Safeguard Buses Gets Gold Award For Its Excellent Local Service

Published on: 2 Dec, 2015
Updated on: 2 Dec, 2015

Family-owned Safeguard Coaches of Guildford has again scooped a national award.

Safeguard’s managing director, Andrew Halliday, with its prestigious Gold Award.

The firm is rightly celebrating the outstanding talent and hard work of its staff after winning the Gold Award as Top Independent Operator at the UK Bus Awards 2015.

These were held on Wednesday last week (November 2015) on London’s South Bank before an audience of more than 620 industry movers and shakers.

Andrew Halliday, managing director at Safeguard Coaches, said: “It is huge honour to be recognised in these prestigious awards.

“Winning Gold highlights our commitment to customer service, regular investment and the dedication of our staff to deliver excellent service which has resulted in year-on-year growth in bus passenger numbers.”

Announcing the results, the judges noted that Safeguard is a long established, respected, family-run operation which uses professional marketing techniques to target young people, particularly 16- to 19-year-olds.

They noted that the company has not increased fares since 2012 and operates in an area where there is high car ownership.

The judges also welcomed the praise Safeguard Coaches attracted through mystery traveller checks conducted in October 2015, helping to demonstrate that buses can and do play a key role in providing sustainable transport in a congested town such as Guildford.

Safeguard Coaches of Guildford has not increased fares since 2012.

This year, the UK Bus Awards celebrates its 20th year – a momentous milestone for the scheme, which has played a key role in raising the profile of buses, recognising and rewarding the achievements of bus industry staff and inspiring others with the examples set by the winners.

The Top Independent Operator category is open to independently-owned operators of registered local bus services with fewer than 100 vehicles.

The lunchtime ceremony was hosted by BBC News presenter Jane Hill and, in congratulating all the winners, UK Bus Awards chairman Tony Depledge said: “It’s great that the 20th year of the UK Bus Awards scheme shows yet again what can be achieved for the benefit of passengers and the communities we serve.”

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