A young engineering apprentice from Gloucestershire has been recognised on the international stage after being named Apprentice of the Year at the prestigious Go-Ahead Gold Awards.
Rebecca MacDonald, 25, is now entering her fourth year as an apprentice bus and coach technician with Pulhams Coaches, based in Bourton-on-the-Water.
The company is part of the Oxford Bus Group, which sits within The Go-Ahead Group, one of the UK’s largest public transport operators. Her award highlights her standout performance and rapidly growing reputation within the industry.
Miss MacDonald beat a strong field of candidates to secure the title at a glittering event in London. Reflecting on the moment, she said:
“It was really good and a shock to be fair as there were a lot of strong candidates. I didn’t know what to expect, but it was a really good night.
“There was a ballroom-like entrance with food and drinks, the awards, and then an after-party. It was nice to do something different and meet new people.
“I got a certificate on the night, a medal, and a £500 voucher. There’s a trophy too, which I’ll get, and it’ll be good to put that on show.”
Her journey with Pulhams Coaches has already seen her take on a range of technical responsibilities.
“My first couple of years were really good,” she said. “I learnt how to inspect vehicles, and then in my third year, there was a lot more diagnostics, and I gained a lot of experience from that.”
She is now preparing for her final exams and recently completed an electrical engineering course designed to support Pulhams’ future electric fleet.
“It’s been nice to learn as much as I can, and I like to get involved with the technical things,” she added. “We’re a really good team and we work together to get stuff done… I’ve had a lot of support from Pulhams.”
Her dedication has not gone unnoticed. Luke Marion, Managing Director at Pulhams Coaches, praised her commitment:
“The award win for Rebecca was richly deserved. She has demonstrated bags of initiative and taken on a lot of responsibility, despite still undergoing her apprenticeship.”
He highlighted her creativity, leadership and willingness to step up when needed, including running the workshop during short periods of staff leave.
“Rebecca is very well-respected by the team at Pulhams,” he added, noting the strong support she has received following her win.
The Go-Ahead Gold Awards also recognised other Oxford Bus Group colleagues. Oxford Bus Company’s Oseas Moura Nunes was nominated for Coach Driver of the Year, while Thames Travel’s Didcot depot was shortlisted for Depot of the Year.
