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A major bus company owned by two billionaire brothers has posted a rise in profit and revenue.
The company recorded a fivefold increase in operating profit.
McGill’s Group, described as the UK’s largest independent bus operator, also showed a significant rise in its workforce in newly published annual results for the period ending December 28, 2025.
The company pointed to key highlights that included a rise in turnover from £104.8 million to £117.9m.
Operating profit was £9.1m in 2025, up from £1.6m the year before. Profit before tax was £6.03m, set against a loss of £730,000 in 2024. Profit for the year was £4.7m, compared to a loss of £3.1m the prior period.
McGill’s also hailed an average of 1,469 employees across the group during the period, up from 1,360 in 2024, an increase of 109, or 8%.
In their strategic report for McGill’s Group, which is owned by Sandy and James Easdale, the directors highlight a number of milestones and achievements across the period which included acquisition of leading private coach hire business Prentice Westwood Limited.
New buses
The directors also pointed to the introduction of 42 new electric buses and associated charging infrastructure in a £20.38m investment, the conversion of the Falkirk to Stirling 38 service to full electric operation, a service which was subsequently awarded best bus service in Scotland at the Scottish Transport Awards, and the rebrand of the group’s open-top bus service in Edinburgh into the global Big Bus network.
The directors highlighted “continued growth in long-distance coach travel through wholly-owned Loch Lomond Travel as well as the partnership with international coach operator FlixBus” and said: “McGill’s achieved 97 per cent overall satisfaction in the annual Your Bus Journey survey, placing the company at the very top of the UK operator table. The group operated 99.5% of scheduled mileage each day.”
Ralph Roberts, chairman of McGill’s Group, welcomed the results and pointed to investment commitments.
He said: “These results reflect a more settled operating environment and the benefits of the investment we have made in the business.
“The national labour shortage following Covid created significant challenges for bus operators. We invested in recruitment and training to address those pressures, and that work is now delivering results. As staffing levels have normalised, we have been able to provide a more consistent service and respond to growing passenger demand.”
Mr Roberts also said: “Over the past five years, we have expanded the group and invested substantially in our fleet, our depots and our people. Alongside acquisitions, we have focused on improving existing services and building a business that can sustain that growth over the longer term.
“In 2025 alone, we invested more than £20m in 42 new electric buses and the charging infrastructure to support them. These are significant commitments which improve the experience for passengers and help prepare the business for the future.”
The chairman added: “It is encouraging to see that investment reflected in higher revenue and improved financial performance. Our focus remains on running reliable services, supporting our employees and making further improvements that encourage more people to travel with us.”