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

They show 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 smaller operators, there are two others for businesses with fleets of between 16 and 50 and over 51 vehicles. There are three awards depending on fleet size, being:

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.

Top Small Fleet Operator

Winner: Woods Travel Group, Bognor, West Sussex

Woods Travel have been providing quality transport and holidays for over 40 years, and has grown to run a fleet of 15 vehicles, employ over 40 people and take over 5000 people away each year on our own coach holidays.  Woods also have a fully independent ABTA travel agency and provide a full day excursion programme as well as private hire.

The judges were impressed by the company’s track record of growth, diversification and adaptability, which has kept it among the leaders of quality coach service and holiday suppliers.

Runner Up: Woods Coaches, Leicester

Woods was established in 1950 with one 29 seater coach, and continues today as a family owned business, though now under the ownership of Kevin Brown. Kevin has worked for the business for 18 years, the last five as MD, and  bought the company in May 2011.

the 2012 winner of the Top Small Fleet Operator category and has managed to retain the feel of a family business while offering standards comparable to much larger companies. The judges noted the company’s constant  quest to improve itself through feedback and it is a worthy runner-up for 2013.

Commended

Lawton’s Executive Coaches, Lincolnshire

Lawton’s is a small family-run coach hire business, established in 2004 to provide a friendly, personal service specialising in wheelchair-friendly coaches for customers with impaired mobility.

Currently, 80% of the fleet is wheelchair-accessible and this is where the majority of work is derived. The judges awarded the company a commendation for its personal service and family feel.