From a start-up with one vehicle to now operating three executive coaches, Heathside Travel shows that even the small operators can get the recognition they deserve
Everyone loves a success story and when it comes to the coach and bus industry, there’s no denying that there is a genuine sense of encouragement and support for people and businesses that really deserve their growth and success.
One operator that is a real testament to this is Ferndown, Dorset-based Heathside Travel.
When routeone first visited the firm in October 2016 it had just been founded by former coach driver Tim Southby, running one 19-seater Mercedes-Benz Grand Tourer.
Two years on, the firm now operates a fleet of three high-specification vehicles, has built up a strong client base and has a reputation in the industry to be proud of.
Brand new vehicles
Joining Heathside’s Grand Tourer is a 35-seater Yutong TC9, which was bought last September, and ordered at the end of last year was a 55-seater Irizar i6 Integral.
Attributing a ‘huge increase in workload’ to the reason for purchasing the two new vehicles, Tim says: “We’ve been flat out this year. It’s gone from being good to absolutely fantastic in terms of the workload.
“The Yutong is fantastic value for money for the specification we wanted. We bought it with a view to look after two or three clients, but within the first month word got around and it’s had more bookings that we could have imagined.
“It’s ideal for rail replacement work in the quieter months and for work with independent schools, as they tend to have a lot of smaller numbers.”
It was when the firm approached cruise companies that it realised a higher capacity coach was necessary.
Says Tim: “We’d been talking to Intercruises and European Cruise Service and they said they liked the quality of our vehicles, but at least 53 seats would be best suited to their needs.
“So, I got work booked in with them, as well as a couple of holiday companies, corporate clients and local businesses – it was just amazing the amount of work I had booked.”
Once he had the proof that the work was there, finance was approved and Tim ordered the Irizar i6 last November.
“My wife, Hannah, and I were invited to its factory in Spain the week before Christmas. We had a factory tour and we were able to specify the vehicle to our needs,” says Tim.
“Getting my i6 really is a highlight for me so far. I have always liked the Irizar product and finally getting my own was a magical day.”
High praise
Corporate identity is particularly important to Tim, which is reflected in the firm’s uniform fleet with its graphite-grey exterior and black and white interior.
Each of the vehicles have also been built with well-thought-out specifications to ensure optimum passengers experience, including USB charging points and on-board fridges.
“Something else that has gone down well is our drivers’ uniforms,” adds Tim. “Our three-piece suits give us a high-end, corporate look to go with the vehicles. It’s all about appearance and how we put ourselves forward.”
While repeat business is good for the firm, new customer numbers are also high. One of the reasons for this is prospective customers are seeing Heathside’s smart vehicles on the road and are enquiring.
Tim says: “Our name is getting out there, which is great, and it has all been positive. The best part of running our own business is getting good feedback from happy customers.”
And it’s not just the local community taking notice. Tim has made many friends and contacts in the industry over the last couple of years, with the praise he has received from fellow operators something he describes as his biggest compliment.
“About six months ago I noticed more people in the industry were saying to me ‘you’re doing really well’ and I think it was at that point I thought I must be doing something right,” he says.
New friendships
Purchasing the Irizar i6 has also provided opportunities for Tim to meet people in the industry, including Ricky Webb from The Swallow Coach Company, Steve Harvey from Don’s of Dunmow and the Blake family of Blakes Coaches.
“I went back to Irizar’s factory in March with Ricky and Steve. We came back with a real bond and continue to talk and give each other advice. It’s nice to have them as friends in the business,” says Tim.
“David Blake has told me how proud he is of me and how it’s nice to see someone like me coming into the industry and making a real success of it. It really is a compliment when other operators take you seriously.”
In the running
This sense of achievement has been reinforced by the announcement that Heathside is a Small Coach Operator of the Year finalist at this year’s routeone Awards.
Tim says: “I thought ‘we’re too new, we won’t have a chance’, so to be recognised and to be in with a chance of winning is a big achievement for us.
“My mum, Linda, will be accompanying me to the Awards. She’s the person that does a lot of behind-the-scenes work doing the books but doesn’t get the recognition, so I asked her if she would like to come with me.
“It will give her a chance to have a look around Euro Bus Expo as well, so she can learn a bit more about the industry.”
Staying compliant
Two years ago, Tim was doing the majority of the driving himself, but he now employs full-time driver Mike Stickley and several part-time drivers.
“When I passed my PCV test with Damory Coaches all those years ago, Mike was one of the first people I met out on the road.
“He came to us in April after working with Dolphin Coaches for 16 years after the operator closed due to retirement. Everyone said over the years what a nice man he is, and I have to agree.
“I’m very lucky to have fantastic drivers that make up the team at Heathside.”
Cutting down on the driving means Tim has more time to focus on the compliance side of the business, and to keep on top of compliance, Tim rates TruTac’s tachograph analysis software very highly.
“I have had faultless service from TruTac,” says Tim. “We get our reports weekly and monthly, so it’s easy to look through everything and resolve any issues efficiently.
“One thing I am going to look into is automatic downloads. It’s worth every penny and a step in the right direction to make sure we stay compliant.”
Further opportunities
Private hire work continues to make up Heathside’s portfolio of work, with contracts a no-go as far as Tim is concerned.
“We’re on an ad hoc private hire basis for all of our work and that frees things up for work we wouldn’t be able to otherwise do if we operated school runs, for example,” he says.
From September, day trips also make up a small part of the operator’s work by working with a local sole trader that arranges the excursions and Heathside supplies the vehicles and drivers – something that Tim hopes to expand on in time.
He says: “The gentleman we work with has already said that it would be nice if he could pass this work onto someone eventually. We could then take on that work and my wife could come and work with me.”
Adding more day trips and excursions to its schedule could be seen as a risk, but if Tim has learnt anything over the last two years in business, it has been not to be scared to try something new.
“When you start up a business you don’t know whether you are doing the right thing or if it’s going to be successful, but when it comes to it, sometimes you have to take that leap of faith,” he says.
First-class support
It’s not just the help and encouragement from his family, loyal customer base and fellow operators that Tim attributes the business’ success to.
The support he has received from his chosen suppliers has also played a key role, he says.
“The service we have received from Irizar, particularly from Julie Hartley and Andy Mageer, has been faultless, as is the service we continue to receive from EVM for the Grand Tourer.”
Starting a business from scratch is a difficult task in itself but being able to get the funding in place is especially difficult.
“I wouldn’t be in the position I am in today if it wasn’t for the help of Sarah Hardiman from Stoke Park Finance. She has always been very supportive – offering me advice before I had even ordered my first vehicle,” says Tim.
“Having these relationships in place and knowing someone is always on the end of the phone to help and advise me has made things so much easier.”
What’s next?
Tim has come a long way from operating one vehicle kept on his driveway two years ago and has worked hard to get this far.
“It’s not easy, but you’ve got to make sure you know what you’re doing and if you like what you’re doing it’s going to be a success,” he says.
While the administration side of the business continues to be run from Tim’s conservatory, the plan in the not-so-distant future is to purchase a house with enough land to keep the vehicles on.
And if demand continues to grow, along with the possible opportunity to build on day trips and excursions work, Tim doesn’t rule out the prospect of adding to the fleet in the future.
“There is the possibility of a fourth vehicle if the work is there and we continue as we are,” he says. “We never saw ourselves with just one vehicle, we always saw ourselves with three or four and I have always thought that seven is a lovely number.
“Things have progressed a lot quicker than we planned, but the key thing is we’ve always had the work there before we got the vehicle.”
