Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Your contribution to the business’s success over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 – 31 March 2026
• How you have developed professionally during this period – including any new responsibilities, skills, qualifications or training undertaken  
• An example of where you have shown initiative or gone beyond the expectations of your role  
• How you communicate with customers, colleagues, staff and partners at all levels  
• How you have managed budgets, tasks and processes 
• How you demonstrate a consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion in your work and the benefits that has returned. 

Mandatory supporting documents 

• Your CV (1 sheet of A4 paper) 

Optional supporting documents 

• Your job description (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Evidence of improved reliability or product/service quality, and/or other measurable changes in performance 
• Testimonials or performance reviews 
• An endorsement statement from your line manager, MD or CEO. 

Please note that if members of the judging panel believe that a submission to Rising Star is better suited to consideration in the appropriate Manager of the Year or Engineer of the Year category, they may transfer the entry.

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Improvements and personal contributions you have delivered over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, and how they have made a difference to the business
• How you have managed budgets, tasks and processes
• How you have met, or exceeded, performance indicators used to manage your part of the business
• How you lead, motivate and get the best from your team — with a specific example from the last 12 months
• How you have responded to a challenge or period of change, and the outcome of that
• How you demonstrate a consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion in your work, and the benefits that has returned.

Mandatory supporting documents 

• Your CV (1 sheet of A4 paper) 

Optional supporting documents  

• Your job description (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Evidence of improved reliability or product/service quality, and/or other measurable changes in performance 
• Testimonials or performance reviews. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Improvements and personal contributions you have delivered over the 12 months from April 2025 to 31 March 2026, and how they have made a difference to the business
• How you have managed budgets, tasks and processes
• How you have met, or exceeded, performance indicators used to manage your part of the business
• How you lead, motivate and get the best from your team — with a specific example from the last 12 months
• How you have responded to a challenge or period of change, and what the outcome was
• How you demonstrate a consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion in your work, and the benefits that has returned.

Mandatory supporting documents 

• Your CV (1 sheet of A4 paper) 

Optional supporting documents  

• Your job description (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Evidence of improved reliability or product/service quality, and/or other measurable changes in performance 
• Testimonials or performance reviews. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• How the customer experience has tangibly improved over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
• Details of processes put in place to ensure the highest customer satisfaction
• How customer experience/satisfaction is measured
• Examples of where a customer’s expectations have been exceeded
• How staff are encouraged to deliver the best customer experience to ensure the highest satisfaction at all times
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factors into the business’s thinking about its customers and the benefits that has returned.

Optional supporting documents: 

• Testimonials from customers – either individuals or businesses (1 sheet of A4 paper)
• Evidence of any training programmes / incentives / employee recognition programmes etc. 
• Survey results/ comparison statistics of satisfaction / feedback programme results. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Improvements and personal contributions you have delivered over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, and how they have made a difference to the business  
• How you have managed excellent vehicle compliance and reliability standards, budgets, tasks and processes 
• How you have met, or exceeded, performance indicators that are used to manage your part of the business 
• An example of a significant engineering challenge you faced during this period and how you resolved it  
• How you demonstrate a consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion in your work and the benefits that has returned. 

Mandatory supporting documents 

• Your CV (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Your employer’s OCRS rating and annual test pass rates. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Your job description (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Evidence of improved vehicle reliability and/or other measurable changes in performance 
• If your employer is a member of Earned Recognition, evidence of participation 
• Testimonials or performance reviews 
• An endorsement statement from your line manager, MD or CEO. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Improvements and personal contributions you have delivered over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026, and how they have made a difference to the business  
• How you have managed excellent vehicle compliance and reliability standards, budgets, tasks and processes 
• How you have met, or exceeded, performance indicators that are used to manage your part of the business 
• An example of a significant engineering challenge you faced during this period and how you resolved it  
• How you demonstrate a consideration of diversity, equity and inclusion in your work and the benefits that has returned. 

Mandatory supporting documents 

• Your CV (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Your employer’s OCRS rating and annual test pass rates. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Your job description (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Evidence of improved vehicle reliability and/or other measurable changes in performance 
• If your employer is a member of Earned Recognition, evidence of participation 
• Testimonials or performance reviews 
• An endorsement statement from your line manager, MD or CEO. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• How the business has listened to its existing customers to develop the quality of its coach tourism product offering over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026  
• How the business showcases its coach tourism programme to existing and new customers 
• What the business considers when composing its coach tourism programme 
• Details of the commercial success that the coach tourism programme has delivered to the business 
• Any unusual elements of the day trip or holiday programme 
• How the business has reduced its coach tourism programme’s environmental impact 
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factors into the business’s thinking and the benefits that has returned. 

