LOTHIAN BUSES LIMITED
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Next accounts due
2026-09-30 (in 4mo)
Last filed for 2024-12-28
Confirmation statement due
2026-10-09 (in 5mo)
Last made up 2025-09-25
Watchouts
None on the register
Cash
£30M
-27.8% vs 2023
Net assets
£144M
-6.4% vs 2023
Employees
2,648
+10.4% vs 2023
Profit before tax
£6M
-65.5% vs 2023
Net assets
2-year trend · vs Industrials median
Accounts
2-year trend · latest reflected 2024-12-28
| Metric | Trend | 2023-12-30 | 2024-12-28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turnover | £176,584,000 | £191,314,000 | |
| Operating profit | £7,920,000 | -£339,000 | |
| Profit before tax | £16,760,000 | £5,774,000 | |
| Net profit | £14,582,000 | £3,304,000 | |
| Cash | £41,785,000 | £30,175,000 | |
| Total assets less current liabilities | £193,060,000 | £176,882,000 | |
| Net assets | £153,965,000 | £144,146,000 | |
| Equity | £153,965,000 | £144,146,000 | |
| Average employees | 2,398 | 2,648 | |
| Wages | £88,028,000 | £97,618,000 | |
| Directors' remuneration | £687,000 | £745,000 |
Values shown as filed in the company's annual accounts. — indicates the figure wasn't present under that line item in that period. About these numbers
Year-on-year
FY2023 → FY2024 · period ending 2024-12-28 vs 2023-12-30
-
Turnover
+8.3%
£176,584,000 £191,314,000
-
Cash
-27.8%
£41,785,000 £30,175,000
-
Net assets
-6.4%
£153,965,000 £144,146,000
-
Employees
+10.4%
2,398 2,648
-
Operating profit
-104.3%
£7,920,000 -£339,000
-
Profit before tax
-65.5%
£16,760,000 £5,774,000
-
Wages
+10.9%
£88,028,000 £97,618,000
Each % is (latest − prior) ÷ |prior| for the line item as filed. The comparison is only shown when the latest and prior accounts cover broadly equal-length periods — short or long stubs (typical around incorporation or a year-end change) are suppressed rather than misrepresented. Lines a company doesn't report are omitted. About these numbers
Ratios
Computed from the line items above — sparklines read oldest → newest
| Ratio | Trend | 2023-12-30 | 2024-12-28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operating margin | 4.5% | -0.2% | |
| Net margin | 8.3% | 1.7% | |
| Return on capital employed | 4.1% | -0.2% | |
| Gearing (liabilities / total assets) | 29.6% | 26.8% | |
| Current ratio | 1.88x | 1.88x | |
| Interest cover | 40.41x | -2.03x |
Margins divide P&L lines by turnover. Gearing is liabilities over total assets. Current ratio is current assets over creditors falling due within one year. Interest cover is operating profit over absolute finance costs. Sector-distribution context coming next.
Name history
Renamed 2 times since incorporation
- LOTHIAN BUSES LIMITED 2013-12-23 → present
- LOTHIAN BUSES PLC 2000-01-06 → 2013-12-23
- LOTHIAN REGION TRANSPORT PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY 1986-01-17 → 2000-01-06
Audit & accounting basis
- Accounting basis
- IFRS
- Reporting scope
- Consolidated group
- Auditor
- CT Audit Limited
- Audit opinion
- Unqualified (clean)
- Going concern
- Affirmed
“The Directors are of the opinion that the Company and Group have adequate resources to enable it to undertake its planned activities for a period of at least one year from the date the financial statements are approved.”
Group structure
- LOTHIAN BUSES LIMITED · parent
- Edinburgh Bus Tours Ltd 100%
- East Coast Buses Ltd 100%
- Eve Coaches Ltd 100%
- Lothian Region Transport Ltd 100%
- Majestic Tours Edinburgh Ltd 100%
- Edinburgh City Transport Ltd 100%
- City Sightseeing Edinburgh Ltd 100%
- Lothian Country Buses Ltd 100%
- Leith Walk Property Ltd 100%
- Mactours Ltd 100%
- Lothian Trams Ltd 100%
- Lothian Transport Ltd 100%
- Lothian Coaches Ltd 100%
- Trams for Edinburgh Ltd 100%
- Edinburgh Buses Ltd 100%
- Edinburgh Bus and Tram Ltd 100%
Significant events
- “During the course of 2025, subject to Board and Shareholder approval, the Group will enter into an integration agreement to oversee the operation of Edinburgh Trams Limited, which will remain a separate company.”
- “When Lothian acquired a further 20 new electric double deck buses in 2024 they added to our zero emission fleet and help provide an enhanced passenger experience.”
