Celebrating Britain’s taxi drivers
Acorn Taxi Hero Award
2026 Winners
Meet the drivers going the extra mile for their passengers and communities.
Chosen by our panel of judges, our 11 regional Acorn Taxi Hero Award winners showcase the extraordinary difference taxi drivers make every day.
From Monday 26 October 2026, we’ll be revealing their inspiring stories each week as we count down to the national winner announcement on 11 November 2026.
11 regional winners
One national Taxi Hero
Chosen by our judges
Celebrating the people behind the wheel
Meet our regional Taxi Heroes
Every driver has a story. These are the ones that moved us.
We heard more than 1,700 stories about drivers going above and beyond. Here are the drivers who stood out to our judges.
Regional winner 2026
North East
Lamin Saho
A private hire driver from Newcastle, is the North East winner of the Acorn Taxi Hero Award 2026.
Regional winner 2026
North West
Alan Gilfoyle
A private hire driver from Wallasey, is the North West winner of the Acorn Taxi Hero Award 2026.
Regional winner 2026
Yorkshire & the Humber
Mark Wray
A private hire driver from Hull, is the Yorkshire & the Humber winner of the Acorn Taxi Hero Award 2026.
Regional winner 2026
East Midlands
Maria Sharp
A private hire driver from Wellingborough, is the East Midlands winner of the Acorn Taxi Hero Award 2026.
Backing the people behind the wheel.
About Acorn Insurance
Specialist insurance since 1982
Acorn Insurance is the UK’s largest taxi insurance specialist.
Based on 2024 taxi gross written premium exceeding £150m, 20% above the next largest competitor. Source: Companies House, November 2025.
Founded in 1982, Acorn has built more than four decades of specialist insurance experience. We can help arrange insurance for public hire and private hire drivers, including app-based drivers, as well as taxi fleets, with short-term or annual cover across England, Scotland and Wales. We also specialise in helping those who may have previous claims, driving convictions, or points on their licence.
More than a journey
About the Acorn Taxi Hero Award
At Acorn Insurance, we know taxi drivers do far more than get people from A to B. They support passengers, look out for their communities and step up when it matters most.
Acorn has spent 40 years backing Britain’s taxi drivers. Now we’re celebrating the people behind the wheel and sharing the stories that deserve national recognition.
The winner’s prize
The winner will be crowned Britain’s Taxi Hero and receive:
T&Cs apply. Find the full prize details and terms and conditions on the award page.