School bus tech strikes gold at UK Bus Awards

Transport technology and consultancy firm Vectare is celebrating after its VecTive school transport management system was recognised at the UK Bus Awards.

VecTive won the gold award in the New Horizons category, sponsored by Passenger Transport magazine, which recognises projects that have embraced technology, and showcase creativity and innovation in the bus industry. Shortlisted from over 200 entries, Vectare beat off stiff competition from the likes of Stagecoach, Arriva and the Go-Ahead group.

Mark Yexley, Chairman of the UK Bus Awards, said: “This tech makes planning travel to and from school easy for both parents and pupils, as well as the schools themselves. We would like to congratulate Vectare on their outstanding achievement today. Well done from everyone at the UK Bus Awards.”

Vectare was founded in early 2016 by Nottingham-born entrepreneurs Peter Nathanail and Dominic Kalantary who, at the time, were both still university students. They set out to improve the quality and efficiency of independent schools’ transport services, and have now diversified; alongside managing bus services to maintained schools on behalf of bus and coach operators, they also provide a full suite of network planning and data analysis consultancy services, underpinned by their advanced GIS technology.

Peter said “Winning this award is absolutely fantastic, and so unexpected as well. It will be massively motivational for our team, and I’m really pleased that the judges recognised the careful thought that we’ve put in to VecTive as it has developed. With concerns about congestion and air quality high on the political agenda, using data analysis and technology to make non-car modes more attractive for the school run is only going to get more important.”