13/11/2009

• Three top awards and two runners-up spots for Perth-based transport group
• Stagecoach employees named Young Manager of the Year and Engineer of the Year
• Stagecoach East service named Express Operation of the Year
• Stagecoach recognised in City and Shire Operator of the Year categories

Stagecoach celebrated success at the UK Bus Awards after being recognised in more categories than any other UK bus operator.

After winning more awards than any other operator at the previous two ceremonies, the Perth-based transport group scooped three honours and two runners-up spots at the 14th annual London ceremony held yesterday (Thursday 12 November) in London.

Stagecoach Manchester Fleet Engineer Mike Brinicombe won the inaugural Engineer of the Year Award after impressing judges with his high standards, strong values, attention to detail, drive and enthusiasm.

For the second year in a row, Stagecoach also won the Young Manager of the Year accolade as Stagecoach South West Operations Manager Christina Ratcliffe was awarded the honour. The judging panel commended Christina for playing a key role in the operational function of her depot, adding: “She is an excellent ambassador for managers on the rise, proven through her success in reducing costs and improving profitability whilst retaining staff morale.”

Stagecoach East’s Route X5 express coach service, which links Oxford, Milton Keynes, Bedford and Cambridge was named Volvo Express Operation of the Year after achieving passenger growth of 150% during the past five years. The judges described the X5 service as, “a unique and vital, first class cross-country express service”.

Stagecoach Manchester finished runner-up in the City Operator of the Year after achieving passenger growth of 24% since 2004/05, while Stagecoach Bluebird was named as runner-up in the Shire Operator of the Year category after judges were particularly impressed by the company’s employee development programme, environmental initiatives and innovative marketing.

Les Warneford, Managing Director of Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “We are committed to providing high quality, good value, reliable bus services and it’s very pleasing to have been recognised for our hard work in achieving this.

“Much of our success relies on strong partnerships, operational expertise, innovative marketing and a commitment to customer service and we will continue to attract more people on to our greener, smarter services.”

As well as the winning and runners-up spots, Stagecoach companies were also Highly Commended in several categories including:

• Stagecoach in Fife – Shire Operator of the Year
• Stagecoach in Warwickshire – Shire Operator of the Year
• Stagecoach North East – City Operator of the Year
• Stagecoach East Scotland – Express Coach Operation of the Year
• Stagecoach in Gloucester Route 444 (operated on behalf of National Express) – Express Coach Operation of the Year
• Stagecoach Group, Stagecoach Gold – Bus Marketing Campaign of the Year
• Stagecoach South, Travel 60 Style – Bus Marketing Campaign of the Year
• Stagecoach East Midlands, Humber Fastcat – Bus in the Countryside
• Stagecoach North West X2 Service – Winning New Customers

UK Bus Awards Chairman, John Owen, said: “Not only have we received a record 210 entries across the categories this year, we are also hugely impressed by the standard of all those entries, giving the judges such a difficult time. It is thrilling to see such enthusiasm for the awards, particularly against such a harsh economic backdrop.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs 30,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.

For further information contact:

Lindsay Reid
Corporate Communications Manager
Stagecoach Group
10 Dunkeld Road
Perth
PH1 5TW
Phone: 01738 442111
Fax: 01738 443076
Mobile: 07500 446896
email: lindsay.reid@stagecoachgroup.com