'Hero' bus driver from Skegness up for award after helping distressed man 'threatening to take his own life'
A Skegness bus operator has been named as a double finalist in one of the transport industry’s top award schemes.
Stagecoach East Midlands has been shortlisted for the National Transport Awards in the categories for Bus Operator of the Year and Frontline Employee / Community Champion of the Year, where ‘hero’ Lead Driver Derreck Smith was named as a finalist.
The National Transport Awards are one of the most important awards schemes in the sector, being independently judged by senior figures from within the industry.
Derreck won the Stagecoach East Midlands Employee of the Year Award earlier this year, following what the firm described as “showing exceptional compassion and professionalism when he helped talk down a man who was threatening to take his own life”.
Matt Cranwell, Managing Director of Stagecoach East Midlands, said: “I am absolutely delighted to see that our team have been shortlisted twice for such a prestigious, national awards scheme. We thoroughly believe in the need to work together for our loyal local customers, and to be shortlisted for Bus Operator of the Year is a real testament to that. We have been meticulously working to our plans to deliver a modern bus service, ready for the future of our dynamic region, because we know our customers are relying on us.
“Individually, Derreck proved himself to be a hero in a hugely challenging situation. This was a truly excellent display of his good character; he reacted with quick-thinking, calm and professionalism, as well as great use of the observation skills that we train our drivers to have.”