The winners of these awards deliver consistently excellent customer service. The operators demonstrate their success through sustained effort.

They show that they:

• are financially sound
• maintain high operational and engineering standards
• give priority to the Health and Safety of staff and passengers through comprehensive risk management
• invest in their fleet and staff
• form effective partnerships
• identify with and respond to the communities they serve
• always strive to sustain and grow the market for coaches and coach services.

As well as this award for the smaller operators, there are two others for buisinesses with fleets of between 11 and 50 and over 51 vehicles. There are three awards depending on fleet size, being:

From the winners of these three awards, the judges chose an overall winner, named Belmont International UK Coach Operator of the Year.

For each of the categories, customer nominations were sought from group organisers and other industry clients. Nominated operators are also  invited to submit further information to the judges.The judging process also includes 'mystery shopping' of the nominated operators to test their commitment to customer service.

Who could be nominated?

The awards are open to all operators of coaches for hire to the general public or used on tours and excurions.

... and by whom?

Group organisers and other clients who hire coaches on an occasional or regular basis were asked to nominate the coach company which has delivered the best service to their groups.

Best Operator, Small Fleet

Winner: Nottingham City Coaches, Nottinghamshire

Nottingham City Coaches has built its success over the last 30 years by ensuring the service they provide to their customers is of the highest quality, including the ability to tailor requirements to individual needs. The company's fleet of ten, 49 seat executive vehicles are all fitted with seat belts, air conditioning, full audiovisual services, hot & cold drinks and toilet facilities. The company employs 20 people in driving, engineering and administrative roles.

The company is also very proud of its successful holidays, tours and excursions programmes, which run throughout the year. They are very popular with individuals and corporate groups wishing to get together to enjoy a stress free social event.

Financially strong, the company won praise from the judges for its strong approach to health and safety and to marketing.

More information from their web site at www.nottinghamcitycoaches.co.uk.

CoachChoice, Wolverhampton

CoachChoice was founded almost exactly 10 years ago, in June 2000. The company currently operates nine vehicles, and employs nine full time staff, two part time drivers, two office staff and one operations manager.

The company has seen a very substantial rise in turnover and diversity of work, even in the current market - one factor in which was winning this award, and the UK Coach Operator of the Year prize too, in 2009. The company is looking forward to the 2010 season and the challenges it will bring. Thie judges once again praised CoachChoice, who came a narrow second this year in a very tight contest.

More information can be found at www.coachchoice.co.uk

Also nominated were Kings Coaches of Colchester, Essex, but the company did not respond to our questionnaire.