The people and organisations that make a real difference to transport across Scotland were recognised at the 2018 Scottish Transport Awards last night. Attended by over 450 industry professionals, the ceremony was hosted by comedian and radio presenter Fred MacAulay in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow. Now in their 16th year the awards continue to recognise excellence, innovation and progress across all areas of transport in Scotland.
In a special moment on the night, a brand new surprise prize was unveiled – the 'Outstanding Project in a Generation' award. FCBC and Transport Scotland's Employers Delivery Team were all received this mark of distinction for the work carried out on the Queensferry crossing. The Forth Replacement Crossing project (Queensferry Crossing) opened in 2017, attained world records during construction and delivered extensive benefits to users and communities, while safeguarding vital transport connections. Through effective integrated teamwork, innovative design, project management and first-class governance, the project was successfully delivered.
The tightly fought Public Transport Operator of the Year award went to Lothian Buses, who in 2017 made multi-million pound investments into various areas of the business, created over 100 new jobs, and further modernised one of the greenest fleets in the country. All of the new buses include free WiFi, USB charging points and on-board Passenger Information Systems helping to enhance the customer experience. Lothian also stepped in to maintain vital local services to the community of Queensferry with the new Lothian Country service.
Edinburgh Airport picked up the award for Scottish Airport of the Year. Edinburgh Airport has broken another annual record for passenger numbers at any Scottish airport with confirmation of 13,432,485 passengers flying through the airport in 2017. This increase of 8.6% compared to 2016 reinforces Edinburgh Airport as the fastest growing airport in the UK. Their efforts to develop Additional Needs services and materials in 2017 has been reconfised by the National Autistic Society and have received a 'Autism Friendly Award' - the first airport in Scotland to receive this.
Though thinking he was up for 'frontline employee', Bob Connaway was honoured with a first of its kind prize – the 'Lifetime Contribution as a Frontline Employee' award. Bob is a hugely popular and vastly experienced member of the Glasgow Airport duty management team with more than 36 years of service. Over the last 13 years he's been on the frontline during some of the airport's more challenging days – including the terrorist attack in 2007.
Cameron Dyche, a driver at First Aberdeen, then took away the prize for 'frontline employee of the year'. Last year, as a relatively new driver, Cameron noticed that a Stagecoach bus was moving and with a passenger on board, but the driver was slumped at the wheel and motionless. He proceeded to board the bus whilst it was still moving via the emergency exit and once on board immediately stopped and secured the bus. He commenced CPR on the driver until the paramedics arrived and the driver was transported to hospital.
Another special individual award was given out on the night. Nominated by the judges, the Lifetime Contribution to Transport in Scotland Award went to Eric Stewart, who has recently left SPT. Nearly 30 years ago, he began his transport career at Strathclyde's Buses as IT Manager, and progressed through the ranks to become Managing Director. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, Eric's primary objective has always been to ensure the needs of the customer are front and centre of all activity. Much of his time in recent years was taken up with working with the Scottish Government, the bus industry, local authorities, health boards and other agencies to review the regulatory environment for bus in Scotland, with a clear focus on addressing passenger decline, dealing with congestion, air quality issues, filling gaps in the network with more flexible, affordable bus solutions in collaboration with other transport providers, and, crucially , ensuring the passenger has a clear voice in what kind of public transport service they need.
Economy Secretary and keynote speaker Keith Brown said:
"It was an absolute privilege to attend the awards and meet some of the unsung heroes of the transport sector, many of whom help keep Scotland moving in very challenging conditions.
"As a former Transport Minister I know the amount of commitment, sleepless nights and skill that goes into many of these projects, and it's important to recognise success when things do go well, especially those behind innovative projects that help put Scotland on the map.
"It's been quite a year since with so much to celebrate, today's Transport Summit was further evidence of that. The future is equally exciting, with many new improvements due to come online soon. The publication of the Transport Bill this week is just the start, there is still much to do, but the foundations are clearly in place for a promising future."
Full list of winners and commendations:-
Most Effective Road Safety, Traffic Management and Enforcement Project sponsored by FirstGroup
Police Scotland's Operation Close Pass supported by Cycling Scotland and Road Safety Scotland
Excellence in Walking & Public Realm
East Dunbartonshire Council
Best Practice in Travel to School and Work Schemes
Sustrans Scotland - Scottish Workplace Journey Challenge
Accessibility Project of the Year
Neatebox Ltd, Scotland Transerv, and Transport Scotland - Neatebox Button App to improve road safety for disabled pedestrians in Largs
Highly commended: Xplore Dundee
Achievements in Cycling
Glasgow City Council - Glasgow Cycle Hire Scheme: Contract extension and expansion
Highly commended: Cycling Scotland - Simon Community Scotland: Street Cycles Glasgow
Integrated Transport Project of the Year sponsored by Scotrail
Strathclyde Partnership for Transport - Govan Transport Interchange
Excellence in Technology and Innovation sponsored by Bam Nuttall
Network Rail - Automatic Full Barrier Locally Monitored Level Crossing
Excellence in Travel Information & Marketing
CalMac Ferries - Passenger Safety Video
Best Bus Service
Stagecoach West Scotland, Go More With X74
Contribution to Sustainable Transport
Alexander Dennis Limited - ADL SmartPack and SmartHybrid technology for efficient Low Emission Buses
Transport Team/Partnership of the Year
Scotland TranServ - Scotland TranServ Incident Response
Lifetime Contribution as Frontline Employee
Bob Connaway - Glasgow Airport
Frontline Employee of the Year
Cameron Dyche - First Aberdeen
Highly Commended:
James Dalgarno - Amey
Gail Findlay - Edinburgh Airport
Graham McPherson - First Scotland East
Billy Morrison - Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Jim Orr - Scottish Citylink Coaches
Margaret Skinner - First Scotland East
Most Innovative Transport Project of the Year
Amey - Re-Galvanising Vehicle Restraint Systems (VRS)
Highly Commend: British Transport Police/ Abellio Alliance - Incident Response Stretcher
Lifetime Contribution to Transport in Scotland
Eric Stewart – Strathclyde Partnership for Transport
Airport of the Year
Edinburgh Airport
Rail Supplier of the Year
Siemens Rail Automation - Scottish Signalling Enhancements and Renewals
Public Transport Operator of the Year
Lothian Buses
Outstanding Transport Project in a Generation
FCBC and Transport Scotland's Employers Delivery Team – Queensferry
For further information contact Transport Times Events
Contact name: Kirsty Walton
Tel: 0207 828 3804
Email: [email protected]
Notes to editors
1. The Scottish Transport Awards organised by Transport Times Events, are supported by the Scottish Government and Transport Scotland.
2. The awards were judged by:
• Transport Times Chief Executive and former government advisor Prof David Begg (Chair of the Judging Panel)
• Roy Brannen, Chief Executive, Transport Scotland
• George Hazel OBE, Director, George Hazel Consultancy
• Prof Iain Docherty, Professor of Public Policy and Governance, and Director of External Engagement, Adam Smith Business School
• Joan Aitken, Traffic Commission for Scotland
• Michelle Rennie, Director of Major Transport Infrastructure Projects, Transport Scotland
3. Photos of the event / winners are available via http://www.greatscotphotography.com/ code: scotran1
