An engineering manager at a historic Brecon coach-hiring company has won a national award.

John Williams, Engineering Manager at Williams Coaches, has been recognised at the routeone Awards 2024.

Mr Williams was named the winner of the Engineer of the Year award in the small/medium operator (up to 150 vehicles) category.

He was among 900 attendees at a star-studded awards ceremony held in Birmingham on Wednesday, November 13.

The routeone Awards celebrate the UK’s top coach and bus operators, recognising exceptional contributions in areas including sustainability, technology, and customer service.

The Engineer of the Year award - Small/Medium Operator - celebrates engineers in smaller operations, recognising those who demonstrate technical skill, maintain vehicle compliance standards, and manage complex tasks and processes, with effective communication skills.

The judges highlighted Mr Williams among the five finalists for being "forward-thinking" and "dedicating time to shaping the future of the business."

Williams Coaches was established in the 1950s and is now managed by the third generation of the Williams family.

The Brecon company is no stranger to an award, having been named Coach Operator of the Year in the medium fleet category in the 2019 UK Coach Awards.

The company has an extensive fleet of coaches, minibuses, and school buses and can cater to all events and occasions.

This year's routeone Awards received a record number of entries.

Following nominations, entries, and rigorous judging, more than 80 finalists were selected.

To be considered, candidates were nominated by industry peers and invited to submit entries demonstrating how they met specific category criteria. Each entry underwent careful scrutiny by a panel of respected industry judges to determine the best in the business.

The awards ceremony, held at Birmingham’s The Vox, was hosted by comedian and presenter, Patrick Kielty.

Event Director, Helen Conway said: “These awards highlight the industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship, customer service, and accessibility.

“Each winner, and finalist, represents an important step forward in making public transport cleaner, greener, and more accessible for all, providing reliable services that meet the needs of diverse communities across the UK."