- “The group ... expanding both organically through frequency and growth during 2024 together with the acquisition of Eve Coaches Limited in February 2024.”
- “In December 2024 the Board gave approval for expenditure of £22.0m for 44 new electric buses (2023: £23.3m) together with related charging infrastructure and equipment of £3.6m.”
Auditor, going-concern and subsidiary information is drawn from the narrative of the latest annual accounts. About these numbers
People
12 active · 65 resigned
| Name | Role | Appointed | Born | Nationality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BENNS, Robert Arthur | Secretary | 2025-06-01 | — | — |
| BENNS, Robert Arthur | Director | 2025-06-01 | Oct 1968 | British |
| BOYD, Sarah Jean | Director | 2016-11-25 | Sep 1980 | British |
| DASTEY, Dylan Alfred | Director | 2026-04-01 | Nov 1987 | British |
| DEACON, Susan Catherine, Professor | Director | 2015-07-01 | Feb 1964 | British |
| HAMILTON, William Alexander | Director | 2022-12-08 | Nov 1986 | British |
| REID, Iain Alexander | Director | 2018-08-27 | May 1962 | British |
| RIVET, Stephanie Céline Karine | Director | 2024-11-11 | Dec 1974 | French |
| ROSE, Anthony Edward Hoath | Director | 2015-07-01 | Sep 1968 | British |
| STRACHAN, Wilhelmina Cornelia | Director | 2024-11-11 | Apr 1973 | South African |
| WALLACE, Fraser James | Director | 2020-12-10 | Oct 1967 | British |
| YEXLEY, Mark David James | Director | 2015-07-01 | Jun 1957 | British |
Show 65 resigned officers
| Name | Role | Appointed | Resigned |
|---|---|---|---|
| BENSON, John Millar | Secretary | 2022-10-13 | 2025-01-06 |
| COTTON, Roger | Secretary | 2019-04-11 | 2022-10-13 |
| COTTON, Roger | Secretary | 2017-06-05 | 2018-05-17 |
| GORDON, John Edward Douglas | Secretary | 1999-08-01 | 2000-07-31 |
| KIRK, George Brunton | Secretary | — | 1999-07-31 |
| MOORHOUSE, Graham Alan | Secretary | 2018-05-17 | 2018-10-08 |
| STRACHAN, Norman James | Secretary | 2000-08-01 | 2017-01-31 |
| BURNESS PAULL LLP | Corporate Secretary | 2025-01-06 | 2025-06-01 |
| ARMSTRONG, James | Director | 2020-03-31 | 2020-07-31 |
| BARNES, Colin | Director | 2023-01-04 | 2025-07-04 |
| BEGG, David, Councillor | Director | 1997-06-17 | 1997-09-02 |
| BENSON, John Millar | Director | 2021-01-28 | 2025-03-28 |
| BIENIOWSKI, Ian | Director | 2015-07-09 | 2020-12-10 |
| BOYLE, Owen Joseph | Director | 2012-04-24 | 2014-12-09 |
| BRADSHAW, William Peter | Director | 1997-06-17 | 1999-09-30 |
| CAMPBELL, William Watson | Director | 1999-07-19 | 2016-03-31 |
| CASSIDY, Steven | Director | 2014-02-06 | 2024-11-11 |
| COUPAR, Iain Gilmour | Director | 2001-11-01 | 2010-12-30 |
| COX, Brian John | Director | 2002-11-01 | 2009-06-10 |
| CRAIG, Ian | Director | 2006-08-01 | 2016-01-31 |
| DEPLEDGE, Anthony | Director | 2014-02-06 | 2015-06-26 |
| DEVLIN, William | Director | 1999-06-29 | 2016-11-25 |
| DIXON, James | Director | 2001-10-31 | 2008-12-15 |
| EVANS, Charles | Director | — | 1998-08-01 |
| FAULDS, Ann | Director | 2009-09-01 | 2014-11-12 |
| FORMAN, Robert Crawford Banks | Director | — | 1990-05-30 |
| FRASER, Robert Smith | Director | 2015-01-21 | 2015-07-09 |
| GALLAGHER, William Gerard | Director | 2001-01-01 | 2008-11-30 |
| GORDON, John Edward Douglas | Director | 1999-08-01 | 2000-07-31 |
| GRANT, John James | Director | — | 1992-06-17 |
| GRAY, James Hendry | Director | 1995-01-01 | 2002-07-15 |
| GRAY, Jane | Director | 2009-01-01 | 2011-12-31 |
| GREEN-SARGENT, Peter James | Director | 1992-10-28 | 2001-07-17 |
| GUEST, Andrew William Gordon | Director | 2002-11-01 | 2009-06-10 |
| HALL, Richard John | Director | 2016-05-01 | 2020-03-31 |
| HERRIOT, Phyllis | Director | 1999-08-02 | 2000-06-27 |
| HERRIOT, Phyllis | Director | — | 1999-06-29 |
| HEWITT, Ronald James, Dr | Director | 2009-09-01 | 2013-11-06 |
| HOUSE, Ronald | Director | 1993-12-01 | 1999-06-29 |
| KIRK, George Brunton | Director | — | 1999-07-31 |
