A SMILEY bus driver from Ayr has been declared the best in all the UK.

William McCann was named Customer Experience Champion for 2022 at this year’s Stagecoach Stars awards for consistently going above and beyond to ensure customers receive the best possible experience.

The annual Stagecoach Stars awards are designed to recognise shining stars within the business who have shown excellent customer service throughout the year.

Nominations are received from staff as well as customers and the judges at Stagecoach, who employ over 22,000 people across the UK, chose William out of over 650 nominees from its depots across the UK for his incredible service to customers.

The awards are now in their 13th year, recognising excellence over key areas including service to customers, safety, health and wellbeing, environment, community, and innovation.

William, a bus driver for Stagecoach West Scotland for 18 years, said: “I was so surprised to receive the Stagecoach Customer Experience Champion award, because I’ve always just been me.

“I’m the controller with a smile. No day is ever the same and I am lucky enough to talk to people from all over Ayrshire. Being able to help my customers on board or provide support to my colleagues with a chat and a cuppa and seeing them smile is my motivation every day to provide a great service. I’m always happy to help and for the past two years I have had a very important role - supporting Santa Claus by being one of his stand-ins onboard the Stagecoach Christmas Grotto.

“This year I’ve been chosen to represent Stagecoach as a supervisor at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. I can’t wait and I’m so proud to have been selected.”

Fiona Doherty, Managing Director at Stagecoach West Scotland, said: “I’m really pleased that William has been recognised as Stagecoach’s Customer Service Champion for 2022. He works extremely hard every day to provide the best possible service to our customers and we are very grateful to him.”