Avanti West Coast honoured at Social Value Awards
Avanti West Coast recognised at Social Value Awards for contribution to society, the economy and environment.
- Avanti West Coast recognised at Social Value Awards 2025 for efforts to embed social value across business
- Train operator wins Private Sector Leadership category for contribution to Social Value Economy
- Judges hail Avanti West Coast a ‘true champion of social value’
Avanti West Coast has been recognised at the Social Value Awards 2025 for its contribution as a business to society, the economy and environment.
The intercity operator won the Private Sector Leadership category at the awards ceremony held in Birmingham for placing social value at the core of its business and elevating its approach to its supply chain.
Winners and nominees celebrated are made up of outstanding organisations and individuals who are driving meaningful change in the communities they serve and beyond.
Judges praised Avanti West Coast’s efforts to embed social impact into day-to-day activities by promoting social value across the organisation, training key staff to use the Rail Social Value Tool (RSVT) and helping to shape the future of RSTV metrics by working with the Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB).
Avanti West Coast’s annual Social Value Report amplifies the reach of social value impact across every department of the business, including safety, health and wellbeing, environment, and stakeholder engagement. This provides a deeper understanding of how rail impacts communities.
Judges also acknowledged the train operator’s procurement strategy to foster sustainability, inclusion, and resilience amongst the companies it works with as part of its supply chain.
This approach has seen it work with more local suppliers, create access to markets for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), as well as engage with voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) to help spend benefit social causes.
Dr Theresa Robberts, Social Value Lead at Avanti West Coast, said: “We’re delighted to be recognised for our efforts to improve our contribution to the communities we serve. By making social value core of business activities, it allows us to find new ways to improve our impact on the communities and environment local to our route. Collaborating with like-minded people and businesses is a key part of this and supports our commitment to make a positive difference to the people who live and work on the West Coast Main Line.”
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Main image: Avanti West Coast wins Private Sector Leadership category at Social Value Awards 2025.
About Avanti West Coast
Avanti West Coast, operator of intercity rail services on the West Coast Main Line, is a joint venture between FirstGroup and Trenitalia, delivering a cleaner, greener railway that drives the West Coast forward. Avanti West Coast serves key UK cities, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Glasgow as well as North Wales.
We’re on a mission to be the transport of choice – connecting customers and communities along the West Coast. Our award-winning Pendolino refurbishment programme transformed the UK’s hardest working fleet with all 56 of the iconic trains providing best-in-class comfort.
Our Evero fleet, which offers more seats, improved comfort, and a substantial cut to carbon emissions, was introduced in June 2024 and is the result of a £350m investment in sustainable travel. Built by Hitachi, the 23-strong fleet, consisting of 10 seven-carriage electric trains and 13 five-carriage bi-modes, serves routes from London to the Midlands, Chester, North Wales and the North West.
We want to make a positive difference to the people and places we serve – helping to drive economic growth, green travel, and break down barriers. Our efforts to contribute to society and enable people to benefit from the opportunities rail offers through purpose-led initiatives including Feel Good Field Trips and award-winning female driver recruitment campaign has seen us create over £1billion in social value impact.
We’re tackling climate change wherever we can, from reducing energy and water use to training drivers in eco-driving techniques and sourcing food and drink from local suppliers. Our goal is to be net zero carbon by 2031. We’re on track.
For the latest news, visit the Avanti West Coast Media Centre: https://newsdesk.avantiwestcoast.co.uk/
Press Office: 0845 000 3333