FirstGroup Signs Five-Year Partnership With Bridgestone

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2017-Jun-12 — /Travel PR News/ — Leading transport operator FirstGroup has signed a $110m, five-year deal with tyre supplier Bridgestone. The deal is FirstGroup’s first international procurement agreement for direct goods or services, and is also the largest commercial fleet contract in Bridgestone’s history. The contract will see Bridgestone, the world’s largest tyre… Read the full press release

Major transport groups completes roll-out of smart, multi-operator ticketing in England’s biggest city regions

NEWS RELEASE ISSSUED ON BEHALF OF STAGECOACH, FIRSTGROUP, GO-AHEAD, ARRIVA AND NATIONAL EXPRESS • Seamless bus travel now in place in all nine major city regions in England • System covers more than a third of the 26,000 buses outside London • Significant private investment in partnership with transport authorities • Initiative delivers easier, cheaper… Read the full press release

FirstGroup signed agreement with the Department for Transport to operate the First Great Western rail franchise until 1 April 2019

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2015-3-23 — /Travel PR News/ — FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, has signed an agreement with the Department for Transport (‘DfT’) to operate the First Great Western rail franchise until 1 April 2019, which could also be extended by up to one further year at the DfT’s discretion. FirstGroup’s… Read the full press release

FirstGroup plans for a new service offering great value fares between London, North East England and Edinburgh

FirstGroup proposes low fares operation to capture market share from air travel Aberdeen, Scotland, 2015-3-11 — /Travel PR News/ — FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, is developing plans for a new service offering great value fares between London, North East England and Edinburgh. As part of this process, the Group… Read the full press release

Prostate Cancer UK voted as FirstGroup’s new UK Charity of Choice partner

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-12-17 — /Travel PR News/ — Thousands of FirstGroup’s employees have chosen Prostate Cancer UK as the company’s new UK Charity of Choice partner after a recent vote. The new three year partnership between the leading transport operator and the charity hopes to raise £1m for men affected by prostate cancer, and their partners… Read the full press release

FirstGroup comments on the announcement by the Department for Transport concerning the new InterCity East Coast franchise

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-11-28 — /Travel PR News/ — FirstGroup notes the announcement today by the Department for Transport (‘DfT’) concerning the new InterCity East Coast franchise. Commenting, Tim O’Toole, FirstGroup’s Chief Executive, said: “Our bid for the East Coast franchise was ambitious yet realistic. Had it been selected, it would have created a world class railway… Read the full press release

FirstGroup launches eight brand new state-of-the-art buses on services operating in Worcester, England

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-10-23 — /Travel PR News/ — Eight brand new, state-of-the-art buses are being launched by First this week on services operating in Worcester. The new additions to the fleet represent an investment of £1.4 million by the company. The eight StreetLites come equipped with leather seats, wide entrance doors, a high proportion of… Read the full press release

FirstGroup: Transport Scotland announced Serco to operate the new Caledonian Sleeper rail franchise from 1 April 2015

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-5-29 — /Travel PR News/ — Transport Scotland has announced today that Serco will be operating the new Caledonian Sleeper rail franchise, with effect from 1 April 2015. Caledonian Sleeper services, which currently form a small part of the Group’s ScotRail franchise, will become a new, separate franchise and as a result the Group… Read the full press release

FirstGroup achieved record passenger satisfaction in Passenger Focus’ latest Bus Passenger Survey

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-03-26 — /Travel PR News/ — Managing Director of FirstGroup’s Bus Division, Giles Fearnley, has welcomed the results of the latest Bus Passenger Survey (BPS) published by independent watchdog, Passenger Focus. The results show a 5% rise in overall passenger satisfaction across First’s services to 86% since the last survey. The company has also seen… Read the full press release

FirstGroup to operate the First Capital Connect rail franchise for further six months

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-2-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, has signed an agreement with the Department for Transport to operate the First Capital Connect rail franchise for a further six months. As previously announced, this award means that the First Capital Connect franchise will operate beyond its current planned… Read the full press release

FirstGroup employee Richard Emslie to raise money for Muscular Dystrophy Campaign on the London Marathon in April 2014

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-2-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup employee, Richard Emslie, has set his sights on raising money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign by taking on the London Marathon in April 2014. The 39 year old from Laurencekirk, who is Controller at First Shared Services the financial processing centre for FirstGroup, is aiming to raise at least £1,750… Read the full press release

FirstGroup’s financial processing centre First Shared Services (FSS) employees crowned one of the healthiest workforces in Scotland

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-1-8 — /travelprnews.com/ — Staff at Aberdeen based, First Shared Services (FSS), the financial processing centre for transport operator FirstGroup, have been crowned one of the healthiest workforces in Scotland. Just one year after being awarded the Healthy Working Lives Silver Status, FSS has been awarded Gold status in recognition of the company’s efforts to… Read the full press release

