STOCKPORT BUS DRIVER IN THE RUNNING TO BE CROWNED BUS DRIVER OF THE YEAR - AFTER ONLY NINE MONTHS ON THE JOB

05 Jul 2022

A Stagecoach Manchester bus driver from Stockport is representing his company at the national Bus Driver of the Year awards which will be taking place in Blackpool later this year.

Joshua Irving, 36, who previously worked as an armored vehicle driver in London, has worked at Stagecoach Manchester in his first bus driving role for just nine months, quickly slotting into the role following his eight-week training course.

Joshua took part in an internal competition, where friends and family were invited to attend, in the company of a vintage bus on loan from the Museum of Transport. The competition looked at accident records, driving efficiency, and colleague and passenger feedback, and following this, Joshua was shortlisted to represent Stagecoach Manchester at the national awards ceremony in September alongside two of his colleagues.

Speaking on the competition, Joshua said: "I'm really excited to be representing Stagecoach Manchester at the national Bus Driver of the Year awards. I've been a bus driver for less than a year, so to be recognised at such a prestigious awards ceremony after such a short amount of time is amazing."
"I enjoy transport, logistics and helping out my community. With Stagecoach I have the opportunity to combine these elements in my day to day role"

Lee Wasnidge, Managing Director of Stagecoach Manchester said: "I'm incredibly proud of Joshua and all the Stagecoach Manchester colleagues who were in the running for this fantastic competition. It truly is a testament to all their hard work and the dedication put in by every team member across the business."

The Bus Driver of the Year event has its origins in a Coventry Corporation road safety competition first held in 1967. In the following few years, more bus operators joined the event, and by the mid-1970s, it had become a truly national competition. Blackpool has been the venue for the National Final since 1982.

Also in the running from Stagecoach Manchester is 61-year-old Arthur Rowling who has worked at Stagecoach for 15 years, and Robert Lysaght, aged 64, who has 17 years of service in the business.