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TAXI HEROES: Acorn Insurance kicks off nationwide search for Britain’s best cabbies
- Perry Richardson
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
A nationwide award has been launched to recognise taxi and private hire drivers who go beyond their everyday duties to support passengers and local communities.
Acorn Insurance is inviting members of the public to nominate drivers for its inaugural Britain’s Taxi Hero award, with the winner receiving a £1,000 Amazon gift card and a dedicated trophy.
Nominations can recognise an extraordinary act of kindness, support for vulnerable passengers, charity or voluntary work, long service to a community, or other occasions when a driver has provided help beyond transporting a passenger.
The competition is open to all licensed taxi and private hire drivers in Britain, regardless of whether they are insured by Acorn. Nominations open on Tuesday 8 September and close at midnight on Sunday 4 October 2026.
The winner is scheduled to be announced on Tuesday 20 October.
Acorn said the campaign was prompted by research it commissioned earlier in 2026 examining public attitudes towards the trade. The study found that 82% of UK adults considered taxi drivers vital to their local communities, while 44% believed drivers did not receive sufficient recognition.
Three in five respondents also said they had relied on a taxi driver during a difficult or important moment in their lives, according to the insurer. The award covers drivers working across different sections of the licensed transport industry, including London black cabs, private hire vehicles and taxis serving smaller towns and rural areas.
Ash Coakley, Head of Taxi Insurance at Acorn Group, said: “Almost everyone has a story about a taxi driver who has gone the extra mile. It might be getting someone home safely late at night, helping an elderly passenger with their shopping, returning a lost wallet or phone, supporting a local charity, or being a familiar and trusted face in their community.
“Those moments often happen without any recognition and we want to help change that.
“That’s why we’re searching for Britain’s Taxi Heroes. We’re encouraging people across the country to tell us about the drivers who have made a difference to them and give those drivers the recognition they deserve.”
Coakley added: “If you think your town or city has Britain’s best cabbies, now’s the chance to prove it. Tell us who your local taxi hero is and why they deserve to win.”
