Following its recent success at the UK Bus Awards and 30th anniversary of commercial operation, JAMES DAY visits Uno of Hatfield to speak to managing director Jim Thorpe to learn more about the university-owned bus operator’s success

There are many ownership structures for bus operators in the UK; family firms, independents, municipals, big groups, foreign public transport authorities and more besides, but one of the most unusual I’ve come across is a bus operation run by a university.
Owned by the University of Hertfordshire, Uno was the 2022 winner of the UK Bus Award for Best Independent Operator, with its managing director since August 2009, Jim Thorpe, taking an award for Leader of the Year.