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

Gold Award 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 5,000 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.

Having won several awards over the years, including the coveted UK Coach Operator of the Year award for 2013, Woods Travel has proved itself to be among the best in the business. The judges were again impressed by the professionalism, dedication and high standards evident in all aspects of the business.

Silver Award Winner: Tynedale Group Travel

A family-run business with a family feel , Tynedale has pitched itself firmly at the premium end of the coach market, reflected in a modern fleet of high quality coaches. Some lateral thinking has developed interesting new markets, ensuring that expensive assets are utilised even when more traditional markets are quieter. The judges were impressed by the company’s growth and its professionalism in all aspects of its operations.

Winner, Bronze Award: G-Line Holidays

Established in 1967, G-Line is a family-owned company and originally organised tours for private groups in the Fylde area. Now, with three generations of the founding family working in the business, G-Line has a loyal customer base and has adapted well to changing trends in the world of coaching. The judges felt that taking all aspects of the business into account, G-Line is well qualified to be a finalist.

Highly Commended

Jay and Kay Tours

Based in Crayford, Kent on the borders of Greater London, Jay & Kay exemplifies many small businesses in the coaching industry, starting out in a modest fashion and gradually expanding. Often in difficult trading conditions. Today the company has a small, but dedicated workforce and his built a solid reputation based on the quality of its service, all of which the judges were pleased to acknowledge.

Lawton’s Executive Coaches, Lincolnshire

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

A relatively young company, therefore, Lawton’s has established a niche in its home territory. New business has been attracted through personal recommendation, which is one of the best marketing tools available!