When we say that Members of the Guild of British Coach Operators are the best, don't just take our word for it.

All the Member companies of the Guild are required to meet a rigorous, 37-point quality standards checklist and to subscribe to our Charter. This is in addition to fully complying with all the regulatory rules for the safe operation of buses and coaches; all Guild Member companies are fully licensed by the UK Government's Department for Transport - Vehicle & Operator Services Agency.

Coach companies are required to achieve a 100% pass on the quality standards checklist before being accepted into Membership and are then audited again every two years to ensure continuing compliance. These audits against the defined standards are carried out by an independent expert firm, Fleet Interventions Ltd who have extensive experience in this field.

The Guild's quality standards cover a wide range of points including the safe operation of coach hires and environmental awareness. In summary, Guild Members must prove they have:

• honest and explicit descriptions of coaches
• an efficient booking and sales process
• written confirmation of bookings and hire terms
• effective maintenance procedures that exceed industry standards
• clean and well-presented coaches
• drivers who are professionally trained and tested
• operations conducted in an environmentally sensitive manner.

To see the full list of the standards, click here.

Awards

As well as the Guild's internal quality standards, Members are judged by their peers and customers in annual coach industry awards. Awards won by current Guild Members include:

• Top Executive Coach 2006, UK Coach Rally - Tellings-Golden Miller
• Top Touring Coach 2006, UK Coach Rally - Maynes
• routeOne Coach Operator of the Year 2006 - Maynes (medium-sized operators)
• Best UK Holiday Programme, 2006 - Johnsons
• Best Day Excursion Programme, 2006 - Johnsons
• Bus Operator of the Year 2006 - Johnsons (medium-sized operators)
• Best Development of People Award 2006, Highlands & Islands - Maynes
• Coach Operator of the Year 2005 - Johnsons (large operators)
• Coach Operator of the Year 2005 - Woods (medium-sized operators)
• Coach Operator of the Year 2003 - Johnsons
• Safety Initiative of the Year 2003 – Epsom
• Coach Operator of the Year 2002 – Maynes
• Coach Operator of the Year 1996/7 & 2001 – Epsom
• Coach of the Year 2005 - TGM Van Hool Astron
• Top Scottish Coach – UK Rally 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006 – Maynes
• Training Excellence Award (Mid Warwickshire 2002) - Johnsons
• Coach Operator of the Year 1999 – Tellings-Golden Miller
• Coach Manager of the Year 1996/7 – Steve Whiteway (Epsom)
• Runner Up, Coach Operator of the Year on three occasions – Eddie Brown Tours
• Employer of Choice Award – Johnsons
• Public Transport Operator of the Year 2003 – Truronian
• Day Excursion Programme Winner – 2000 & 2001 – Epsom
• Directors Challenge Cup 2003 – Stephen Telling
• Coach Driver of the Year runner up 2002 – Kevin Mayne

In addition, four Members have Investors in People accreditation, ten are CoachMarque Members and one is ISO9001 accredited.