12 June 2025

FirstGroup plc

Director change

FirstGroup plc (or the ‘Group’) announces that its Employee Director, Ant Green will not stand for re-election to the Board at the Group’s AGM on 25 July 2025.

As the UK bus and rail industries enter a period of significant change and we restructure the Group accordingly, the Board has reviewed the framework for engaging with colleagues and providing employee feedback to the Board.

Going forward, in place of an Employee Director, the Group will have a designated Non-executive Director.  Following the Group’s AGM, Myrtle Dawes will be the designated Non-executive Director to ensure that the voice of the workforce is heard in the Boardroom.  

Commenting, Chair Lena Wilson CBE said:

“I would like to express my thanks on behalf of the Group and the workforce to Ant for his contribution to the Board over the last five years and the insights he has provided.  I look forward to working with Myrtle in her new role to ensure the Board continues to be well briefed on the views of colleagues when taking decisions.”   

Forward-looking statements

Certain statements included or incorporated by reference within this announcement may constitute 'forward-looking statements' with respect to the business, strategy and plans of the Group and our current goals, assumptions and expectations relating to our future financial condition, performance and results. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, assumptions, uncertainties and other factors that cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Group to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. No statement in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast for any period. Shareholders are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Except as required by the UK Listing Rules and applicable law, the Group does not undertake any obligation to update or change any forward-looking statements to reflect events occurring after the date of this announcement.

Notes                                                                                                                                                    

Legal Entity Identifier (LEI): 549300DEJZCPWA4HKM93.  Classification as per DTR 6 Annex 1R: 2.4.

About FirstGroup

FirstGroup plc (LSE: FGP.L) is a leading private sector provider of public transport services. With £5.1 billion in revenue and around 30,000 employees, we transported almost 2m passengers a day in FY 2025. We create solutions that reduce complexity, making travel smoother and life easier. Our businesses are at the heart of our communities and the essential services we provide are critical to delivering wider economic, social and environmental goals. Each of our divisions is a leader in its field: First Bus is one of the largest bus operators in the UK, serving more than 25% of the population in the UK with a fleet of c.5,800 buses, and carrying more than a million passengers a day. First Rail is one of the UK’s most experienced rail operators, with many years of experience running long-distance, commuter, regional and sleeper rail services. We operate a fleet of c.3,800 locomotives and rail carriages through two DfT contracted train operating companies: WCP (incorporating Avanti West Coast and West Coast Partnership Development) and GWR, and two open access routes (Hull Trains and Lumo). We are formally committed to operating a zero emission First Bus commercial fleet by 2035, and First Rail will help support the UK Government’s goal to remove all diesel-only trains from service by 2040. During FY 2025 FirstGroup received MSCI’s highest possible ESG rating of AAA, was named one of the world’s cleanest 200 public companies for the sixth consecutive year and holds an Industry Top-Rated status with Sustainalytics and Sustainability Yearbook membership with S&P Global. We provide easy and convenient mobility, improving quality of life by connecting people and communities. Visit our website at www.firstgroupplc.com and follow us @firstgroupplc on X.