Coach operator Readybus has celebrated its 20th anniversary in what joint Managing Director Matt Clayson (pictured above, left) says is “a significant milestone” in the Slough business’s ongoing development.
Readybus was founded in June 2003 by the Budgen family. By 2017 it had expanded to eight vehicles. It was during that year that Mr Clayson and fellow joint MD Tim Bloomfield (pictured above, right) acquired the business. It has now grown to over 35 vehicles, while its parent, The Ready Group, recently purchased the brand and digital assets of former operator L J Edwards Coach Hire.
Mr Clayson’s transport industry career began in 1999 as a graduate trainee. He then became a coach driver and planner for an operator in Milton Keynes. Mr Bloomfield played cricket professionally for 10 years with Middlesex and has spent the past 23 years in the coach sector.
The pair purchased their first business in 2014 and specialised in airport transfers. That was sold by the two men in 2017 in preparation to take over Readybus.
Mr Bloomfield chalks Readybus’s success down to what he describes as a commitment to safety, comfort and customer satisfaction. “We have consistently invested in maintaining a modern fleet equipped with cutting-edge technology, ensuring the comfort and wellbeing of our passengers,” he notes.
Training for drivers is a significant factor in what Readybus does, he adds. That includes disability awareness, with the operator having joined the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower network earlier in 2023.
In the future, Readybus says that it hopes to continue to grow, “embracing technological advancements and industry trends to enhance services further.”
Delivering green solutions and further reducing the environmental impact of coach travel is part of that. Cited is the use of FuelActive technology as an example of its work there already. That product claims to reduces diesel consumption and exhaust emissions.
“We are thrilled to celebrate this significant milestone in our company’s journey,” continues Mr Clayson. “The past 20 years have been a testament to our dedication and passion for providing exceptional coach services.
“We are immensely proud of the trust that our customers have placed in us and the relationships we have built along the way. We always look forward and feel that we are only at the start of our journey. There is still a long way to go!”
