Latest Articles

How to Set Up a Bid Team: Roles, Structure and Key Skills

By Rachel Hughes | July 29, 2026

Introduction Winning a public transport or public sector contract starts long before anyone writes a word. It starts with having the right team, the right structure, and a clear understanding of the evaluation criteria. This guide covers exactly that: how to build a bid team that is organised, accountable, and capable of producing a submission…

How to Get a Public Transport Contract Mobilisation Right

By Rachel Hughes | June 29, 2026

Winning a public transport contract is a milestone. But the award letter is not the finish line — it is the starting gun for one of the most demanding phases of the entire contract: mobilisation. Mobilisation is the period between contract award and the first day of live service, when an incoming operator turns a…

Demand Responsive Transport (DRT) Guidance for Transport Authorities and Operators

By Rachel Hughes | May 29, 2026

Key takeaways: What decision-makers need to know about demand responsive transport (DRT) From my 18 years of experience, one pattern I see repeatedly is that demand responsive transport gets either oversold as a cure-all or dismissed as too complicated to be worth the effort. Neither position serves the authorities and operators who are trying to…

Best Bid Management Software for Transport Tender Teams

By Rachel Hughes | March 18, 2026

Introduction If you have ever tried to manage a transport tender using tools built for construction or generic procurement workflows, you will know the frustration. The page counts are wrong, the templates do not reflect operator-specific requirements, and the software assumes a procurement process that bears little resemblance to how a public transport ITT actually…

Transit Oriented Development for Operators: Business Models, Regional Frameworks & Bid Strategy

By Rachel Hughes | February 23, 2026

Introduction To attract and promote use of public transport, Transport (or transport) oriented development (TOD) represents one of the most significant strategic opportunities available today. Yet many operators struggle to understand how TOD fits within their urban development strategy, how to capture the value it creates, or how to embed it credibly within their business.…

How to Bid for Public Transport Contracts with the UK Government

By Rachel Hughes | January 12, 2026

Bidding for public transport contracts with the UK Government is a structured, highly regulated process — and one where small mistakes can have disproportionate consequences. Many capable organisations struggle not because their solution is weak, but because they misunderstand the process, underestimate the effort involved, or misinterpret what the authority is asking for. This guide…

A Guide to the Procurement Act 2023 for Transport Operators

By Rachel Hughes | December 1, 2025

Public transport operators, local authorities and suppliers are entering a period of significant change, and many are unsure how to adapt. This guide has been created to help you cut through the complexity of the Procurement Act 2023 overview, understand what the new rules mean in practice, and give you confidence that you can meet…

How To Write A Tender Proposal For Public Transport Contracts

By Rachel Hughes | November 3, 2025

Introduction Writing a tender proposal for public transport contracts can feel overwhelming, particularly when navigating the public procurement process and its complex compliance rules, evaluation criteria, and submission requirements.  This guide provides step-by-step advice on how to plan, write, and review a successful transport sector contract submission. It will walk you through best practices in…

Circular Economy Transport: Strategies For Sustainable Mobility

By Rachel Hughes | September 16, 2025

Who should read this guide (and what you’ll learn) This guide is designed for public transport operators, infrastructure contractors, sustainability managers, commercial directors and policy leaders working in, or supplying to, the UK, Ireland, EU, and MENA transport sectors. It provides an essential reference for those preparing bids, managing procurement, or leading sustainable mobility strategies.…

Transportation Industry Trends Shaping Public Transit In 2026

By Rachel Hughes | August 8, 2025

Who is this guide for Are you a public transport executive gazing into the unknown of the future? A city planner scrutinising budgets while wrestling with the ever-evolving mobility landscape? Or a policy-maker grappling with disruptive new entrants and how to ensure everyone—from city-dwellers to rural communities—remains connected and empowered by transportation industry trends? This…

How to Integrate Sustainability Into Your Transport Bid Proposals

By Rachel Hughes | July 23, 2025

Who is this guide for In the shadowy corridors of international public procurement, every transport bid is a strategic play—a move where innovation, compliance, and sustainability form the currency of success. For public transport operators, infrastructure companies, and sustainability managers, this guide is your roadmap designed to unravel the web of green public procurement and…

How to Implement a Social Value Strategy For Public Transport

By Rachel Hughes | June 12, 2025

Who is this guide for In the world of public transport, where contracts are won and lost in the shadows of boardrooms and the backchannels of procurement, only the most astute operators thrive. If you’re preparing for the next round of high-stakes negotiations—where every point of social value could tip the scales—this dossier is your…