National Express West Midlands drivers Lee Grantham, Christopher Godridge and Carl Griffin will represent the West Midlands’ leading bus company at next month’s 2025 UK Bus Driver of the Year competition.

Lee from the Acocks Green depot secured first place at the bus operator’s competition, Christopher from the Pensnett depot came second, and Carl from the Walsall depot placed third. All three are now through to the UK final in September where they will compete against other UK bus operators’ best drivers.

In 2023 Lee was crowned the UK Bus Driver of the Year after coming out on top against more than 100 other UK finalists.

National Express West Midlands driver Lee Grantham said:

“I’m super proud of my achievements, having first won the National Express West Midlands bus driver competition in 2022, and then winning every year since. I won the UK Bus Driver of the Year title in Blackpool in 2023 and hope to do the same again this September. My partner Sarah and my children Charlie Alana Lola-Rose and Tommy are super proud of their daddy so I want to do it for them!”

Christopher said:

“I am immensely proud to have reached the UK Bus Driver of the Year final in Blackpool this year, after missing out in local competitions in previous years. I’m very much looking forward to competing against the best from across the country in September.”

Carl said:

“I was lost for words when I found out I’d qualified but now that it’s sunk in I am both excited and nervous about going to the UK final! It’ll be my first time competing in anything like this and will be extra special as the final takes place around the time of my five year anniversary with National Express West Midlands.”

Sarah East, Operations Director at National Express West Midlands, said:

“As always, our Bus Driver of the Year competition proved popular again this year with nearly 100 applications from drivers who wanted to take part in local depot heats, ahead of our local final with 18 participants.  

“Our driver development team’s unwavering commitment and support for our drivers and these events is what makes this possible year after year, and we’re all really proud of everybody that took part, demonstrating their skills during a tough competition.

“We wish all three of our UK Bus Driver of the Year finalists the best of luck for September and will be keeping everything crossed that they bring some silverware back to the West Midlands once again.”

Over 95 bus drivers entered National Express West Midlands’ Bus Driver of the Year competition, with local heats held at each depot. 18 finalists then completed a series of challenges at the bus company’s training centre in Walsall, including a driving challenge, a bus simulator test, and a timed theory test.

The top three drivers now go through to the UK final, where they’ll compete against other UK bus operators’ best drivers. The 2025 UK Bus Driver of the Year final takes place on 14 September 2024 in Blackpool, where the competition has been held since 1982.