McGill's Buses celebrates silver award win at UK Bus Awards for Recruitment & Retention Award

The accolade recognises operators across the UK who have delivered innovative and effective approaches to recruiting and retaining staff at a time when the industry continues to face significant workforce pressures, particularly since the pandemic.

The award coincided with McGill’s Long Service Dinner, held at the Radisson Blu in Glasgow on the same evening, where the group celebrated the dedication of colleagues who together have delivered more than 450 years of combined service.

Neil Dryden, HR, Training & Recruitment Director at McGill’s, said: “We are proud to take home Silver in such a competitive and important category. The challenges around recruitment and retention since the pandemic have been well documented, but this award shows that our approach is working - and that our people feel valued and supported.

“From new driver recruitment pathways to career progression, mentoring and wellbeing initiatives, our focus has been on building a workplace where colleagues want to stay and develop. I’m especially pleased that this award coincided with our Long Service Dinner, where we celebrated the loyalty and commitment of staff who together have given over 450 years to McGill’s. Their dedication is what makes this organisation what it is.”

The Recruitment and Retention category recognises companies who have successfully tackled industry-wide staffing pressures through innovative campaigns, new training and development routes, and strong retention strategies that keep talent within the workforce.

McGill’s Group also recently received the Armed Forces Covenant Silver Award, recognising employers who not only sign the Armed Forces Covenant but actively champion and support the armed forces community. Achieving this award requires organisations to demonstrate meaningful, practical support - from offering additional paid or unpaid leave for reservist training, to proactively recruiting veterans and ensuring colleagues are aware of, and can access, a wide range of supportive workplace policies.

Neil added: “This recognition is a reflection of the work of every manager, mentor, trainer and colleague across the group. We will continue to invest in our people and build on this momentum to make McGill’s one of the best places to work in the transport sector.”