Brand the Bus! goes all-electric as Oxford Bus Company launches 2024 Competition
1 year ago
- Winner scoops £40,000 of advertising including branded electric bus
- Entry is now open for Oxfordshire-based charities and good causes
- Competition provides huge boost to visibility of local charities and good causes
Oxford Bus Company today launched its annual Brand the Bus! 2024 competition for a local charity or good cause to have its branding emblazoned on a new electric double decker.
In an exciting first, the branded bus will be electric as Oxford Bus Company and Go-Ahead strive towards net-zero business operations.
It is the sixth year running that Oxford Bus Company has launched the competition as part of its efforts to give back to the community.
The winner will receive a bumper advertising package worth £40,000 which includes the branded bus, digital screen advertising on board buses, and on-air advertising with Greatest Hits Radio (previously Jack FM) for one year.
To celebrate the community partnership between Oxford Bus Company and Greatest Hits Radio, a bus rear will be branded to promote the competition.
To enter, good causes must submit a simple entry form online by 23:59 on 8th January 2024, providing background information and explaining what it would mean to win the competition. The public vote will run until 2nd February 2024, where the top 10 entries will be shortlisted for a judging panel, who will then decide on a winner.
Luke Marion, Managing Director at Oxford Bus Company, said: "The Brand the Bus! competition has become an annual tradition in Oxfordshire and is an excellent way to raise awareness of local charities.
“It helps us to give back to the communities we operate in and support excellent good causes. The value previous winners have received has been significant, so I’d encourage good causes to get involved.
“We look forward to receiving this year’s entries and are excited to see our first ever branded electric bus on the road next year.”
Andy Shier, Content Director at Greatest Hits Radio Oxfordshire, said: "We’re delighted Greatest Hits Radio is on board with the Brand the Bus! competition. As well as playing the biggest songs of the 70s, 80s and 90s with our legendary presenters including Oxfordshire’s own Ken Bruce, Greatest Hits Radio is committed to serving the community and this competition is the perfect opportunity for us to do so. We can’t wait to unveil the winner alongside Oxford Bus Company.”
Last year, bereavement charity SeeSaw scooped first prize with Oxford City Angels and Sobell House Hospice the runners up. Winners of previous iterations of Brand the Bus! are Girl Guiding Oxfordshire, Home-Start Oxford, Blue Skye-Thinking, and Restore.
Prizes will be awarded to entries which, in the panel’s opinion, fulfil the brief to the highest standard. The winning organisation will be invited to work with Oxford Bus Company on the bus livery design, ready for launch in the spring of 2024.
Two runners-up will receive advertising worth £2,000 and £1,000 respectively.
For more details on the competition and to enter, please visit the website: https://www.oxfordbus.co.uk/brand-the-bus