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.”