Brand the Bus! 2023/2024 finalists announced by Oxford Bus Company

• Top ten good causes nominated for grand finale for the £40,000 prize pot
• More than 11,000 public votes cast
• Competition helps local charities and good causes raise awareness

The public vote for the Oxford Bus Company’s ‘Brand the Bus!’ 2023/2024 competition has closed, and ten good causes have been shortlisted, based on public votes, for the grand finale.

A record number of public votes were received to nominate a local good cause to win an advertising package worth £40,000, including having their branding emblazoned on one of the Oxford Bus Company’s new electric buses.

The finalists are: Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust, Sobell House Hospice Charity, Helen and Douglas House, Oxford Hospitals Charity, Rainbow Trust Children's Charity, Style Acre, SSNAP, Yellow Submarine, Oxfordshire Youth, and Be Free Young Carers.

The top ten good causes will now go before a judging panel next month, which will select the winner.

Prizes will be awarded to the competitors who have, in the panel’s opinion, fulfilled the brief to the highest standard.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, said: “It has been fantastic to see record-breaking public involvement with Brand the Bus! this year, and we have received many top-quality entries.

“The competition continues to resonate with the charity sector and our wider community, as it’s a great opportunity for good causes to showcase what they do and gain increased support.

“I would like to thank all the organisations that entered and everyone who took the time to vote. There is an added layer of excitement this year as the winning entry will be placed on an electric bus for the first time as we accelerate towards an all-electric City fleet.

“We look forward to selecting the overall winner and working closely with the winners on the design.”

The winning organisation will be invited to work with the Oxford Bus Company to design a bus wrap featuring the brand colours, logo, and messages of the charity. It will also receive a year’s worth of advertising with Greatest Hits Radio.

Two runners-up entries will win advertising packages worth £2,000 and £1,000, respectively.