The National Bus Strategy created the Bus Centre of Excellence (BCoE), funded and co-sponsored by the Department for Transport, enabling the delivery of a long-term programme of activities and support to the bus sector. In partnership with the DfT, the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation (CIHT) delivers BCoE, working closely with sector stakeholders to deliver an asset that is run by the industry for the industry.

For the first time, the ‘Bus Centre of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award’ will be awarded at the Bus Quality Conference, taking place in Manchester on the 23rd and 24th of September 2024.

About the BCoE Lifetime Achievement Award

The ‘Bus Centre of Excellence Lifetime Achievement Award’ acknowledges an individual’s exceptional contribution to the bus sector in England over a number of years.  

Judges will be looking for entries that can demonstrate:    

• Influence: The extent to which the individual has made a significant impact on the development, improvement, or advocacy of bus-related initiatives, policies, or services.    

• Innovation: Innovative thinking and the implementation of strategies that contribute to the advancement and efficiency of bus transportation.   

• Community Engagement: Active engagement with the community and stakeholders, fostering positive relationships and addressing the needs and concerns of passengers and residents.   

• Professionalism: Adherence to high standards of professionalism, ethical conduct, and dedication to the advancement of the bus industry.  

Award Criteria

Each submission must include the following.

Executive summary (100 words) - 10 marks

Provide us with a brief introduction of your nomination. Tell us how the person you are nominating is a key role model in the bus sector and an example of professionalism. Be clear, concise and tell us why this professional deserves to be celebrated.

Professionalism (250 words) - 10 marks

Tell us how the person you are nominating has consistently demonstrated high professional values and working practices that are a credit to the bus sector. Judges will reward entries that can demonstrate how the person has used their expertise and knowledge to improve and advance the bus industry. Please describe how the person you are nominating has used innovative approaches, working practices or technologies to enhance their work. Judges will be interested in seeing evidence about innovative approaches to team management, project planning and implementation that contributed to the advancement and efficiency of bus transportation.

Role model (300 words) - 10 marks

Tell us how the person you are nominating is an example to peers or colleagues in terms of working practices, attitude and giving back to the sector. Judges are particularly interested in knowing how this person has made a significant impact on the development, improvement, or advocacy of bus-related initiatives, policies, or services.

Demonstrable success (300 words) - 10 marks

Tell us how the person you are nominating has delivered clear benefits to the travelling public, residents and operators, how they encourage bus uptake or how they help remove barriers to bus use. We are also interested in how this person has built and developed their professional relationships with key stakeholders (operators, local authorities, elected members such as Councillors, consultants etc).

Eligibility 

• This award is open to nominated professionals that have impacted the bus sector with their work. 

• Nominated individuals must work within the bus sector in England.  

• You can nominate yourself or other colleagues. 

• You can nominate more than one person, by submitting multiple entry forms (one per person).  

• Entries can be submitted by anyone, whether a member of the Bus Centre of Excellence or not. 

• Nominated professionals do not have to be BCoE members.  

Rules and how to enter 

• All entry submissions must be made online via this form.  

• Deadline for submissions is now 21 August at 5pm. Entries must be received no later than the published deadline date. 

• The award winner will be announced at the Bus Quality Conference, 23rd and 24th  September 2024, in Manchester. 

• The judges’ decision is final and no discussion will be had with unsuccessful entries.  

• By entering these awards, you give to the BCoE the right to share, publish and otherwise use the entry in all BCoE media and publications.