03/11/2016 - Epsom Coaches Scoops “Innovation of the Year” at the Prestigious routeOne Awards
We are delighted to announce that Epsom Coaches, one of the foremost bus and coach operators in Britain, beat four other shortlisted companies to scoop the “Innovation of the Year” award at this year’s prestigious routeONE Awards held on Wednesday 2nd November 2016.
The award was presented to Steve Whiteway, Managing Director of Epsom Coaches by BBC’s Steph McGovern at a ceremony held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, NEC which saw around 800 of the industry’s finest gather at this glittering annual celebration that recognises the best of the coach and bus industry.
Judges were particularly impressed with the simplicity of the idea behind Epsom Coaches “Digital Walk-Round Checks”, a process which flags up any defects on vehicles and allows them to be addressed before they go on the road and at driver changeovers, providing a record that can be accessed at any time and at any location.
What the judges said: “Faced with this impressive array of innovations, the judges were left convinced that there is no shortage of great ideas being generated within the coach and busy industry…particularly those that improve safety, efficiency and viability. They were particularly impressed by the winner because it had introduced something that is not only extremely effective, but is simple, cheap to implement and capable of being replicated by every other operator. What’s more, it provides evidence that one of the most vital daily tasks is completed.”
Steve Whiteway comments: “Epsom Coaches has been the happy recipient of many awards over the years but it’s particularly gratifying to be recognised for innovation. The company has long been an innovator; in fact, since its inception in 1920, there have been many firsts with regard to ideas that have been adopted for the benefit of the travelling public and demonstrate that after 96 years, Epsom Coaches is still at the forefront of an industry they helped to found.”
Epsom Coaches recently launched its new brochure which offers 155 holidays from musical maestros such as Andre Rieu to popular destinations such as Emmerdale Studios to the beautiful Lavender Fields and Villages of Provence. The company’s new Day Trip brochure which will be out early next year will also boast 207 day trips offering a superb variety. Tour passengers can take advantage of the Epsom Coaches popular Door to Door service which collects them by taxi and delivers them to the departure lounge at the company’s HQ and drops them home after the trip.
Image shows from l to r: Steph McGovern, BBC; Owen Griffith, MD Parkeon Transportation; Steve Whiteway, Epsom Coaches; Mel Holley, routeONE