Sep 16, 2026 · 37 min · 11 segments
In this episode of The Purposeful Strategist, Belden Menkus speaks with Janette Bell, Managing Director of First Bus, the bus division of FirstGroup Plc and one of the largest bus operators in…
Janette BellGuest
Belden MenkusHost
I mean, do you see some overall purpose driving first bus? And if so, how would you describe it?
Yeah, and as the managing director of First Bus, I mean, this one's really pretty easy for me, because it's about personal purpose.
And the reason that I did that was, you know, I absolutely believe in the role that public transport has.
I mean, I It's no different from, I'm sure, the argument that Andy Burnham or Tracy Brady, that philosophy is there.
So I think for me in joining it, that purpose, let's just single-minded purpose.
Everything is about how we're going to make sure that more people can get on the bus.
And that was the easiest thing for me is I understand being a privately owned public service.
But if you actually focus on that sort of common goal, actually, whether you're a commercial ambition or whether it's policy ambitions, they're hugely aligned.
Now, I'm sure we'll touch on the things where We're not always aligned and how that maybe sort of drives differences.
But if we start with the customer, we focus on that and we focus on the importance of bus.
Does that kind of work its way through the whole business? You know, if I were to scratch a driver or, you know, an engineer who's servicing one of the vehicles before it heads back out, you know, would they say the same thing? And if so, how do you get that?
What I do know, and interesting, when I joined the business, it was right in the middle of COVID, but being able to get out and tour the business, visiting many depots, meeting drivers who were sort of keeping those essential services going, it was one of those things that you could feel and touch.
I mean, do you see some overall purpose driving first bus? And if so, how would you describe it?
Yeah, and as the managing director of First Bus, I mean, this one's really pretty easy for me, because it's about personal purpose.
And the reason that I did that was, you know, I absolutely believe in the role that public transport has.
I mean, I It's no different from, I'm sure, the argument that Andy Burnham or Tracy Brady, that philosophy is there.
So I think for me in joining it, that purpose, let's just single-minded purpose.
Everything is about how we're going to make sure that more people can get on the bus.
And that was the easiest thing for me is I understand being a privately owned public service.
But if you actually focus on that sort of common goal, actually, whether you're a commercial ambition or whether it's policy ambitions, they're hugely aligned.
Now, I'm sure we'll touch on the things where We're not always aligned and how that maybe sort of drives differences.
But if we start with the customer, we focus on that and we focus on the importance of bus.
Does that kind of work its way through the whole business? You know, if I were to scratch a driver or, you know, an engineer who's servicing one of the vehicles before it heads back out, you know, would they say the same thing? And if so, how do you get that?
What I do know, and interesting, when I joined the business, it was right in the middle of COVID, but being able to get out and tour the business, visiting many depots, meeting drivers who were sort of keeping those essential services going, it was one of those things that you could feel and touch.
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