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FirstGroup only UK passenger transport operator included in this year’s S&P Sustainability Yearbook
FirstGroup, has been ranked in the top 90% of more than 7,600 companies included in this year’s S&P Sustainability Yearbook, appearing in the rankings for the third year running with an overall score of 59 out of 100. FirstGroup was one of only 28 transportation companies who made it into the 2025 Yearbook and is the only UK bus and rail operator to be included.
S&P considered more than 7,600 companies, across 60 industries in its annual Corporate Sustainability Assessment. To be listed within the Yearbook, companies must score within the top 15% of their industry group and must achieve an S&P Global Sustainability Score within 30% of their industry’s top-performing company.
FirstGroup scored strongly across each of S&P’s Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) criteria, most notably in the environmental dimensions.
FirstGroup scored highly in the Emissions category, thanks to the strong progress made against its targets to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, in both its bus and rail businesses. This includes the ongoing decarbonisation of its bus fleet and infrastructure as part of its ambitious 2035 decarbonisation target. 15% of the fleet is now zero emission, with three depots in England fully electrified and a further five across the UK substantially electrified.
In the last year our First Rail train companies including Avanti, SWR, GWR, Hull Trains and Lumo have taken strides to lower emissions. Avanti started the roll out of its new £350m fleet of electric or bi-mode trains, while GWR continued trialling their industry-first fast-charge battery-only train trial.
FirstGroup continues to prioritise its people, striving to improve Diversity, Equality and Inclusion within the work force as well as training and development opportunities for colleagues. In April last year, First Bus pledged to double the number of women in the business by 2028, as well as becoming the largest national bus operator to become a real Living Wage Employer, meaning more than 1,300 colleagues benefited from a rise in wages in line with the new commitment. The Group has 800 apprentices in training across the business, as well 500 colleagues taking part in personal development and leadership programmes aimed at under-represented groups.
Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer, said: “FirstGroup is committed to achieving the very highest sustainability standards that are set out in leading benchmarks such as the S&P Global Corporate Sustainability Assessment. As a leading private sector provider of public transport, we are playing a key role in creating a cleaner, greener and more sustainable future and we’re pleased that our activities and plans are recognised in this year’s S&P Yearbook for the third year running.”
Image credit: FirstGroup
February 17, 2025 at 11:04AM
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