Colchester’s Jonathon Hunt wins national ‘Manager of the Year’ Gold at UK Bus Awards
Colchester-based Jonathon Hunt has been named ‘Manager of the Year’ at the 2025 UK Bus Awards, one of the highest honours in the UK bus industry.
Jonathon, who is Head of Operations for First Bus East of England, took home the Gold award, recognising his outstanding leadership, commitment to colleagues, and exceptional service to passengers across Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk.
This is Jonathon’s second major national award in just over a year, having also won Manager of the Year at the 2024 RouteOne Awards.
Jonathon oversees operations across key parts of the First Bus East of England network and has been praised for transformative improvements in performance, safety, and customer service. Judges commended his ability to inspire teams, implement meaningful change, and maintain a strong focus on delivering reliable, high-quality bus services for local communities.
Speaking about the win, Jonathon said: “I’m incredibly proud to receive this award. Leading teams in the area I grew up in means a lot to me, and this recognition is really a reflection of the hard work and commitment shown by my colleagues every single day.”
First Bus East of England also received recognition at the awards for its Dementia Awareness campaign, delivered in partnership with Alzheimer’s Society in Essex. The initiative, which supported drivers and colleagues to better understand and assist customers living with dementia, was named a Finalist in the Culture Change category.
The campaign has been widely praised for improving accessibility, compassion and confidence among customers who may face additional challenges when travelling.
Simon Mathieson, Managing Director of First Bus East of England, said: “Jonathon is an exceptional leader, and we are delighted to see him recognised again on the national stage. He is deeply committed to his teams and his community, and his leadership has made a real difference to the quality of bus services across Essex.
“We’re also incredibly proud of our dementia-awareness partnership with Alzheimer’s Society. Supporting vulnerable customers is a vital part of our role, and this recognition demonstrates what can be achieved when we work closely with community organisations.”