meanwhile Nottingham based driver Elaine Allitt was highly commended in the Top National Bus Driver contest.

Our award winners pictured here are... (back L-R) Tom Morgan, Allan Gilmour, rapid 1's Carl Read and Mandy Hunt.  (front L-R) Mr MANGO and Elaine Allitt

Following an awards lunch at the London Hilton Hotel in Park Lane, Managing Director Jeff Counsell said: “We’re delighted at such a strong showing at an event recognising excellence across the bus industry.

“Both Allan and Tom have proved exceptional employees, they set the standards for others to follow and we’re really proud of their achievements.

“We’re also pleased at the Making Buses a Better Choice Award, which acknowledges the success of our rapid 1 service between Ripley and Nottingham. Over the last year it has encouraged more people to use the bus by offering a high-class express service run by a dedicated team of drivers.

 “At the same time MANGO continues to go from strength to strength with one in four of all customer journeys paid for using the pre-pay card.

 “I am very proud of these superb achievements and I would like to pass on my personal congratulations to our award winners – well done to them all.”

 After picking up the title of Top National Bus Driver, Allan said: “I’m still in shock at winning an award for doing something I love.

“I always try to greet customers with a smile and I must say the training and support I’ve received from trent barton has played a big part in the way I go about my work.

“For this to be noticed at a national level is overwhelming and now I can’t wait to tell my son who is away completing his army training!”

Allan is well known to people travelling on the calverton connection and is friends with hundreds of them on his own personal Facebook page.