FirstGroup joins United Nations Global Compact

Today, FirstGroup, a leading private sector provider of public transport, is pleased to announce that it has joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact initiative - a voluntary leadership platform for the development, implementation and disclosure of responsible business practices.

The UN Global Compact is a call to companies everywhere to align their operations and strategies with ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and to take action in support of UN goals and issues embodied in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Launched in 2000, the UN Global Compact is the largest corporate sustainability initiative in the world, with more than 15,000 companies and 3,800 non-business signatories based in over 160 countries, and more than 69 Local Networks.

FirstGroup run a fifth of all local bus services in the UK outside of London, with a fleet of more than 4,500 buses and 51 depots, carrying more than 1.1 million passengers a day. The Group is also the UK's largest rail operator, with three Government-contracted rail operations and two open access routes including the all-electric Lumo service. FirstGroup's bus and rail services play a vital role in creating a connected, healthy, zero carbon world, contributing to local prosperity and growth, reducing congestion on the roads, improving air quality and helping to reduce carbon emissions.

Graham Sutherland, FirstGroup Chief Executive Officer, said; 'We are delighted to have joined the United Nations Global Compact, demonstrating our commitment to working together with companies globally to take responsible business action that drives real change.

The ten UN Global Compact principles are critical to us as an organisation, as we push forward our ambition be the partner of choice for innovative and sustainable transport, accelerating the transition to a zero-carbon world.'

Contact:

Tel: +44 (0)20 7725 3354

Email: corporate.comms@firstgroup.co.uk