Main content
Transport is public-facing, often the topic of political debate and subject to significant interaction with government at local, regional and national level. Our goals are to advocate for innovation and investment in sustainable mobility, and to make the case for sustainable transport infrastructure decisions that help reduce congestion, enhance customer experience and decrease journey times. We achieve this by engaging with a wide range of stakeholders and policymakers.
At Group level, we have long-established and strong relationships with government officials and departments, as well as positive engagement with ministers. We work with both Government and opposition policy teams and advisers, as well as significant political influencers, including Parliamentary committee members.
Our experience, expertise and market-leading positioning is recognised when we intervene in policy debate and allows us to engage meaningfully with decision-makers to promote the most effective form of private sector transport provision in our respective markets. We also engage with policymakers and seek to influence the development of policy both directly, and through the membership of sector trade organisations, who engage with national government and regulators to promote a positive policy environment for private sector transport.
In First Bus we work closely with our local authority partners to pursue formal and informal partnerships which help us deliver better services through measures which cut road congestion and give priority to buses.
In First Rail, we deploy Regional Development Managers within our operating companies who liaise with local and regional government, local businesses, user groups and others.
This commitment to, and experience of, effective local and regional partnerships, underpins our approach to the partnership options set out in the Government’s National Bus Strategy, as well as our engagement with the devolved nations, to ensure that the experience and expertise of private operators remains central to the delivery of public transport services.
In the UK, we engage with, and support through formal membership, a number of business advocacy organisations, sustainability lobby groups and public transport campaigns. By working through these alliances, we amplify our influence on policy. We welcomed the government’s Transport Decarbonisation Plan this year which set out clear commitments to support the roll out of zero emission buses; to deliver a programme of rail electrification; and to encourage innovation on battery trains.
This year we expanded our involvement in the various sustainability forums set up for the rail industry by the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB). The managing director of TPE sits on its Sustainable Rail Executive and our Group Engineering Director chairs its Sustainable Rail Leadership Group. A key achievement this year has been the development of a prototype Sustainable Rail Strategy for the industry, created with input from representatives of all our rail businesses.
Read more about government engagement on page 44 of our Annual Report and Accounts 2022.