Stagecoach Rated Britain's Most Admired Transport Group

• Group wins transport sector award for third time in four years
• Business one of top dozen UK companies in Management Today list
• Stagecoach highlighted among best for quality of management

Stagecoach Group has again been named the most admired transport company in Britain in an authoritative annual survey of corporate reputation.

The Perth-based transport group, which operates bus and rail services in the UK and North America, headed the transport sector in the Britain’s Most Admired Companies 2011 awards.

It is the third time in four years that Stagecoach has topped the transport sector in Management Today’s annual review of Britain’s top companies following its success in 2008 and 2010.

The company was ahead of all of the UK’s other major public transport operators and also ranked above IAG, parent group of British Airways, as well as easyJet and car rental company Avis Europe.

Stagecoach, which employs 35,000 people, was overall considered the 11th most admired company in 2011 out of nearly 240 businesses assessed across 25 sectors. It was also placed in the top six for the quality of its management.

Overall, Stagecoach was rated more highly than a number of major corporates, such as Marks and Spencer, Tesco and Vodafone.

In conjunction with Birmingham City Business School, Management Today asked Britain’s largest public companies to rate their peers using nine criteria on a scale of zero to 10.

Stagecoach was ranked first in the transport sector in eight out of the nine criteria. It was rated top for quality of management, financial soundness, quality of goods and services, value as a long-term investment, use of corporate assets, capacity to innovate, corporate and environmental responsibility, and ability to attract, develop and retain top talent. Stagecoach also scored highly for quality of marketing.

Steven Stewart, Stagecoach Group’s Director of Communications, said: “We are delighted to be recognised by our peers for the high reputation of our management, and the strength and sustainability of our business. It also reflects our strong track-record in ensuring good returns for our investors and delivering high quality services to the 2.5 million customers who use our buses and trains every day.

“Being named the most admired company in the transport sector for the third time in four years, as well as being among the top dozen UK businesses overall, is a tremendous achievement. At the heart of it is the hard work of our employees right across our operations in the UK and North America.”

Stagecoach Group’s South West Trains recently won Passenger Operator of the Year at the National Rail Awards 2011. In 2010 and 2009, Stagecoach was also Public Transport Operator of the Year at the National Transport Awards for the quality of its regional bus operations.

Ends

For further information, please contact Stagecoach Group Communications on 01738 442111 or email media@stagecoachgroup.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group is a leading international public transport group, with extensive operations in the UK, United States and Canada. The company employs around 35,000 people, and operates bus, coach, rail, and tram services.

Britain’s Most Admired Companies 2011: Transport Sector