What Does FirstGroup plc Do?

Total employees1971
HeadquartersAberdeen
Founded

FirstGroup plc is a leading transport operator in the UK and North America, committed to delivering easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities. With a diverse portfolio of bus and rail services, FirstGroup focuses on providing safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation solutions. The company operates iconic brands such as Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, Avanti West Coast (a FirstGroup joint venture with Trenitalia), Lumo, and Hull Trains, alongside First Bus services across the UK. In North America, First Student is the market leader in student transportation. FirstGroup is dedicated to innovation, customer service, and contributing positively to the environment and the communities it serves.

Where Is FirstGroup plc's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the central hub for FirstGroup's global operations, overseeing strategic direction, financial management, corporate governance, and group-wide support functions for its UK and North American divisions.

Notable Features:

The King Street office is a modern facility, strategically located to manage FirstGroup's extensive transport network. While specific architectural highlights are not widely publicized, it is designed to support efficient corporate operations and collaboration.

Work Culture:

The headquarters fosters a professional and collaborative work environment, focused on operational excellence, innovation in transport solutions, and a strong commitment to safety, sustainability, and customer service across all its businesses.

HQ Significance:

The Aberdeen headquarters is significant as the command center for one of the largest transport operators in the UK and North America, coordinating diverse services that impact millions of passengers daily and drive strategic initiatives.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters' operations aim to reflect FirstGroup's core values of being committed to customers, dedicated to safety, supportive of colleagues, accountable for performance, and setting the highest standards.

Location:

FirstGroup plc has a significant global presence concentrated in two core markets: the United Kingdom and North America (primarily the USA, with operations in Canada). In the UK, its functions include operating extensive urban and regional bus services (First Bus) and major passenger rail networks (Great Western Railway, South Western Railway, Avanti West Coast (JV), Lumo, Hull Trains). In North America, FirstGroup is a market leader in student transportation through First Student. Globally supported functions from its corporate centers include strategic planning, financial management, procurement, technology and innovation in transport, safety and environmental standard-setting, and corporate governance.

Street Address:

395 King Street

City:

Aberdeen

State/Province:

Scotland

Country:

United Kingdom

Where Else Does FirstGroup plc Operate Around the World?

Cincinnati, Ohio, USA

Address: 600 Vine Street, Suite 1400, Cincinnati, OH 45202, USA

To lead and support FirstGroup's extensive student transportation services in North America, focusing on safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction in the K-12 school bus sector.

London, England, United Kingdom

Address: 4th Floor, Capital House, 25 Chapel Street, London, NW1 5DH, UK

To manage and support vital rail and bus services in and around London and the South of England, and to provide a corporate presence in the UK's capital city for engagement with national bodies and partners.

Buying Intent Signals for FirstGroup plc

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading FirstGroup plc? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, FirstGroup plc' leadership includes:

Graham Sutherland - Chief Executive Officer
Ryan Mangold - Chief Financial Officer
Janette Bell - Managing Director, First Bus
Steve Montgomery - Managing Director, First Rail
Kevin O'Connor - Interim Chief Executive Officer, First Student
Stuartমাধ্যমিক - Group Human Resources Director
Richard Leonard - Group General Counsel and Company Secretary

Who's Investing in FirstGroup plc?

FirstGroup plc has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Coast Capital Management LP
Schroder Investment Management Ltd.
Columbia Threadneedle Investments
Dimensional Fund Advisors LP
Abrdn PLC

What Leadership Changes Has FirstGroup plc Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits1

Over the past year, FirstGroup has experienced key leadership transitions, particularly within its First Student division in North America, and has made new appointments to its Board of Directors to strengthen governance and oversight.

Departures

John Kenning, John Kenning stepped down as CEO of First Student.
Sally Fookes, Sally Fookes retired from the Board of FirstGroup plc.

New Appointments:

Kevin O'Connor, Kevin O'Connor, previously CFO of First Student, appointed Interim CEO of First Student.
Peter Lynas, Peter Lynas appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee.
Victoria Palmer, Victoria Palmer appointed to the Board as a Non-Executive Director.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byFirstGroup plc?

Discover the tools FirstGroup plc uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

FirstGroup plc Email Formats and Examples

FirstGroup plc and its subsidiaries typically use standardized corporate email formats. The most common format for group-level communication is likely '[first].[last]@firstgroupplc.com'. Divisional emails may use specific domains (e.g., '@firstbus.co.uk', '@firststudentinc.com') often following similar naming conventions.

[first].[last]@firstgroupplc.com

Format

jane.doe@firstgroupplc.com

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About FirstGroup plc?

FirstGroup PLC Investor RelationsJanuary 30, 2024

FirstGroup plc Q3 Trading Update: Continued Progress and Positive Outlook

FirstGroup reported continued progress in line with expectations for its third quarter. First Bus passenger volumes increased, and First Rail performance remained strong. The company reiterated its positive outlook for the full year, including the leadership transition at First Student....more

FirstGroup PLC NewsOctober 25, 2023

First Bus Accelerates Decarbonisation with Order for Nearly 1,000 New Zero Emission Buses

First Bus announced a significant investment in its fleet decarbonisation strategy, placing orders for nearly 1,000 new zero emission buses (electric and hydrogen) to operate across its UK network, supported by government ZEBRA funding. This marks a major step towards a fully zero-emission fleet....more

FirstGroup PLC Investor RelationsSeptember 1, 2023

FirstGroup Appoints New Non-Executive Directors to its Board

FirstGroup plc announced the appointments of Peter Lynas and Victoria Palmer as Non-Executive Directors to its Board, effective from 1 September 2023. Peter Lynas also became Chair of the Audit Committee....more

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