Business Development & Sustainability Support for the Transport & Infrastructure Sectors

Offices in the UK and UAE

Stephen O'Brien, Programme Director, AtkinsRéalis
Safety Workstream Lead, GTS's successful bid for Elizabeth Line, 2024

"I had the great good fortune to work with Rachel on two concession bids. Rachel’s knowledge in her area of expertise is second to none. More important to that is the manner in which she applies that knowledge, demystifying Sustainability and Social Value, creating bid contributions that achieve the bid requirements.
Rachel is also an exemplar of collaboration, always ready to support other team members, ensuring that areas of synergy were identified and leveraged."

Greg Ritt, Group Head of Sustainability
Stagecoach Group

During my time at Stagecoach Group Limited, as the Head of Sustainability, I had the pleasure of working with Rachel on several projects related to Social Value and program development and delivery. Rachel’s expertise in the Social Value space is second to none. She has a genuine passion for the transport sector and is a highly motivated, approachable individual who focusses on delivery to the highest standard and within timelines. She is a wealth of knowledge, valued partner and someone that I look forward to working with again in the future. I cannot recommend her highly enough.

Norman Courts
Group Stations Director, Network Rail, 2020

"In my role as Director of Stations at Network Rail, we engaged Rachel of Surbon Consulting to support us on reviewing a range of management topics and to update associated processes.  Rachel has an encyclopedic knowledge of transport in the UK and abroad which helps inform best practice.  She is able to juggle multiple workstreams whilst successfully progressing and delivering outputs to agreed budget and timescales.  Rachel is intelligent, proactive, positive, and willing to work with colleagues at all levels to understand the issues and find workable viable solutions.  I have no hesitation in recommending Rachel to the transport industry."

Ryan Flaherty
MD Serco, Caledonian Sleeper (2018-2020)

"We will always remember your superb work for us at the Caledonian Sleeper mobilisation. Thank you"

Charley Wallace
Director for National Passenger and Customer Experience, Network Rail

"I had the pleasure of working with Rachel on three projects; Wales and Borders mobilisation, Virgin Trains dembolisation and more recently at Network Rail Customer Services Directorate.

She has proved to be invaluable covering contract management, customer experience, stations and franchise management and I have no hesitation in recommending her."

UITP Contract Management Attendee

I had great learning from your UITP course, although it was concise and quick where I wished it can goes at length to learn more!

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Let us help you to win new business in the transport and infrastructure sectors, keep your customers happy and be sustainable.

Business Development

Looking for help to bid or mobilise a transport or infrastructure contract?  Let us help you with strategy, initiatives and business cases. 

With experience of over 35 large scale tenders and mobilisations we can help you to avoid mistakes and win your next bid.

Sustainability & Social Value

Do you need help with a bid or tender response? Or help with a Business as Usual strategy implementation?

With 17 years of experience working in Sustainability and more recently Social Value let us help you to do this as easily and as cost effectively as possible.

Free Digital Resources to Help Win Bids & Become More Sustainable

Discover Surbon Consulting's extensive collection of downloadable resources, featuring both complimentary and premium ebooks.

Our digital library offers a wide range of publications tailored for transport professionals and organisations. Enhance your expertise in transport bidding strategies, learn about cutting-edge sustainability practices in the sector, and gain insights into incorporating social value in transport projects. These resources are designed to keep you at the forefront of industry trends, offering practical guidance on subjects eg. optimising transport bidding processes and integrating social value considerations into transport projects.

Whether you're looking to refine your bidding techniques, enhance your sustainability initiatives, or maximise social value in transport, our downloads provide invaluable insights to drive your success in the evolving transport landscape.

Free Downloads

  • Getting Started: 16 Proven Processes to Win Work With the UK Public Sector
  • 3 Focus Areas to Optimise Electric Bus Procurement
  • Social Value & Public Transport: Getting Started Guide
  • 10 Pieces of Advice from 17 Years as A Consultant

Industry eBooks

For those seeking more extensive and detailed expertise, check our ebooks!

  • 50 tips to improve your next transport bid
  • 100 tips to improve your next transport bid (English & French)
  • How to Include Sustainability Cost Effectively in Public Transport Procurement

Read on for answers to our frequently asked questions. If you can't see the answer please get in touch!

1.What specific services does Surbon Consulting offer in the transport sector?

Surbon Consulting offers a range of services including transport bidding strategy, sustainability consulting for procurement, rail and bus franchising advisory, and Middle East transport advisory services. We also offer training on public transport topics as a member of UITP .

2.How can Surbon Consulting help with transport bidding processes?

We provide comprehensive support throughout the bidding process, from initial strategy development to bid preparation and submission, ensuring competitive and compliant bids. Recent bid successes have included wins in Manchester, Guernsey and in rail with Virgin Trains, Wales and Borders and Caledonian Sleeper.

3.What experience does Surbon Consulting have with bus franchising?

Our team has extensive experience in bus franchising models across Manchester and Dubai. We have worked on winning bids to design solutions that prioritise social value and community benefits while ensuring operational and cost efficiency.

4.What experience does Surbon Consulting have with rail franchising?

We have worked on over 15 rail franchises including several successful projects where we helped mobilise operations leading on franchise compliance.

5.What experience does Surbon Consulting have with social value?

We have been working in social value since 2018 and more recently have designed both bid and business strategy for a large transport operator. If you would like more details on social value, check out our demystifying social value presentation available from our free downloads page.

6.How does Surbon Consulting incorporate social value into transport projects?

We integrate social value considerations into project design, focusing on community impact, accessibility, and inclusive mobility solutions that benefit all segments of society. For more detail on what social value is, please check out our free downloads.

7. What sustainability strategies does Surbon Consulting recommend for transport procurement?

We advocate for sustainable procurement practices that prioritise low-emission vehicles, energy efficiency, and long-term environmental impact reduction in transport systems.

8. Can Surbon Consulting assist with projects in the Middle East transport sector?

Yes, we have had an office in Dubai since 2017 and have worked across the Middle East. We can offer insights on regional infrastructure development, policy, sustainable urban mobility planning and business development approaches.

9. How does Surbon Consulting help clients navigate complex regulatory environments in transport?

Our team stays up-to-date with evolving regulations and helps clients develop strategies that ensure compliance while maximising operational efficiency and sustainability. We regularly speak at events, please see Our News page for more details of our events.

10. What types of organisations does Surbon Consulting typically work with?

We work with a diverse range of clients including public transport authorities, private operators, government agencies, and investors in the transport sector.

11. Can Surbon Consulting provide case studies of successful transport projects?

Yes, we have a portfolio of case studies demonstrating our success in various transport projects. We'd be happy to share relevant examples based on your specific interests. Please contact us to set up a free 30 minute consultation. Or if you would prefer to read some of our insights please check out our free downloads.

Let's get started! Send us an email to book a Free 30 minute Consultation

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