Stagecoach rated UK's most admired public transport group

Stagecoach Group is one of the top 20 most admired businesses in the UK, according to an authoritative annual survey of corporate reputation.

The transport group, which operates bus and rail services in the UK and North America, was rated 20th out of nearly 240 businesses across 24 sectors in the Britain’s Most Admired Companies (BMAC) 2014 Awards.

Stagecoach was ranked above well-known businesses including Marks and Spencer, Alliance Boots, BT Group, Coca-Cola Enterprises, and Rolls-Royce.

It was voted the top public transport operator in the survey and was second only to easyjet in the wider transport sector. Stagecoach was ranked above International Airlines Group, parent company of airline BA, and Transport for London.

The Perth-based group has consistently been rated well ahead of its bus and rail group peers in Management Today’s annual review of Britain’s top companies.

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

Criteria include financial soundness, community and environmental responsibility, value as a long-term investment, quality of goods and services, use of corporate assets, quality of marketing, innovation, ability to attract, develop and retain top talent, and quality of management.

The table at the bottom of the article shows the position in the full list and total score for each of the public transport groups surveyed.

Steven Stewart, Stagecoach Group’s Director of Communications, said: "Our businesses make a huge contribution to the economy and local communities in the UK. We are a responsible business with a strategy focused on delivering sustainable growth.

“We have a strong track-record of low fares, good operational performance, high customer satisfaction and reinvesting our profits in improving our bus and rail services. That approach has benefitted our customers, taxpayers and our investors.

“Reputations don’t just happen, they have to be earned, and the commitment our 35,000 employees who serve our three million customers every day is central to our success.”

The Britain’s Most Admired Company Award 2014 went to sustainable technologies specialist Johnson Matthey, with a score of 72.93.