Stress is no stranger to the coach and bus industry, and the General Election will do little to abate that. But stress among people is one thing. You also need to stress test your business.
That’s from an expert in the funky field of Brexit. The party, or parties, which make up a government on Friday will have a huge influence over the future of both the UK, and the coach and bus sector.
In many ways, those two fortunes are linked. A prosperous economy comes with a sting; demand rises, but ease of recruitment ebbs. Poor economic conditions have the inverse effect. Regardless of that, the main political parties each promise a cash bonanza for buses.
For coach operators the future is less clear. Even for those that do not go abroad, the way in which Brexit goes – if indeed it goes at all – stands to have a significant impact on them, not least because of its potential effect on the migrant workforce.
That’s why it’s important to stress test your business. Do the sums that come with the worst-case scenario and see what they tell you. And do it now, when you’ve got time to rectify any issues, rather than later, when you haven’t.
It’s true that you may not like what you find. How may a rise in the minimum wage affect you? Tariffs on new coaches? A transition to the Interbus Agreement? Complications around drivers spending long periods of time working outside the UK?
The above may sound fanciful. But ascertaining your business’ fitness for the future – whatever it holds – is something for sooner rather than later.
