This award focuses specially on the talent we will all rely on to deliver our bus services for the next 20 years and more: the young managers, currently delivering and planning services at the sharp end - but whose skills will be vitally important over the coming years as the bus increasingly comes to be seen as an aid to reducing carbon emissions and fighting climate change.

The judges felt that Rob was a very worthy winner of this award. He has demonstrated an ability to work in a challenging commercial environment, to devise an interesting and challenging programme of change and to implement and manage that programme. His work had contributed a significant level of added value to the future of Stagecoach North West.

In the BAA Integration Award, the Stagecoach North West entry for Network Chorley, was highly commended. 

A partnership between Stagecoach North West and Lancashire County Council made a successful bid for Kickstart funds from the Department of Transport, and in July 2006 a new and expanded network of services was launched under the "Network Chorley" banner.

The results of the partnership effort and investment were immediate and impressive. Patronage rose immediately by 15% and climbed every month until March 2007, when growth reached 50%.