OVERVIEW
The finalists for the 2024 UK National Transport Awards have been announced.
The event continues to highlight the unwavering commitment, expertise, and innovation of those working tirelessly to improve our transport networks across England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Here's to the individuals and teams making strides in the industry, and to the continuous progress that awaits us!
Winners will be announced at the UK National Transport Awards ceremony on 3rd October 2024 at the Westminster Park Plaza in London.
The event is supported by Transport Scotland, Department for Transport (DfT), United Kingdom, Transport for Wales, Department for Infrastructure, Transport Focus, Intelligent Transport Systems UK and Urban Transport Group.
Dress code is lounge suit / business attire.
Running order:-
| 6:15pm | Drinks Reception |
| 7:00pm | Introduction: Jon Culshaw, Host |
| 7:10pm | Welcome Address: Anthony Smith, Chair of the Judging Panel |
| 7:15pm |
Keynote Address: Simon Lightwood MP, Minister for Local Transport |
| 7:30pm | Dinner |
| 9:00pm | After dinner speaker: Jon Culshaw |
| 9:30pm | Awards ceremony |
| 10:30pm | Close |
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Simon Lightwood MP
Minister for Local Transport
Simon Lightwood was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Local Transport in the Department for Transport 9 July 2024.
Previously Simon was Shadow Transport Minister, appointed first in October 2022 and re-appointed in September 2023 with an expanded portfolio.
Simon was first elected as MP for Wakefield in a by-election in June 2022 and was re-elected as MP for Wakefield and Rothwell in July 2024.
Prior to being elected, Simon was a proud NHS worker, a Labour councillor and cabinet member for public health. He studied theatre acting at Bretton Hall College in Wakefield after moving to the city in the late nineties.
His wider interests involve spending time with his husband and two young children and supporting his local Rugby League team, Wakefield Trinity.
HOST
Jon Culshaw
Jon Culshaw is seen by many as being Britain's best impressionist with a repertoire of over 350 voices covering politics, sport and celebrity from Boris Johnson to Alan Carr, Brian Cox to Barack Obama, Russell Crowe to Michael McIntryre.
Originally a DJ, Jon won a Radio 1 talent contest and joined the team on the seminal television satire Spitting Image. He played 40 characters, including Frank Bruno, Michael Portillo, Bill Clinton and Liam Gallagher. Jon then became 'the man of a thousand voices' on Channel 4's Big Breakfast before returning to radio where he made international headlines by calling the Downing Street switchboard and fooling the operators with his William Hague impression. After being put through to Tony Blair, the incident was raised at Prime Minister's Questions and reported in Hansard.
With an unmatched versatility, Jon found mainstream success with the radio and TV show Dead Ringers leading to his own BBC series, The Impressionable Jon Culshaw, which was followed by Jon Culshaw's Commercial Breakdown and The Impressions Show with Culshaw and Stephenson. He is a regular guest on radio and TV comedy and chat shows from The Now Show to Parkinson, and frequently appears on election coverage, providing necessary comic relief with impromptu impressions of politicians and commentators.
Away from comedy, Jon's love of science and astronomy have seen him join the world's longest running television programme The Sky at Night, as well as writing a column, Jon Culshaw's Exoplanet Excursions, for the show's magazine. He has also appeared alongside Brian Cox on Stargazing Live and The Infinite Monkey Cage.