FirstGroup appointed Dennis Maple as President of its First Student division

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-1-8 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup announces that it has appointed Dennis Maple as President of its First Student division with effect from 13 January 2014. Dennis joins from Aramark Corporation, a leading services organisation with revenues of over $13bn, where over the past ten years he has performed a number of senior roles most… Read the full press release

14 graduates from FirstGroup’s UK based Graduate Management Scheme started in the transport industry last month

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2013-11-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — 14 graduates began life in the transport industry last month when they started out on FirstGroup’s UK based Graduate Management Scheme. The graduates, recruited from all over the UK, undertake a comprehensive workplace training programme over two years at various locations across First’s UK operations and within various functions in the… Read the full press release

Scottish Government shortlisted FirstGroup for the ScotRail franchise competition

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2013-11-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup has been shortlisted for the ScotRail franchise competition by the Scottish Government. The Group currently operates the franchise which provides passenger train services throughout Scotland. The new ten year contract, with a potential break point after five years, will be awarded next year and is expected to start in April… Read the full press release

UK’s leading bus and rail operator FirstGroup picked up four awards and two commendations at National Transport Awards

London, UK, 2013-10-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup enjoyed a successful evening at last week’s (17 Oct) National Transport Awards.  The UK’s leading bus and rail operator came out on top as the most recognised private transport operator picking up four awards and two commendations. First Glasgow’s ‘The One’ bus service won the much coveted ‘Excellence in Travel… Read the full press release

UK transport operator FirstGroup to sponsor four of the north east’s most promising young golfers

2013-09-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, today confirmed that it has strengthened its relationship with former Open Champion and Ryder Cup veteran, Paul Lawrie, by sponsoring four of the north east’s most promising young professionals, all of whom have emerged from Paul Lawrie’s Junior Golf Foundation. Aberdeen… Read the full press release

FirstGroup’s subsidiary First Manchester Limited to acquire Manchester bus business from Finglands Coachways Limited

2013-08-05— /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup plc is pleased to announce that First Manchester Limited, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of the Group, has agreed to acquire the Manchester bus business from Finglands Coachways Limited for a consideration of £50,000. The acquisition of Finglands, which operates a number of commercial bus services and school contracts to the South… Read the full press release

FirstGroup charity event Dinner Dance raised £4,000 for Archie Foundation

2013-06-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup announced today that its annual dinner dance, which was held 21 February, raised more than £4,000 for the ARCHIE Foundation. The event, which attracted more than 200 guests, was the company’s 76th annual dinner dance and was the 42nd to be organised and hosted by First Aberdeen Director, Joe Mackie. Joe… Read the full press release

FirstGroup 76th Annual Dinner Dance Raises £4,000 for Archie Foundation

2013-05-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup announced today that its annual dinner dance, which was held 21 February, raised more than £4,000 for the ARCHIE Foundation. The event, which attracted more than 200 guests, was the company’s 76th annual dinner dance and was the 42nd to be organised and hosted by First Aberdeen Director, Joe Mackie. Joe… Read the full press release

FirstGroup continues support of Monty’s Maggies Appeal by updating First Aberdeen’s double decker bus

2013-05-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup, the UK’s leading bus and rail operator, has continued its support of Monty’s Maggies Appeal by updating the livery on one of First Aberdeen’s double decker buses. In 2012, the Aberdeen based transport operator revealed a Maggies ‘bus wrap’ which completely covers the vehicle (except the windows) and included a 10ft… Read the full press release

Eighteen runners from FirstGroup HQ taking on the Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10k

2013-05-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Eighteen runners from FirstGroup and local bus operator, First Aberdeen, are taking on the Aberdeen Baker Hughes 10k this weekend and raising cash for the company’s charity partner, Macmillan Cancer Support. One of the runners is 24 year old Alyson Eddie, who works as FirstGroup’s Procurement Data Analyst.  She is running a… Read the full press release

FirstGroup provides London’s Air Ambulance

2013-05-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, today revealed that it is providing London’s Air Ambulance, the charity that delivers an advanced trauma team to critically injured people in London, with £100k worth of support over four years. Last month one of FirstGroup’s brand new hybrid buses, which… Read the full press release

Safety and Environment Focus for FirstGroup

2013-04-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — FirstGroup, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America, last week (16 April) hosted its annual Safety and Environmental Awards Dinner.  The awards reinforce First’s commitment to safety and the environment by recognising the achievements of its people and companies throughout the UK. More than 230 of FirstGroup’s senior management… Read the full press release

FirstGroup Ranked Gold in Business in the Community’s Corporate Responsibility Index

2013-04-16 — /travelprnews.com/ — Transport operator FirstGroup has today been officially recognised in the UK’s leading and most in-depth voluntary benchmark of corporate responsibility, Business in the Community’s Corporate Responsibility Index (CR Index). First has achieved ‘Gold’ company status for its operations across the UK and North America improving upon the ‘Silver’ status which it secured… Read the full press release