GREENOCK-based McGill’s Group is celebrating success at the UK Bus Driver of the Year competition in Blackpool, where all four of its entrants secured places in the UK top 15.
Leading the team was Maciej Herman, an experienced driver from McGill’s Group’s Johnstone depot, who achieved third place overall and was crowned Best Driver in Scotland.
Originally from Poland, Maciej moved to Scotland 18 years ago and joined McGill’s Group in 2015 as a trainee driver, with McGill’s Group sponsoring him to gain the relevant licences and qualifications. Nearly a decade on, Maciej is admired by colleagues and customers alike for his professionalism and dedication.
After winning McGill’s Group’s in-house regional heat earlier this year, Maciej competed in Blackpool against drivers from across the UK in a demanding programme that included a challenging on-road course of ten technical manoeuvres and a rigorous theory exam on driving knowledge and industry regulations.
Three other McGill’s Group drivers also posted outstanding results:
— Gavin Justice (Larbert depot) — winner of the Best Theory Test Score trophy and 8th place overall
— Michael Morrison (Larbert depot) — 13th place overall in his first appearance
— John Black (Dundee depot) — 15th place overall after a skilful and consistent performance
Tony Williamson, chief executive of McGill’s Group, said: “This is a fantastic achievement for our drivers and for McGill’s Group as a whole. Maciej’s success — along with Gavin, Michael and John reaching the UK top 15 — shows the calibre of talent we have across the business. We’re immensely proud of their professionalism and the excellent service they provide to passengers every day.”
Matthew Darroch, group training manager, added: “We’re incredibly proud of Maciej and all our drivers who represented McGill’s Group at this year’s competition. To have four drivers in the UK top 15 is an outstanding achievement and a testament to the professionalism they show every day.”
Neil Dryden, human resources, training and recruitment director, said: “Maciej’s journey is a great example of how we invest in our people. From sponsoring his training in 2015 to seeing him shine on the national stage, his success — and that of Gavin, Michael and John — reflects both their dedication and the strength of our training and support teams.”
McGill’s Group is currently recruiting trainee drivers, offering full training and the chance to “earn while you learn”.
