Gobeyond Partners has received the Highly Commended Award in the "People and Leadership" category in collaboration with First Bus at this year's Management Consultancies Association (MCA) Awards.

The MCA, who have served as the representative body for the UK consulting sector for over 60 years, showcases the value of consulting in both the private and public sectors and its profound impact on society through the MCA Awards. The prestigious MCA Awards ceremony took place on Monday, October 9th, in Central London, with Herve Mazenod, Gobeyond Partners, Senior Managing Director for the UK, Ireland and Nordics saying:

"We are absolutely delighted to receive recognition from the MCA. Whilst being part of the Awards ceremony and celebrating industry excellence was an honour in itself, winning the Highly Commended Award in the 'People and Leadership' category holds tremendous significance for us. Our partnership with First Bus exemplifies the remarkable potential of a people-centric approach to transformation and we take immense pride in the accomplishments of both our team and First Bus.

Simon Coulbeck, Managing Director, for Gobeyond Partners, Specialist Sector, added:

“It has been a pleasure to work with First Bus. Collaborating with their team to reframe the role of their drivers and front line management to reinforce their purpose and the value they add to the communities they serve has been a privilege. I look forward to seeing the continued success of the innovative strategic plan at First Bus.”

Gobeyond Partners' collaboration with First Bus started in 2022. At a crossroads post-pandemic and grappling with slow passenger recovery and high driver turnover, as one of the UK's largest bus operators, it recognised the need for radical transformation and embarked on a journey to put its people back in the driver's seat. By redefining the role of First Bus drivers, the program restored their pride and purpose, resulting in happier customers and a legacy of change management driven by their own workforce.

Kevin Green, First Bus's Chief People Officer, commented:

"In our pursuit of organisation-wide transformation through grassroots change, choosing the right partner was vital. Gobeyond Partners has played an indispensable role in this journey. This collaboration has evolved into a true strategic partnership, with the team contributing fresh insights, unmatched change management expertise, and the resources needed for the triumphant execution of this significant transformation. They haven't merely collaborated with us; they've guided us when necessary and have been hands-on from day one. As a result, every member of our organisation has embraced the proposed solutions and understood their role in its success. It's been a collective effort, with everyone within the company taking ownership."

Gobeyond Partners, is a leading CX Consulting firm specialising in solving complex customer journey challenges by leveraging data and analytics, and seamlessly blending the best in human and tech solutions. By combining deep sector expertise with an award-winning approach to client service and value, Gobeyond brings its clients’ transformation vision to life.  Today, Gobeyond Partners comprises of over 250 professionals delivering major projects across over 30 countries.