The winners of these awards deliver consistently excellent customer service. The operators demonstrate their success through sustained effort.

They have shown that they:

• are financially sound
• maintain high operational and engineering standards
• give priority to the Health and Safety of staff and passengers through comprehensive risk management
• invest in their fleet and staff
• form effective partnerships
• identify with and respond to the communities they serve
• always strive to sustain and grow the market for coaches and coach services.

As well as this award for the larger operators (with fleets of over 51 vehicles), there are two others for buisinesses with fleets of 10 vehicles or fewer and between 11 and 50 vehicles.

From the winners of these three awards, the judges chose an overall winner, named UK Coach Operator of the Year.

For each of the categories, customer nominations were sought from group organisers and other industry clients. Nominated operators are also  invited to submit further information to the judges.The judging process also includes 'mystery shopping' of the nominated operators to test their commitment to customer service.

Who could be nominated?

The awards are open to all operators of coaches for hire to the general public or used on tours and excurions.

... and by whom?

Group organisers and other clients who hire coaches on an occasional or regular basis were asked to nominate the coach company which has delivered the best service to their groups.

The Winners: Johnsons Coach and Bus Travel, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire

Established in 1909, Johnsons is an independent family business providing coach hire, holidays & excursions and local bus service with an enviable reputation for high quality service.

Johnsons operates in three distinct product areas:

• Own Products, which includes holidays in the UK & Europe, day excursions and theatre trips
• Coach Hire for business, education and pleasure
• Bus Services operating across five midlands counties (Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire).

The judges were impressed by the range of coaching products, by the emphasis on training and support for staff, and by the proprietors' enthusiasm, which comes across strongly.

For more information, visit www.johnsonscoaches.co.uk

Runners Up: Bowen Coaches, Tamworth, Staffordshire

The Bowen Travel Group is one of the largest independently owned travel businesses, employing over 300 people throughout the group and providing transport for the general and corporate markets, as well as school transport services for several Local Authorities.

Established over 90 years ago the group now has five operational bases across the Midlands and operates 24 hours a day 7 days a week with group resources of over 130 coaches.

Bowens are also one of the UK’s leading holiday companies, specialising in coach holidays for the mature customer and offering holidays throughout Europe and Britain. The company also operates retail travel agencies across the Midlands in partnership with Tui Travel/First Choice.

The judges noted that Bowen's management recognises the need to create reasons to travel and works closely with group travel organisers in business, leisure and educational markets.

Details can be fiound at www.bowenstravel.co.uk

Highly Commended: Shearings, Wigan, Lancashire

Shearings Holidays is the UK's leading specialist tour operator for the mature traveller, offering holidays by coach, air and rail, and sea and river cruises.

Starting life in Wigan in 1903, the company now employs over 3,000 staff and operate 50 hotels and eight travel shops.

Since April 2009 the Shearings fleet has been re-equipped with 135 new Setra coaches, giving the company  270 fully-equipped coaches and one of the greenest and youngest fleets on the road.

More information can be found at www.shearings.com