Gold Award Winner

Stuart Jones, Bus and Coach Buyer Magazine

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.

Our award this year recognises an amazing track record of hard work and achievement. Though our winner does not work directly for a coach operator, there will hardly be an operator in the country to whom the name will not be known, either through having done business, or encountered him in his tireless work to promote the cause of coaching and the wider bus and coach industry

Stuart has been a journalist in the trade press for more than 30 years, starting in the 1980s at Coachmart magazine. He became editor in 1986 following its acquisition by EMAP, and then left in 1989 to help found a new weekly magazine, Bus and Coach Buyer – which he has edited ever since.

As well as his work as writer, photographer amd editor, Stuart has been a champion of quality and good practice throughout his career in a whole variety of ways. He has been a judge at the British Coach Rally since the mid 1980s. He helped to found the UK Bus Awards in 1995 and served on the Management Committee for more than ten years. He is also Chairman of the International Bus & Coach of the Year Jury, having served in that post for more than 10 years.

The judges said that trade press in our industry perform a vital role and Stuart’s hard work, advocacy and passion for the industry shine through, and were a just cause for celebration.

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