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Arriva

Pan-European bus and rail transport operator

Head of Health and Safety

Full-TimeUpdated on 10/23/2026
No salary listed
Expert
London, UK
In PersonRegular presence and travel across London sites and garages; remote work may be flexible, but this is not predominantly home-based.
Facilities OperationsEnvironmental Health & Safety

About the job

Requirements
  • A NEBOSH Diploma or equivalent Level 6 Health & Safety qualification is desired.
  • Chartered membership of IOSH, or demonstrable progress towards Chartered status.
  • Significant experience leading health and safety within a large, complex and operationally focused organisation.
  • Experience within transport, logistics, engineering, fleet, manufacturing or another safety-critical environment.
  • Strong knowledge of UK health and safety legislation and best practice.
  • Experience of developing and implementing health and safety strategy.
  • Strong investigation, risk management, audit and assurance experience.
  • The ability to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders.
  • The ability and willingness to travel regularly across Arriva London's sites.
Responsibilities
  • Lead and develop the health and safety strategy across Arriva London operations.
  • Provide expert advice and guidance to senior leaders and operational teams.
  • Drive a proactive, positive and accountable safety culture across the business.
  • Maintain a strong and visible presence across London garages and operational locations.
  • Monitor safety performance, identify trends and ensure appropriate actions are taken.
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce risk and improve safety performance.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant health and safety legislation, regulatory requirements and Arriva standards.
  • Oversee investigations into significant incidents and ensure lessons learned are embedded across the business.
  • Provide constructive challenge and assurance to operational and engineering leaders.
  • Develop and maintain effective risk management, audit and assurance processes.
  • Engage colleagues at all levels, ensuring safety is understood as everyone's responsibility.
  • Work collaboratively with wider Arriva teams and key external stakeholders.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience within the bus or wider transport industry.

About the company

Arriva operates bus, train, and other passenger transport services across 10 European countries through a network of local operators. Its systems coordinate timetables, routes, maintenance, and customer service to run public transit, with a focus on decarbonizing fleets and upgrading equipment. It differentiates itself with a long history of cross-border expansion, a pan-European footprint, and ownership by a private infrastructure investor. Its goal is to deliver reliable, accessible, and cleaner transport while growing services and reducing emissions under new ownership.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

Acquired

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Sunderland, United Kingdom

Founded

1938

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Arriva acquired La Linea on 30 April 2026, doubling Veneto market share.
  • Arriva announced £340 million UK bus renewal on 13 March 2026, refreshing nearly one-fifth of fleet.
  • Arriva won Gelderland’s €2 billion contract and Czech rail awards, securing revenue through 2043.

What critics are saying

  • Unite strikes hit Luton in April 2026 and North London in August 2026.
  • Arriva lost Liverpool contracts in 2026, shrinking UK scale against Stagecoach and Go-Ahead.
  • If December 2026 Dutch and Czech tenders slip, Arriva’s growth engine stalls abruptly.

What makes Arriva unique

  • Arriva operates buses and trains across 11 European countries, spanning liberalised markets.
  • Arriva’s ACE platform unified ticketing, journey planning, and real-time data across major UK operators.
  • Arriva pairs depot electrification with zero-emission bus and train orders, backed by I Squared Capital.

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Benefits

  • Training Programs

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

1%

1 year growth

1%

2 year growth

1%
Associated Press
Jun 15th, 2026
Arriva UK launches digital services app with Passenger across seven bus companies

Passenger, a Masabi company, has launched a digital services platform for Arriva UK Bus, covering its seven bus operating companies outside London. The solution integrates mobile ticketing, data management, journey planning and real-time information into a single customer app and website. Arriva UK Bus is part of the Arriva Group, which delivers over 1.2 billion passenger journeys across 11 European countries annually. The new platform provides enhanced features including real-time bus locations, accessibility information, service updates and details on vehicle amenities like Wi-Fi and USB charging. The UK-built technology positions Arriva to manage operational challenges including franchising and multi-operator fare management. Passenger works with approximately 100 public transport authorities across the UK, facilitating over 100 million journey plans annually.

CILT UK
Oct 14th, 2025
Arriva acquire RTS Infrastructure to enhance infrastructure and depot services

Arriva acquire RTS Infrastructure to enhance infrastructure and depot services. Industry news. Arriva, a prominent tra nsport operator, hassuccessfully finalised the acquisition of RTS Infrastructure, a UK-based firm that specialises in rail depot servicing and infrastructure construction. This strategic acquisition enables Arriva to extend its operations into the UK rail construction sector for the first time, thereby offering a wider array of services for rail operators and infrastructure managers. While the financial details of the acquisition remain undisclosed, this move signifies a crucial advancement in Arriva's strategy to enhance its standing within the UK's rail industry. RTS Infrastructure, located in Leeds, is a well-established entity within the UK's rail network, delivering essential services such as platform upgrades, track work, and various other significant infrastructure projects. The company possesses a Network Rail Principal Contractor Licence, which permits it to undertake large-scale rail infrastructure projects throughout the UK. RTS Infrastructure has developed a robust client portfolio, including Network Rail, passenger train operators, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), all of which will now be integrated into Arriva's client network. Through the acquisition of RTS, Arriva not only gains access to these important relationships but also enriches its portfolio with extensive expertise in rail construction.

Rail Business Daily
Oct 9th, 2025
Arriva Group acquires RTS Infrastructure to enhance its UK rail portfolio | RailBusinessDaily

Arriva Group has today announced that it has concluded a deal to acquire RTS Infrastructure, marking its entry into the UK rail infrastructure Arriva Group has today announced that it has concluded a deal to acquire RTS Infrastructure, marking its entry into the UK rail infrastructure construction market.

BusinessLive
Jul 27th, 2025
Arriva's €2.46bn Sales Post-Acquisition

Transport giant Arriva, based in Sunderland, reported revenues of €2.46 billion in 2024, the year it was acquired by US investors I Squared Capital for £1.4 billion. Operating profit was €127 million, with a pre-tax profit of €156 million. Capital investments totaled €285 million. Contract revenues were €1.76 billion, and passenger revenue was €665 million. The UK bus division had a turnover of €639 million, while the UK trains business reported €758 million in revenue.

Arriva Group
Jul 15th, 2025
Arriva signs €300 million contract with Škoda for next-generation electric trains for Czechia

Arriva continues to invest in sustainable travel solutions, such as zero-emission buses, electric and hybrid trains, and digital mobility solutions across Europe to deliver more connected, efficient, and environmentally responsible public transport.