Optional supporting documents 

• Brochures, leaflets, notices or other collateral describing the programme to customers 
• Marketing Strategy highlights – including how you segment, target and position your programme to understand your customers and improve results  
• Commercial performance data (e.g. revenue, booking volumes, growth figures, yield or profitability) 
• Customer survey results 
• Feedback or testimonials from customers and/or partners on the tourism programme. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Details of the innovation(s) that has or have been introduced by the business over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
• Why the business felt it necessary to introduce the items that are within its entry  
• Details of any training, communications and stakeholder engagement plans that were implemented to obtain best results 
• How diversity, equity and inclusion was considered as part of the innovation implementation (design / accessibility / process / training / different backgrounds involved in decision making) 
• Details of the benefits that the innovation has brought to the business, its employees or customers since introduction. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Before-implementation performance metrics (1 sheet of A4 paper)  
• After-implementation performance metrics (1 sheet of A4 paper)  
• Feedback on staff adoption, customer response or industry recognition. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Details of the innovation(s) that has or have been introduced by the business over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 
• Why the business felt it necessary to introduce the items that are within its entry  
• Details of any training, communications and stakeholder engagement plans that were implemented to obtain best results 
• How diversity, equity and inclusion was considered as part of the innovation implementation (design / accessibility / process / training / different backgrounds involved in decision making) 
• Details of the benefits that the innovation has brought to business, its employees or customers since introduction. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Before-implementation performance metrics (1 sheet of A4 paper)  
• After-implementation performance metrics (1 sheet of A4 paper)  
• Feedback on staff adoption, customer response or industry recognition. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 500-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• An overview of the sustainability work introduced across the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 
• Why you felt it was necessary to introduce these measures  
• The measurable benefits that have resulted for the business, its employees, its customers or wider society, and how these were achieved 
• How you measure and track the impact of the sustainability work  
• How stakeholders have been engaged regarding the sustainability work (e.g staff training, internal and external communications etc.)  
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factored into the business’s thinking regarding this specific sustainability work, and what benefits that has delivered. 

Optional supporting documents 

• Evidence of efficiency gains, energy savings, air quality improvements or other societal benefits that have been derived from the project
• Before-implementation performance metrics (1 sheet of A4 paper)  
• After-implementation performance metrics (1 sheet of A4 paper) 
• Feedback from customers or stakeholders. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 650-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Details of how the business has progressed over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 
• How the business has focussed on quality improvement across the organisation 
• Proof of a commitment to staff development, including a description of its impact on the business and its employees – including details of any training programmes  
• How the business delivers excellent customer service, and what feedback or evidence demonstrates customer satisfaction  
• How the business has responded to any challenges it faced during this period  
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factors into the business’s thinking and the benefits that has returned. 

Mandatory supporting documents 

• The business’s OCRS rating and annual test pass rates. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Staff Training plan – investment/rates of completion/results (if applicable)  
• Comparable performance indicators for this last 12-month period in question versus the 12 months prior  
• Employee satisfaction survey results/retention rates  
• Passenger satisfaction surveys and feedback  
• If the business is a member of Earned Recognition, evidence of participation. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 650-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Details of how the business has progressed over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 
• How the business has focussed on quality improvement across the organisation 
• Proof of a commitment to staff development, including a description of its impact on the business and its employees – including details of any training programmes  
• How the business delivers excellent customer service, and what feedback or evidence demonstrates customer satisfaction  
• How the business has responded to any challenges it faced during this period  
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factors into the business’s thinking and the benefits that has returned. 

Mandatory supporting documents 

• The business’s OCRS rating and annual test pass rates. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Staff Training plan – investment/rates of completion/results (if applicable)  
• Comparable performance indicators for this last 12-month period in question versus the 12 months prior  
• Employee satisfaction survey results/retention rates  
• Passenger satisfaction surveys and feedback  
• If the business is a member of Earned Recognition, evidence of participation. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 650-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Details of how the business has progressed over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026 
• How the business has focussed on quality improvement across the organisation 
• Proof of a commitment to staff development, including a description of its impact on the business and its employees – including details of any training programmes  
• How the business delivers excellent customer service, and what feedback or evidence demonstrates customer satisfaction  
• How the business has responded to any challenges it faced during this period  
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factors into the business’s thinking and the benefits that has returned.

Mandatory supporting documents 

• The business’s OCRS rating and annual test pass rates. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Staff Training plan – investment/rates of completion/results (if applicable)  
• Comparable performance indicators for this last 12-month period in question versus the 12 months prior  
• Employee satisfaction survey results/retention rates  
• Passenger satisfaction surveys and feedback  
• If the business is a member of Earned Recognition, evidence of participation. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 650-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Details of how the business has progressed over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
• How the business has focussed on quality improvement across the organisation
• Proof of a commitment to staff development, including a description of its impact on the business and its employees – including details of any training programmes
• How the business delivers excellent customer service, and what feedback or evidence demonstrates customer satisfaction
• How the business has responded to any challenges it has faced during this period
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factors into the business’s thinking and the benefits that has returned.

Mandatory supporting documents 

• The business’s OCRS rating and annual test pass rates. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Staff Training plan – investment/rates of completion/results (if applicable)  
• Comparable performance indicators for this last 12-month period in question versus the 12 months prior  
• Employee satisfaction survey results / retention rates  
• Passenger satisfaction surveys and feedback  
• If the business is a member of Earned Recognition, evidence of participation. 

Once you have been nominated, you will be invited to complete an entry form, to allow the judging panel to conduct a fair and thorough evaluation.

The entry form includes a 650-word statement outlining how you meet the category criteria, along with the option to upload supporting documents.

The entry statement should address the following areas: 

• Details of how the business has progressed over the 12 months from 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2026
• How the business has focussed on quality improvement across the organisation
• Proof of a commitment to staff development, including a description of its impact on the business and its employees – including details of any training programmes
• How the business delivers excellent customer service, and what feedback or evidence demonstrates customer satisfaction
• How the business has responded to any challenges it has faced during this period
• How diversity, equity and inclusion factors into the business’s thinking and the benefits that has returned.

Mandatory supporting documents 

• The business’s OCRS rating and annual test pass rates. 

Optional supporting documents  

• Staff Training plan – investment/rates of completion/results (if applicable)  
• Comparable performance indicators for the last 12-month period in question versus the 12 months prior  
• Employee satisfaction survey results / retention rates  
• Passenger satisfaction surveys and feedback 
• If the business is a member of Earned Recognition, evidence of participation.