Bedfordshire bus operator takes home two national awards

Bedfordshire’s biggest bus operator is celebrating after two key members of its team were revealed as winners at the UK’s biggest bus operator’s national awards scheme.

Stagecoach East’s Elaine Mortimer and Tracey-Anne Hancox were named as winners of Stagecoach Excellence Awards from more than 25,000 colleagues across the country.

Marketing Manager, Elaine, won the award, in the category of We Plan For The Future, for her proactive, forward-thinking behaviour that the judges considered embodied Stagecoach’s company values. She is highly data-driven, always looking ahead to identify opportunities to improve results and processes, as well as being known to her colleagues as kind, approachable and thoughtful.

Over the past 12 months, Elaine has made a significant impact through her work with Stagecoach’s Employee Engagement Group, where she has helped identify team needs early and shape initiatives that improve engagement and collaboration.

Meanwhile, Business Support Lead, Tracey-Anne Hancox, won in the category of We Are Down To Earth. She is widely respected for her organisation and leadership, and has driven the operator’s Health and Wellbeing scheme, establishing a group of Health and Wellbeing Champions, who she ensures have the training and support they need to carry out their vital and demanding roles.

Tracey-Anne is also a constant force behind Stagecoach East’s charity work, developing a growing list of charity-partners and encouraging local depots to get involved and support their Depot Charity. Local charities she works with include Magpas Air Ambulance, Bedford MS Therapy Centre, EACH East Anglia Children's Hospices and Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall.

Darren Roe, Managing Director of Stagecoach East, said: “Stagecoach operates across the entire country, from Cornwall to The Orkneys, so to win an Excellence Awards is a huge achievement. I am so proud of Elaine and Tracey-Anne – they represent everything that is best about our team and how we operate and run buses in our region.”

Stagecoach East has a proud history of awards success. Last November it was named ‘Winner of Winners’ at the British Chambers of Commerce Chamber Business Awards 2025.