Ground Transport Group (GTG) were delighted to be invited to the 2023 Parliamentary Taxi & Private Hire Awards held on Tuesday 6th June from the Terrace Pavilion at the Houses of Parliament. The occasion paid tribute to many Taxi & Private Hire Drivers that have provided exceptional service for people in their respective communities.
Our team were delighted to see such recognition for these well-deserving drivers, many of whom regularly provide vital transport for the general public, to the NHS, schools, councils, the elderly, the vulnerable, and many more people, organisations and services.
It’s often overlooked that your day-to-day driving heroes are thanked, recognised or awarded for exceptional services or for going ‘the extra mile’ in extraordinary scenarios or circumstances. This was just one of the reasons why GTG were proud to support the Parliamentary Taxi & Private Hire Awards.
This year’s Awards were proudly sponsored for the fourth consecutive year by Europe’s Mobility App, FREENOW, who are deemed a Mobility Super App with the largest vehicle choice for consumers across Europe, available in 9 markets and over 150 cities.
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To understand a bit more about the awards, we have listed some questions and answers below.
How long have the Awards been running for?
The Awards have been running for four years now.
When were the Awards first launched?
The Awards were launched in 2019 by Mr Daniel Zeichner MP, as chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Taxis.
What was the inspiration behind creating this event?
To bring the industry together to celebrate drivers and inspire passengers.
Can you tell us the name of the Awards?
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The Parliamentary Taxi & Private Hire Awards.
When & where were the Awards held this year?
The Awards were held on Tuesday 6th June 2023 at the House of Commons in Parliament.
Who hosted the ceremony for this year’s event?
The founder, Daniel Zeichner MP, hosted this year’s event.
What was the format for nominations?
The Awards gave Parliamentarians a chance to nominate a driver from their constituency who had gone above and beyond the call of duty in their community.
Was there anything new or different this year?
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This year, more Parliamentarians than ever before (including members of the House of Lords) were eligible to nominate drivers, and for the first time ever London Assembly Members could also put forward their choice of driver.
Can you provide previous reasons why drivers have been nominated before?
Some previous reasons why drivers were nominated have included; food parcel deliveries, drivers that provided free rides for vulnerable people, and drivers who provided life-saving medical attention.
Can you tell us more about the involvement of the sponsor FREENOW?
FREENOW believes in backing UK drivers and championing the work that the Taxi and Private Hire industry does on behalf of the UK public.
Can you describe which services FREENOW provides?
FREE NOW is a multi-mobility app that offers black cabs and private hire vehicles together on a single platform.
The sponsor of the event, FREENOW, and the founder of the Awards, Daniel Ziechner MP, both passionately explained their reasons for the event taking place.
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Mariusz Zabrocki, UK General Manager, FREENOW said: “These Awards are an opportunity to celebrate the huge contribution Taxi and PHV drivers make to people’s lives and to our local communities. At FREENOW, we believe in backing UK drivers and championing the work that the Taxi and Private Hire industry does on behalf of the UK public. By extending nominations to include the House of Lords and the London Assembly, this year’s Awards are an opportunity to recognise more drivers than ever before.”
Daniel Zeichner MP commented: “These Awards are all about celebrating the huge – often unsung – contribution of the UK’s 330,000 taxi and PHV drivers. It’s a chance to shine a light on those drivers who – in the course of their day-to-day work – have gone above and beyond to support their customers or their local community. I would encourage all my colleagues here in Parliament and at the London Assembly to nominate those drivers who they have come across who they feel would merit Recognition.”
A spokesperson for Ground Transport Group said: “It’s important that where drivers are working tirelessly, raising money for charity, coming to the aid of vulnerable people, and generally making a big difference to their communities, that we show our support towards the Parliamentary Taxi & Private Hire Awards organisers, for delivering a ‘thank you’ to these incredible drivers.”
When our team arrived in London, we were warmly greeted by representatives from FREENOW at Parliament’s prestigious Terrace Pavilion, which overlooks the famous River Thames. We then had a chance to meet with many of the Drivers nominated by their MPs, whilst we got to enjoy a cup of tea, a coffee and some refreshments.
The format of the Awards allowed for Drivers to be put forward by their MP or Assembly Member and would be presented with a certificate in recognition for their efforts, highlighting why they have been selected to be their constituency’s ‘Taxi & Private Hire Driver of the Year’.
The ceremony began, where we heard from Department for Transport minister Richard Holden MP, FREENOW’s UK General Manager, Mariusz Zabrocki, and the founder of the Awards, Daniel Ziechner MP, who all gave passionate speeches.
The Department for Transport (DfT) minister responsible for Taxi and PHV policy, Richard Holden MP, delivered a short speech congratulating all 39 drivers nominated by a Parliamentarian or Member of the London Assembly for an award. His Labour shadow – Simon Lightwood MP – then went on to present the winning drivers with their certificates and trophies.
The UK General Manager of FREENOW, Mariusz Zabrocki, said: “Congratulations to this year’s winners. At FREENOW, we truly believe in supporting drivers and showcasing their key role in society, especially those who make a real difference in people’s lives daily. It is an honour to be involved in these Awards for the fourth year running, and we would like to extend our congratulations to all those involved – not least Daniel – for delivering another outstanding event.”
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Founder of the Awards, Daniel Zeichner MP, said: “I started these awards four years ago with the goal of highlighting those who go the extra mile in the community to make people’s lives just that little bit easier. Over the years, we have met some incredible people who have gone ‘above and beyond’ in their role to support people both in the UK and abroad. These Awards are all about celebrating the contribution of the UK’s 330,000 taxi and PHV drivers to their local communities – and far beyond them. I would like to congratulate all of this year’s winners and nominees and thank them for their contribution not only to where they live and work but also to the standing and reputation of the industry as a whole.”
So, who exactly were this year’s winners?
This year’s winners, recognised for their significant contribution to their communities, were:
- Mohamed Ewasha (FREENOW Award) – at 74 years ‘young’, Mohamed is commended for his inspiring fundraising efforts, having run the London Marathon and various half-marathons to raise funds for different charities, including Independent Age.
- Matt Westfall (Charity Award) – Matt used his 11 years of driving experience as a London cabbie to take essentials to people living in makeshift camps on the Ukrainian border with Poland before taking some of them on to safe places. He recruited the drivers of six other cabs, one car and a van to join his cause, raising more than £11,000 to fund their efforts.
- Kareem Ismail (Climate & Sustainability Award) – Kareem invested a substantial amount of money in an electric taxi and continues to raise awareness of the need for battery-powered cabs and PHVs in London.
- Simon Davies (Hero Award) – Simon is recognised for having made several trips by car to Ukraine in the past 12 months in order to deliver aid to those in need, as well as engaging in a great deal of fundraising.
Muhammad Delwar Uddin (Community Award) – Muhammad applied to be an NHS volunteer at the start of the pandemic, picking up and delivering prescriptions from the local pharmacy to patients. Three years on, he continues this work. He has made hundreds of trips during this time and plans to continue supporting the NHS.
The Ground Transport Group team would like to thank all the organisers of the Parliamentary Taxi & Private Hire Awards. A huge congratulations to the well-deserved winners. We look forward to seeing what the fifth year will hold in 2024!