| KITSON, Alexander Harper | Director | — | 1997-08-02 |
| KITSON, Irene | Director | 2001-01-01 | 2010-06-15 |
| MACKAY, Angus John | Director | 1998-01-08 | 1999-06-14 |
| MACKAY, David James | Director | 2008-06-10 | 2010-11-03 |
| MACKENZIE, Neil Donald Grant | Director | — | 1993-09-30 |
| MACLEOD, Donald Andrew | Director | 2009-09-01 | 2018-06-30 |
| MARTIN, John Sharp Buchanan | Director | 2010-11-23 | 2015-07-01 |
| MCFARLANE, James Mclean Henderson | Director | 2015-07-01 | 2024-11-11 |
| MCKAY, John Smillie | Director | 2010-11-23 | 2013-12-04 |
| MOORHOUSE, Graham Alan | Director | 2018-06-29 | 2018-10-08 |
| MULVEY, John Patrick | Director | 1990-06-25 | 1997-06-17 |
| NOLAN, Paul Walter | Director | 1998-01-08 | 2002-07-15 |
| RENILSON, Neil John | Director | 1999-02-23 | 2008-12-15 |
| RODGER, Marjory Joan | Director | 2010-01-01 | 2015-07-01 |
| ROSS, Alison Morag | Director | 2001-01-01 | 2010-06-15 |
| RUSSELL, John Richard Edmund | Director | — | 1997-06-17 |
| SAREN, Jane Elizabeth | Director | 2003-06-10 | 2009-06-10 |
| SERAFINI, Nigel Murray | Director | 2016-11-25 | 2022-08-12 |
| SMITH, Pilmar | Director | 1992-03-01 | 2009-12-31 |
| SPENCE, William St John Cogan | Director | — | 1994-04-30 |
| STILLWELL, Peter Henry | Director | 1997-06-17 | 2003-06-10 |
| STRACHAN, Norman James | Director | 2000-08-01 | 2016-11-25 |
| WALLACE, Charlene | Director | 2015-07-01 | 2018-06-30 |
| WALTON, Christopher John | Director | 2011-04-05 | 2014-04-12 |
| WEATHERSTONE, Robert Bruce | Director | — | 1992-06-24 |
Ownership
Persons with significant control
| Name | Kind | Nature of control | Notified | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport For Edinburgh Limited | Corporate entity | Shares 75–100% | 2016-04-06 | Active |
Filing timeline
Last 20 of 263 total filings
Material constitutional events — rename, articles re-file, resolution
- 2026-03-26 CC04 Statement of companys objects
- 2026-03-26 MA Memorandum articles
- 2026-03-26 RESOLUTIONS Resolution
| Date | Type | Category | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-04-07 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2026-03-26 | CC04 | change-of-constitution | Statement of companys objects | |
| 2026-03-26 | MA | incorporation | Memorandum articles | |
| 2026-03-26 | RESOLUTIONS | resolution | Resolution | |
| 2025-10-03 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates | |
| 2025-07-15 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-07-07 | AA | accounts | Accounts with accounts type group | |
| 2025-06-05 | TM02 | officers | Termination secretary company with name termination date | |
| 2025-06-04 | AP03 | officers | Appoint person secretary company with name date | |
| 2025-06-04 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2025-03-28 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2025-03-21 | CH01 | officers | Change person director company with change date | |
| 2025-03-21 | CH01 | officers | Change person director company with change date | |
| 2025-01-21 | AP04 | officers | Appoint corporate secretary company with name date | |
| 2025-01-20 | TM02 | officers | Termination secretary company with name termination date | |
| 2024-11-14 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-11-14 | AP01 | officers | Appoint person director company with name date | |
| 2024-11-14 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-11-14 | TM01 | officers | Termination director company with name termination date | |
| 2024-10-09 | CS01 | confirmation-statement | Confirmation statement with no updates |
Public-record activity
Raw counts from Companies House — last 12–24 months
- Filings
- 10
- Capital events
- 0
- Officers appointed
- 3
- Officers resigned
- 2
last 12 months
last 24 months
last 12 months
last 12 months
Direct counts from the register. No score, no rating — see the Filing timeline for the underlying events.