One of the UK’s largest transport companies spends more on energy bills than it earns in operational profits. Go-Ahead Group runs a number of rail and bus firms in the UK, with more than 800 trains and 4,600 buses.

Group Environment and Energy Manager, Chris Grinsted said: “We spend upwards of £120 million a year on our energy bills which is more than our annual operating profit and it’s just going to increase.”

The company’s annual operating profit was £103.2 million last year. It is looking for sustainable measures to improve their finances. Mr Grinsted added: “Sustainability at this level is just business sense, it’s practical.

“Potentially, it’s a business critical issue to ensure we use it as efficiently as possible.” He also said  transport emissions account for around 20% of CO2 in the UK and “the only way of effectively tackling it is going to be via public transport”.

This is “potentially a huge opportunity” for the company. He added: “We need to make sure we’re in a position to maximise that. “90% of our carbon footprint comes from us using our trains. “If you’re managing sustainability then it seems as though you are managing everything else well.”

Huong Truong