UK Coach Awards organisers have announced that John Gilbert has taken over as Chairman of the UK Coach Awards from the start of the New Year. He has succeeded Allan Edmondson, who has served in the role since 2011.

John Gilbert has spent a lifetime in the industry, starting with Skills Coaches in Nottingham before moving to Wallace Arnold. There, he began his involvement with international express services at Eurolines, later moving to National Express and becoming President of the Eurolines organisation from 2009. John retired from his post with National Express at the end of 2016.

UKCA director Chris Cheek said, "I am delighted that John has agreed to take over. We're hugely fortunate in being able to draw on his experience and expertise in taking the UK Coach Awards forwards. Meanwhile, we are enormously grateful to Allan for his leadership and wise counsel over the last five years."