Gold Award Winner

Steven Salmon, Confederation of Passenger Transport UK

This award is presented every year by the event organisers to somebody in the world of coaching who has devoted a lifetime to the industry, and delivered exceptional service. The award is designed to recognise a significant and sustained contribution to the success of the industry by an individual who has gone consistently beyond the call of normal duty to improve and promote the coach industry for its users or the wider community.

Whilst his achievements in the bus industry are probably better known, Steven Salmon's tireless dedication to the coach industry has attracted less attention, but he has played a pivotal role in defending the interests of the sector and without his unstinting efforts, coach operation would be a much more complex and quite frankly, a less attractive proposition to us all. Steven has spent his entire career in the bus and coach industry for almost forty years, running his own coach business for a time before joining Surrey County Council with responsibility for school transport. He then joined the British Bus Group, and in nineteen ninety seven, the Confederation of Passenger Transport. An in depth knowledge of the industry and its operations, together with an ability to analyse the cause and likely impact of diverging proposals, has seen him make an invaluable contribution to such diverse topics as drivers hours rules, seatbelts on coaches and air-quality issues, ensuring that the industry's voice is heard. His genius in steering through favourable exemptions from posted worker regulations in France, is just one recent example of the intense, behind the scenes work he has undertaken over more than twenty years in his current role, all of it with the good of the coach industry at heart. Extensive work representing the UK interests with EU legislators and policy makers, and also with International trade bodies in Europe, has focused largely on the coach sector and has resulted in the level of respect he commands amongst those in the corridors of power. His stature was recognised in his becoming vice president of the high profile Social Affairs Commission of the International Road Transport Union in two thousand and five, ultimately serving as its President since twenty thirteen. To anyone who knows him, his vast knowledge and experience has proved invaluable and has come to the aid of many in the industry. His colleagues hold him in equally high esteem. He is a mentor and source of knowledge rated second to none, but above all he is a true gentleman and worthy of being regarded as a grandee of the coach industry.

Who could be nominated?

Individuals working in any coach-related environment and at any level of seniority.

… and by whom?

Nominations are accepted from operators, local authorities, other bodies involved in the planning and provision of coach services and other organisations working with the industry or on behalf of its users.

The Criteria:

Given the broad spread of individuals that might be nominated for this award, the UKCA organising committee will use its discretion in considering nominations for this award. The following are taken into account:

• The level of service delivered
• Any special circumstances
• Consistent record of achievement
• Sustainability of the entrant’s contributions