Nottingham City Transport (NCT) has celebrated the remarkable contributions of its colleagues at its 2025 Excellence Awards, held at Nottingham’s Albert Hall on Sunday 9th February.
This year’s event was particularly special as it highlighted the incredible team effort that contributed to NCT’s record-breaking achievement of being named UK Bus Operator of the Year for the record breaking sixth time, as well as winning routeone Large Bus Operator of the Year Award in 2024.
The Excellence Awards celebrated the colleagues whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment ensure NCT continues to deliver exceptional service to the people of Nottingham.
The most prestigious award of the day, Driver of the Year, was presented to Zohra Rani. Zohra is NCT’s most commended driver, having earned numerous customer commendations for her outstanding service. Her exceptional dedication is reflected in her 92% score in mystery traveller assessments, where she was praised for her friendly, polite nature and excellent rapport with passengers. Zohra consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the safety and comfort of everyone on board, making her a shining example of the high standards that NCT drivers uphold daily.
On her win, Zohra Rani said, “I feel so proud to have won Driver of the Year – it’s a huge achievement for me. I love working for NCT, and every day, I try my best to make a positive difference to both my customers and colleagues. Having a great bond with passengers is really important to me, and I always want to brighten their day. Trying my best is the most valuable thing I can give, whether in my driving or my interactions with people.”
She continued, “Coming from a background where women can face restrictions on driving professionally, I feel extremely proud to be the first Pakistani woman driver to win this award. It’s a reminder that women can accomplish anything when given the opportunity, and this win means a lot to me personally.”
This year, Kevin Ward received Special Recognition for his 40 years of exceptional service at NCT. After joining in the early 1980s as a bus driver and progressing to the management of drivers, Kevin’s career took a whole new direction almost 20 years ago when he started to oversee technical project delivery for NCT. He was instrumental in the introduction of real-time tracking systems, radio upgrades, and the development of mobile and contactless systems. Kevin also played a key role in enhancing safety with the installation of modern CCTV systems across the fleet. As he approaches retirement, Kevin’s work has left a lasting impact on NCT’s technological advancements, ensuring a better experience for both colleagues and customers alike.
Five bus drivers received Customer Commendation Awards for their outstanding efforts to go above and beyond for passengers. Dean Buckland, Harleigh Desmond, Lisa Anderson, Michael Shaw, and Ramazan Koumrigia were recognised for their quick thinking and compassion in emergency situations, providing invaluable assistance to passengers in distress.
Aretha Donkoh and Adriana Plucinska were both recognised as Rising Stars for their exceptional contributions. Aretha has made a significant impact in HR and Recruitment, and her enthusiasm and dedication have already made her a key part of the team. Adriana, who has been with NCT for nearly two years, has played a vital role in increasing NCT’s social media presence and engagement.
Engineer of the Year was awarded to Kerry Cousins, Engineering Manager for Trent Bridge Garage. Kerry has overseen complex electrification works while ensuring that the daily maintenance and operations of NCT’s buses continued smoothly. His contribution to the electrification project and efforts to install safety systems for EV working have been invaluable.
The Electric Bus Project was recognised as Project of the Year, marking a milestone achievement for NCT. This initiative, developed in collaboration with Nottingham City Council, saw the introduction of electric buses to NCT’s fleet. The project involved extensive planning, procurement, and infrastructure development, and has been widely praised by both customers and drivers.
Unsung Hero was awarded to Danny Sanderson, a member of the Engineering Night Team. Danny ensures buses are fuelled, cleaned, and parked for the next day, going above and beyond in his role and always willing to lend a helping hand to colleagues. His hard work and selflessness make him a true asset to NCT.
The Unite NG16 Branch Made a Difference Award went to Jo Mitchell, whose dedication to managing the Payroll Department ensures that NCT’s colleagues are paid accurately and on time every week. Jo’s approachable and diligent work ethic has earned her the respect and gratitude of her colleagues.
Twelve colleagues were also presented with their ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership & Management qualification, after developing individual projects to improve aspects of NCT, based on their experience. To succeed, they had to research and deliver a presentation of their proposal to an audience of their peers and their Team Leaders and Managers – they also had to answer some very challenging questions before they could claim their award.
David Astill, NCT Managing Director, said, “Our excellence awards is now an established event in the NCT year. Being recognised as UK Bus Operator of the Year for a record sixth time is testament to the hard work and dedication of the team of people that work for our company, ensuring that we keep Nottingham moving in all weathers and all road conditions.“
David continued “The NCT Excellence Awards recognises and rewards our colleagues who go above and beyond and shine in what is already a high performing team. I offer my congratulations to all who were nominated for awards and my thanks go to all involved in organising this hugely successful event.”
NCT will be showcasing the winners on its social media platforms over the coming weeks and months.
The Excellence Awards celebrated the colleagues whose dedication, professionalism, and commitment ensure NCT continues to deliver exceptional service to the people of Nottingham.
Posted on 14 February 2025
