When Van Hool coaches make up your entire coaching fleet, the current hiatus over the future of the marque adds an unwelcome element to day-to-day operations. But as Sharpes of Nottingham celebrates its 20th anniversary, the family-run business is taking it all in its stride
Neil Sharpe, Managing Director of Sharpes of Nottingham, had an inkling things weren’t quite right.
“We’d put an order in for a 14.28m, 59-seat Van Hool T17 Astron at Busworld Brussels in October 2023,” he explains.
“Just before Christmas we travelled over to the Van Hool factory in Koningshooikt in Belgium to agree our bespoke specification for the vehicle. We’ve done that year on year. It’s always been an enjoyable experience, but this time there was hardly anyone there. When we sat down to go through the choices for the seat moquette, curtains and other items we found those choices were somewhat limited. It wasn’t what we were used to. Van Hool Belgium said that it was all down to the COVID-19 pandemic, but you know when you get the feeling that there’s more to it?
“But we carried on. Our 18-strong coach fleet is all Van Hool, so we were pleased that the production of the latest addition to the fleet was moving forward. The livery design artwork was laid down, but then everything stopped. We realised something more serious was afoot when the artwork process was never concluded. Then the news broke. We’d paid a significant deposit. We’ve lost that. We’re not seen as a preferred creditor so the chances of getting it back are slim.
“We like Van Hool. It’s a quality product. We’ve looked at other manufacturers but Van Hool would always be out first choice. As we speak, we still have an order for the T17 Astron that we hope to fulfil. We’ve just got to be patient.”
A future with Van Hool
routeone has already reported on growing suggestions that VDL, which purchased parts of Van Hool’s coach and bus business out of bankruptcy in June 2024, will retain more T range variants in the long term than had previously been anticipated. An announcement clarifying the situation was expected as the October issue of routeone went to press.
The news, when it comes, will be welcome, both to Sharpes, and also the other operators of Van Hool coaches across the country, some of whom have recently taken delivery of T range vehicles coming through from the VDL Van Hool production line in North Macedonia.
“Assuming all goes well then it will be a huge relief,” says Neil Sharpe. “Looking ahead, we don’t intend buying anything other than a Van Hool product. We’re pleased that VDL acquired Van Hool, along with its parts and aftersales business. It all means we can get back to focusing on running the business.”
From film to the kitchen table
2024 sees the operator celebrating 20 years providing high quality private hire, contract and commercial service work from its base at Langar in east Nottinghamshire.
Day-to-day duties include a mix of school and works contracts, the provision of team coaches for local football, rugby and cricket teams, the hiring out of coaches to other tour operators for domestic and continental tour work, a full raft of private hire work and a comprehensive day excursion programme.
From an almost standing start in 2004, and now with a fleet of 58 vehicles, of which more in a moment, Sharpes of Nottingham has been a success story.
But although the brand first made its appearance 20 years ago, the foundations go back further.
In the 1960s, Neil’s father, Trevor Sharpe, had a job as projectionist at the Odeon cinema in Nottingham whilst at the same time working part-time as a driver for Lamcote Motors, a coach operator based in Radcliffe on Trent, a few miles to the east of Nottingham.
In 1985 Trevor left Rank to become full-time Traffic Manager at Lamcote. In 1996, following a brief period with Silverdale of Nottingham in a similar role, he set up a Nottingham branch of Yorkshire-based Eddie Brown Tours using two coaches belonging to that operator.
Over the next few years, with Trevor, his wife Joy, and their sons, Neil, Russell and James starting to take an active interest at various times, the business grew.
But it was one fateful day in 2004, when Trevor, Russell, Neil and James were all out driving one evening, that the moment of realisation occurred.
“I forget now what the conversation was about,” says Neil. “But I remember turning to the lads and saying what are we playing at? Why are we working for someone else when we could be doing the same thing for ourselves? Sharpes of Nottingham basically started from that conversation. In those early days we ran everything from mum and dad’s dining room table. We put our money into a pot and bought three ex-Shearings Volvo B10M Van Hool Alizees. The current relationship with the Van Hool marque had begun!”
Vehicle contrasts
The new company saw the family all working together, with Trevor as Managing Director and James as Operations Manager. In fairly short order the family negotiated the purchase of Eddie Brown’s Nottingham depot assets. That brought the fleet strength to 13. Trevor’s knowledge and business contacts helped generate new work.
Fast forward to today and the family are all still working together. Russell is Engineering Director, James is Operations Director, and Neil’s wife Claire looks after the office and the financial administration.
The fleet has increased though and is now up to 58. A fleet of 21 double-deckers made up of 17 ADL ALX400s and four Wright Gemini IIs, all on Volvo chassis, provide the vehicles for the network of school and other related contracts. The coach fleet stands at 18 and reads like a who’s who, or what’s what, of the Van Hool range. There are five TX21 Altanos, five EX-series, four TX Alicrons and two TX21 Astromegas, along with a TX17 Astronef and a TX17 Astron. The oldest coach dates from 2013 with the newest, an EX, delivered in 2022.
Adding in a 17-seat Ford Transit minibus brings the total to 40. The remaining 18 vehicles are Sharpes’ well-regarded fleet of heritage vehicles.
“We have six in our heritage fleet that are available for private hire,” says Neil. “We do a lot of wedding hires as well as enthusiast bookings. The heritage fleet ranges from concourse original and restored vehicles to vehicles awaiting restoration. We’re often asked why we have them. The vehicles help raise the profile of the Sharpes name whilst preserving the heritage of our industry.”
More selective, more efficient
In 2020, with Sharpes approaching 16 years in business, the COVID-19 pandemic could have dealt a major blow.
“We were in a good place financially,” explains Neil. “Cash reserves were in place. We refunded trip and private hire bookings if the customer wanted it. People were fair with us and we with them. Our bank manager was very supportive. He had our back. But as the two lockdowns came and went, we found ourselves re-prioritising our lives. We changed how we worked. We evolved.
“There’s been a reset in how we approach quoting as well as driver and vehicle allocation. We’ve become more efficient. We’re more selective in what we take on and how we do it. When the diary is full it’s full. We have a very low turnover of drivers. We try to give them the work they want. We recently treated all our staff to a fish and chip lunch to say thank you for helping deliver a very busy and prosperous season. Our tour drivers are equally at home driving a bus as they are driving coaches, as can be said for the directors who lead by example.”
A close-knit team
Post-pandemic has seen the ending of Sharpes’ holiday programme. However, this is balanced by the continuation of a successful day excursion programme.
“The tours side had been Trevor and Joy’s department,” says Neil. “Since the pandemic they’ve wanted to step back. Our last holiday tour was in 2023. It seems harder to attract new customers, although our social media activity is extensive. We still operate domestic and continental tours for our private hire customers, but finding enough quality tour drivers remains a challenge. Interestingly, since the pandemic, our day trip numbers have increased. That’s often down to word of mouth. We’re organising more day trips for other organisations too.”
Looking ahead, Neil has a positive outlook.
“Today, turnover has increased, with fewer vehicles and fewer staff. The pandemic was a good example of every cloud having a silver lining. The pauses gave us time to reflect and re-prioritise. This family works so well together. We’re a close-knit team, not just the family of course, but every member of the 50-strong Sharpes family. We’ll keep doing what we’re doing. We have high standards. That won’t change!”
