The reigning UK Top National Bus Driver Karen Miles has won an East Midlands Chamber Enterprising Women Award 2022. 

Karen Miles, only the second ever female winner of the UK bus industry’s premier driving award, took home the trophy in the Female Employee of the Year category.

The red arrow driver was announced as the winner at a ceremony at the Leicester Tigers’ Welford Road stadium.

Last year Karen received a Covid BEM (British Empire Medal) for her work during Covid-19. She volunteered to work throughout the pandemic and took mental health training to support the wellbeing of her fellow drivers.

Earlier this year Karen was chosen to be a face of the Confederation of Passenger Transport (CPT) nationwide campaign to attract more women to the bus industry.

Driving red arrow between Nottingham and Derby is a dream job said Karen: “I love my driving job. I get to meet so many different people every day and have a laugh with them.”

Karen said winning the Enterprising Women Award was a special moment: “It was a lovely evening. It was great to see so many women doing so much good, supported by men and their female colleagues.

“All of my fellow bus drivers on our table were women, all of us working hard driving people from A to B and there is so much more to the job than that. It’s nice to be recognised for what we all do.”

Karen added: “There are more and more women driving buses – and working in the other varied roles that keep us on the road. It’s a career with training and many benefits, plus you are part of a real team that works so well together.”

Managing Director Jeff Counsell said: “Karen has really been there for her customers when they most needed her.

“And she has been there for her fellow drivers too, supporting them throughout lockdown and beyond. She epitomises all that is great about our drivers.”