A Witney firm has been named among the finalists of one of the bus and coach industry's most prestigious awards programmes.

The routeone Awards have been celebrating excellence across the industry since 2005.

The 18th year of the awards will continue to recognise operators and individuals who have driven innovation and success.

One of those firm's is Witney-based OMC Global, which has made the final of the Best Use of Technology - Coach Operator category.

It is one of three companies to make the final in this category and will go up against Maynes Coaches and Roberts Travel Group for top spot.

The programme's line-up features 81 finalists spread across 15 categories.

To be considered for a routeone Award, candidates were first nominated by industry peers, before nominees submitted entries demonstrating how they met the category criteria.

The judging process involved a panel of industry experts who reviewed each entry to come up with the shortlist.

This year's judges included the former traffic commissioner for Scotland, Joan Aitken, former managing director of Galloway Travel, David Cattermole, Nigel Eggleton, who previously served as managing director with First Bus South Yorkshire and Midlands, and Mark Fowles, who is the former managing director of Nottingham City Transport.

It also featured Graham Russell, former senior executive with FirstGroup, and Norman Thomas, former engineering product manager for Volvo Bus.

Event director, Helen Conway, said: "The routeone Awards stand as a beacon of recognition in the coach and bus industry.

"Each year, the calibre of entries surpasses expectations, reflecting the dynamic nature of the industry.

"The finalists announced today represent the very best, and it is an honour to recognise their achievements."

Categories include Manager of the Year among small and medium operators, Outstanding Customer Experience, Engineer of the Year among small and medium operators, the Rising Star category and the Environment Award.

Some of the more hotly contested finals will include the Large Bus Operator of the Year, eligible for companies with more than 150 buses.

It will feature seven finalists, namely, Arriva Merseyside, Brighton & Hove Buses and Metrobus, Go-Ahead London, Go South Coast, Nottingham City Transport, Reading Buses and Stagecoach East

There is also a lot of competition in the Coach Tourism Programme of the Year category, with eight firms set to contest the title.

The winners will be unveiled at a black-tie presentation on the evening of November 13, in Birmingham.

The evening will bring together more than 800 industry professionals to network and celebrate with the industry’s high achievers.