Announced in March 2023, Go-Ahead’s operating company Go North West, ranked 8th overall out of 259 leading British businesses across 28 sectors.

The survey, the UK’s longest-running corporate reputation study, is unique in that winners are chosen by board representatives, analysts, and City commentators. Go-Ahead Group stood out by winning seven of the 13 criteria, including:

• Quality of Products & Services
• Ability to Attract, Develop & Retain Top Talent
• Capacity to Innovate
• Quality of Marketing
• Effective Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)
• Effective Corporate Governance
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

The recognition reinforces Go-Ahead Group’s position as a trusted leader in the transport sector, demonstrating its excellence in governance, environmental responsibility, and employee development.

Brighton & Hove Buses, part of the Go-Ahead Group, was recognised as a national leader in accessibility at the 2024 National Transport Awards, winning the award for Best Practice in Diversity, Inclusivity, and Accessibility. The awards, held in Westminster, celebrate the organisations driving progress and economic growth across the UK transport sector.

Brighton & Hove Buses have an innovative accessibility programme including a dedicated community team that works collaboratively with local organisations to co-create inclusive policies. Recent achievements include the release of a driver training video co-created with the Thomas Pocklington Trust, the introduction of 44 buses with dementia-friendly flooring, and the transformation of its Travel Centre into a welcoming community hub.

Brighton & Hove Buses holds several high-profile accreditations, including Level 3 inclusive transport leader status from the Department for Transport – the highest recognition in this field – and is a Level 2 disability confident employer recognised by the Department for Work and Pensions. Additionally, it was the first business accredited as age and dementia-friendly by Brighton & Hove City Council.

GTR and London-based Community Benefit Society Energy Garden were honoured with the Environmental Excellence Award at the National Rail Awards in late 2024, celebrating innovative projects that drive sustainability and community engagement. The award recognises a ground-breaking initiative to install community-owned solar panels on depot rooftops at Streatham Hill, Bedford Cauldwell Walk, Selhurst, and Three Bridges.

The initiative generates clean energy for onsite use at GTR depots, exports surplus energy to the grid, and funds urban greening and education projects for young people in inner-city London.

Judges applauded the initiative for its scalability and transformative impact, noting: “Public transport has long been regarded as one of the key solutions to the climate crisis. But this project takes it a step further. This not-for-profit uses the vast empty and often ugly space of depot roofs to generate clean energy at no upfront cost to the operator.”

Jason Brooker, GTR’s Head of Environment, stated: “Community-owned energy is a great example where everyone benefits. The partnership with Energy Garden challenges norms and delivers real change in tackling the climate and ecological crisis.”

Go-Ahead is delighted to celebrate the victory of ‘The Needles Breezer,’ operated by Southern Vectis, in the prestigious Great Scenic Journeys UK Open Top Bus Cup 2024. Selected from over 250 routes across the UK, the iconic circular route claimed an overwhelming 79% of votes in the final round of public voting.

‘The Needles Breezer’ showcases the best of the Isle of Wight’s natural beauty, connecting Yarmouth, Freshwater Bay, Dimbola Museum and Galleries, Fort Victoria Country Park, and The Needles Landmark Attraction at Alum Bay. This breathtaking route has been a fixture on the island since June 1954, delighting tourists and locals alike with its stunning views and heritage appeal.

As one of the island’s largest employers, our operating company Southern Vectis is proud to support local tourism and highlight the Isle of Wight’s unique charm. The award not only recognises the exceptional service provided by its team but also underscores the enduring popularity of open-top bus tours as a quintessential British experience.

The Go-Ahead Group is proud to be recognised as the top apprenticeships employer in the transport industry for a third year running in a ranking accredited by the Department for Education. Go-Ahead was named as the 7th top apprenticeships provider in England overall in the 2024 ranking.

Over the past year, Go-Ahead welcomed nearly 1,000 apprentices across its regional bus companies and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), the UK’s largest rail operator. These apprenticeships offer a pathway to careers in roles such as bus drivers, train drivers, and engineers, while driving diversity within Go-Ahead’s workforce.

The UK Green Business Awards celebrated Go-Ahead’s leadership in sustainability by recognising its groundbreaking all-electric bus city project in Oxford. Led by Go-Ahead’s operating company, Oxford Bus Company, the initiative saw 104 zero-emission buses deployed by the end of 2024. The project includes a fully electrified depot at Cowley, featuring 104 charging points capable of powering buses for 200 miles daily.

This innovative project, funded through a collaboration between local and national government and Go-Ahead’s £30m investment, is expected to save 6,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. It also positions Go-Ahead as a global leader in zero-emission transport, supporting our goal of fully decarbonising our bus fleet by 2035.

Miguel Parras, Group Chief Executive of Go-Ahead Group, said: “I am proud of our team in Oxford who have successfully delivered this industry-leading project. We will continue to lead the way in transitioning to zero-emission buses, building on best practices to serve our communities.”

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Oxford Bus Company, added:

“This project is groundbreaking, not only have we created an all-electric bus city, together with our partners from the public and private sector, we’ve achieved so much more.”

“We’re not just improving the environment with this project but crucially will also be improving bus journey times too with the imminent introduction of additional traffic filters in the city. This award is a testament to the dedication of our people at Oxford Bus Company and the wider Go-Ahead Group team”.

The Apprenticeship Guide Awards recognise and celebrate outstanding apprenticeship programs and individuals who demonstrate exceptional mentorship across various industries.

Our operating company, Go-Ahead London, has been honoured as the recipient of the “Best Apprenticeship Programme in Transport” award at the Apprenticeship Guide Awards 2024. This recognition underscores our unwavering commitment to nurturing talent, promoting career development, and fostering a culture of learning within the transport industry.

Go-Ahead London said:

“We are proud to be recognised in this way. We are London’s largest bus operator, running 26% of the capital’s world-famous red buses from 17 garages. Since  2018, over 3000 colleagues have joined our bus driver apprenticeships scheme.   Many more have also joined our Technical Apprenticeships programme too.”