National Express Drivers Through to UK Driving Competition
National Express West Midlands (NXWM) drivers Lee Grantham, Paul Jarvis and Danny Bayley will represent the West Midlands’ leading bus company at next month’s 2024 UK Bus Driver of the Year competition. Lee from the Acocks Green depot secured first place, Paul from the Birmingham Central depot came second, and Danny from the Coventry depot placed third. All three are now through to the national final where they’ll compete against other UK bus operators’ best drivers.
NXWM is hoping one of their top three drivers will be bringing silverware back to the West Midlands again. At last year’s UK final, Lee was crowned UK Bus Driver of the Year after coming out top against more than 100 other UK finalists. National Express West Midlands driver Lee said:
“I’m feeling pretty overwhelmed to be the winner of the National Express West Midlands competition three years running and I’m really looking forward to representing the company in the UK final where I aim to retain my 2023 win!” Paul said: “I feel proud about getting through the local garage heats and the wider company competition.
It was a brilliant day and one of the hardest competitions I’ve done over the years, having qualified in 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018! “I’m excited and honoured to represent the company in September. I really enjoy going to Blackpool to compete in the UK final, as well as meeting other top drivers from all over the country, listening to their experiences and chatting about the challenges at BDOY.”
Danny said: “I’m very excited and proud to be representing Coventry and National Express in the UK Bus Driver of the Year final. “I’m looking forward to testing my skills against the country’s best bus drivers, and hopefully bringing back some silverware for Coventry depot!”
Sarah East, Regional Operations Director (Midlands) at National Express, said: “As always, our Bus Driver of the Year competition proved popular again this year and all 60 drivers that took part in the local depot heats enjoyed the camaraderie while demonstrating their skills during a tough competition. “We’re really proud that we’ve got two former UK Bus Driver of the Year winners in our final group this year – Lee, and Paul, who was the first ever National Express West Midlands driver to win back in 2012.
“It’s Danny’s first time on the national stage and he did brilliantly in our local final, so we’ve got high hopes for all three of them. We wish them all the best of luck for the UK final next month.”
60 bus drivers entered NXWM’s Bus Driver of the Year competition, with local heats held at each depot.
17 finalists completed a series of challenges, including driving safely through a chicane, safe distance driving when passing cyclists, bus simulation tests, hazard perception tests, and precise manoeuvres to measure their skills for their vehicle’s front overhang positioning, bay parking and pulling into bus stops. The top three drivers now go through to the national final, where they’ll compete against other UK bus operators’ best drivers.
The 2024 UK Bus Driver of the Year final takes place on 1 September 2024 in Blackpool, where the competition has been held since 1982.