At the annual Bus Driver Of The Year Competition held at Blackpool, Bluestar’s very own Phil Glenn from Bishopstoke won the trophy and £500 as the UK Bus Driver of the Year for the Go-Ahead Group. Phil beat all of his fellow drivers who attended the national competition from other Go-Ahead companies around the country on the various challenges such as theory and practical driving tests - including an obstacle course which had to be negotiated without spilling glasses of water placed on board the bus.

Out of the 123 drivers who competed from many of the nation’s bus operators, Phil achieved a remarkable 7th place in his first appearance at the competition. Only drivers with a 1 year accident free record can enter for the annual competition.
 
Phil, now 26, joined Bluestar as a trainee bus driver almost 2 years ago. He gained his PCV Driving qualification through Bluestar’s internal training centre and now acts as a trainer and mentor to new bus drivers when they begin at our company.
 
Alex Carter, Regional Managing Director for the Go-Ahead Group, congratulated Phil for achieving his high placing on his first bid to win the title of bus driver of the year. “Phil has our congratulations. As a first time contestant and one of the youngest entrants, his score beat that of many much more experienced competitors in this fiercely contended championship,” said Alex Carter.
 
Phil’s partner and fellow Bluestar driver Paula Bird also competed or the first time and was placed 67th.