red arrow’s Karen is UK Bus Driver of Year

Added by Love Business East Midlands | 23 November 2021

Derby-Nottingham bus driver Karen Miles has been crowned the Top National Bus Driver in the UK Bus and Coach Awards 2021.

Karen is only the second ever female winner of the UK bus industry’s premier driving award in its 26-year history. She follows fellow red arrow driver Carole Hind’s breakthrough win in 2015.

Karen, 53, has been a red arrow driver since 2019, before which she drove the mickleover and the royal derby after joining trentbarton in 2015.

The UK Bus Awards citation said:

“Karen was given a perfect score in her last company mystery customer audit, thoroughly impressing with how smart she looked, how well she drove and how friendly and welcoming she was.

“Seeing how the pandemic was affecting her colleagues, she has been studying mental health and well-being to become a mental health champion and was given a Covid British Empire Medal in the Queen’s birthday honours list.”

Mark Yexley, chair of the UK Bus and Coach Awards, said:

“We would like to add our congratulations to Karen for winning the Top National Bus Driver Award.

“It was a strongly contested category with many entries, but Karen stood out both for being an outstanding driver and ambassador, and also for the work she has done in the mental health field. A very worthy winner.”

Karen, who lives in Littleover and was presented with her BEM in August, said:

“I am surprised and very chuffed. I do believe it’s for the hard work that everyone at trentbarton does. We all need each other and together we’re such a big team.

“It is great that the UK Bus and Coach Awards shines a spotlight on the whole industry. There were so many great stories told during the ceremony.

“I love my driving job. I get to meet so many different people every day and have a laugh with them. I love the little conversations and how I start their day off right, taking them to work or to meet family and friends, and finish their trips right too.”

Jeff Counsell, managing director of trentbarton, said:

“Karen has been an absolute inspiration to all of us during the pandemic and for as long as she has worked at trentbarton.

“She has been an incredible help to her colleagues and is much loved by her customers, who can now boast that they are driven by the best driver in the UK. Congratulations to Karen, we’re very proud of you and your achievements.”

Karen’s accolade continues a remarkable run for trentbarton at the UK Bus Awards. In 2017 trentbarton’s roadside officer Chris Plummer won the Unsung Hero award. Driving winners include Carole Hind in 2015, Allan Gilmour in 2012, Rhamzan Mohammed in 2010 and Barry Allitt in 2009. In 2012 trentbarton’s Tom Morgan, now group commercial director, won Young Manager of the Year.

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