The Passenger Transport Management Awards for 2009 have been formally announced. The scheme, first launched to considerable acclaim a year ago, will once again seek to recognise and reward the skills, talent and commitment of managers at all levels working in all forms of ground public passenger transport.

As with the first scheme in 2008, the organisers are seeking nominations in a range of categories, covering everything from leadership of major enterprises, through to local managers at depot or area level, facing the sharp-end day to day challenges of keeping services going in all conditions, and driving standards up to meet customer aspirations.

Nominations are sought in twelve categories, and should be submitted not later than Friday 20 March 2009. Short-listed nominees will be advised in mid-April and the list formally announced in early May. The Presentation Ceremony will take place on Friday 12 June at the Tower Hotel.

This year, the scheme features am additional award which seeks to recognise the special talents of the engineering managers – those charged with the day to day, safety critical delivery of the right number of vehicles of the right specification to deliver the service to the public whether the requirement be for trains, trams or buses.

The categories for 2009 are:

• Project Leadership
• Local and Operational Management
• Industry Ambassador
• Community and Stakeholder Management
• Innovation and New Thinking
• Marketing
• Engineering
• Unsung Heroes Award
• Lifetime Achievement Award
• Young Passenger Transport Professional
• Passenger Transport Professional:
• In a smaller undertaking (turnover/budgets up to £50m)
• In a medium-sozed undertaking (£50-£150m)
• In a large undertaking (£150m+)
• An overall prize will be awarded, and the winner will be chosen from the winners of the three categories.
• The Management Development Award

Following the success of last year's competition, and in order to secure the future of the project, we shall be adopting revised governance arrangements for the scheme – putting in place a single-purpose, not for dividend company that will be responsible for running the scheme. This mirrors the highly successful structure adopted for the UK Bus Awards since 1997.  The new company is owned jointly by last year's two joint venture partners – the UKBA team trading as 83A Projects and Local Transport Today Ltd, publishers of Transit and Local Transport Today magazine, whilst Transit will maintain its position as principal sponsor of the awards.

ENDS