Birmingham-based Georgina Rogers has been named a finalist for a national ‘Rising Star’ award, recognising her inspirational leadership and achievements in the transport industry.

The 28-year-old has been selected as one of eight UK finalists for the Rising Star category at the routeone Awards - a proud milestone that reflects her positive impact and dedication as Engineering Standards Manager for National Express.

Georgie, who grew up in Sutton Coldfield and now lives in Erdington, began her career with the leading bus and coach operator as a graduate in September 2020. Over the last five years she has successfully demonstrated her excellent abilities, passion and drive, and is now responsible for bus and coach engineering standards and training at National Express, managing a team of four.

One of Georgie’s key achievements is leading the transition of the operator’s engineering training department from third-party reliance into a growing, well-respected in-house function. The fruits of Georgie and her engineering colleagues’ hard work was recently recognised with a Large Employer of the Year award at the Sir Doug Ellis Apprentice Awards.

Commenting on her shortlisting, Georgie said:

“Being named a finalist in the routeone Rising Star category is an incredible honour. It feels fantastic to have my work and contributions recognised in this way, and it has given me a real moment to pause and reflect on everything I’ve achieved since joining National Express.

“I am especially proud of the Engineering Training and Apprenticeship team that I manage. They play a crucial role in supporting our engineering function by ensuring we have the in-house skills and expertise to keep our fleet running to the highest standard for our customers. 

“Over the last year, the team has significantly expanded its offering and has become an exceptionally high-performing unit. Leading such a dedicated and capable team, and seeing the tangible impact of their work on the business, is something I am really proud of.”

After joining National Express five years ago, Georgie initially spent 12 months in varied roles across different areas of the business. During her time in Operations she gained valuable insight into the day-to-day running of services, then moved across to HR where she was involved in colleague engagement projects. Georgie then moved into the business excellence team where she contributed to a range of demanding projects while supporting rapid improvement events. 

All of these experiences gave Georgie a strong foundation and a real appreciation of how public transport services come together to deliver for passengers.

Nick Sorrill, Engineering Director at National Express, said: 

“Georgie has been a breath of fresh air since joining the engineering team. She picked up the complexities of compliance with ease - like a duck to water - and quickly became instrumental in shaping the direction of the business. From day one, she threw herself into major projects with energy and determination.

“Her impact has been transformative and she’s driven meaningful improvements with both precision and passion. Georgie’s enthusiasm is not only evident in her work but also infectious to those around her. 

“We’re all really proud of our Rising Star and not at all surprised that Georgie has reached the finals of the routeone Awards. Now we’re keeping everything crossed that she wins on the night!”

routeone Award winners will be announced at a black-tie ceremony in front of more than 800 of their industry peers on Thursday 13 November 2025. The award ceremony takes place at The Vox, Resorts World, Birmingham.