More than 60 public transport managers from across the United Kingdom have been shortlisted for the Leadership in Passenger Transport Awards (LiPTA), a new scheme recognising management talent across bus, coach, rail and light rail.

The awards, organised by not-for-profit organisation Transport Events Group (TEG), cover 14 categories including engineering, project management, innovation, customer service, digital communication and stakeholder management. A Young Passenger Transport Leader of the Year category recognises emerging talent, while an Unsung Heroes Award acknowledges the contribution of supervisors and junior managers. A Lifetime Achievement Award will be announced at the presentation ceremony.

The 60-strong shortlist draws from 30 organisations. Rail and light rail representation includes c2c, which features in the Digital Communication, Service Delivery and Team Management categories, as well as the Leadership Development category alongside Great Western Railway. Lumo is shortlisted in Marketing and PR, Great Western Railway appears in Unsung Heroes, and the Light Rail Safety and Standards Board has a nominee in Digital Communication.

TEG Chair Giles Fearnley said the awards had drawn a strong response from operators across the country. He described public transport as crucial for millions of people and central to efforts to address congestion and climate change, adding that the industry’s future depends on the skills and commitment of its managers.

TEG was established in 2008 by the team behind the UK Bus Awards, now in its 30th year.

Winners will be announced at a lunchtime ceremony at indigo at The O2, London, on 16 July. Further information is available at lipta.org.uk.