By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
routeonerouteonerouteone
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Search
© 2024 routeone News. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Scottish coach industry included in further support package
Share
Font ResizerAa
routeonerouteone
Font ResizerAa
Search
  • News
    • Show all
    • Awards & Events
    • Deliveries
    • Environment
    • Exhibitor News
    • Euro Bus Expo 2024
    • Features
    • Legal
    • Minibus and minicoach
    • Operators
    • Opinion
    • People
    • Suppliers
    • Vehicles
  • Vehicles
    • Find a Vehicle
    • ZEV Comparison Tool
    • Sell a Vehicle
    • Vehicle Seller Dashboard
  • Insights
  • Careers
  • Events
    • British Tourism & Travel Show
    • Euro Bus Expo
    • Innovation Challenge
    • Livery Competition
    • routeone Awards
  • Advertise
  • Contact
    • Share your news
    • Subscribe
    • Update Subscription Details
  • Latest Issue
  • SIGN UP
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd
- Advertisement -
-
routeone > News > Scottish coach industry included in further support package
NewsOperatorsTop StoryTourism

Scottish coach industry included in further support package

Tim Deakin
Tim Deakin
Published: January 12, 2022
Share
Scottish coach industry eligible for further funding support
SHARE

The coach industry in Scotland will be eligible for further modest Scottish Government support after it was confirmed as one of six sectors that will benefit from an up to £9m package to mitigate the Omicron variant’s impact on tourism.

Visit Scotland will administer the scheme. It was responsible for the Scotland Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund, for which second round payments have now been publicly confirmed. The latter tranche has seen 15 coach operators benefit from a total of £1,282,500. When combined with the first round, that takes to £9,679,000 the total paid to 126 operators via the scheme.

Specific details of the new funding stream are expected to be published by Visit Scotland next week, but it has already been welcomed by one member of the coach industry. While the new money will not provide anything like the same level of backing as the Support and Continuity Fund, they point out that “anything is better than nothing.”

Says Visit Scotland: “The money is designed to recognise the economic impact of the steps people have been asked to take from early December 2021 and the restrictions in place affecting some sectors since then. Work is underway to establish how we can ensure that the funding goes to businesses in the quickest way possible.”

The tourism top-up funding has been allocated following discussions with the Scottish Government and the Scottish Tourism Emergency Response Group. In addition to coach operators, other sectors that will be eligible are day tour operators; hostels; inbound tour operators (outdoor/marine); and visitor attractions.

Scottish coach industry to benefit from wider tourism related support
126 operators have benefitted over two rounds of the Scotland Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund

Tourism Minister Ivan McKee adds that the money is to “ensure that the affected businesses can survive what is clearly an especially tough winter period and be ready to trade fully in the spring and summer months.”

Mr McKee adds that the Scottish Government continues to press Westminster for “more comprehensive support.”

Since the January print issue of routeone went to press, it has emerged that the second strand of the Support and Continuity fund saw per-vehicle payments maintained at the same level as those in the earlier round despite initial expectations that they would be at a lower level. As a result, the average per-operator payment in the second round was £85,500, compared to £75,644 previously.

“As there were enough funds remaining, all successful applicants for strand two were awarded the same amount per qualifying vehicle as awarded in strand one,” a Visit Scotland spokesperson says. Nine applications to the Support and Contingency Fund’s second round were unsuccessful and there was a £317,500 surplus from the £1.6m it was allocated. That money has been returned to the Scottish Government, Visit Scotland has confirmed.

Under the second round of the Fund, Prentice Westwood Coaches has received the most, at £273,000. Festival Travel, JD Peace, Whitestar Coaches and Johnson Transport have also each received six-figure sums. Three other businesses have been awarded over £50,000 and seven further operators have received sums varying between £33,000 and £9,000.

List of all Scotland Coach Operators – COVID-19 Business Support and Continuity Fund awards on the Visit Scotland website.

Share This Article
Facebook LinkedIn Threads Email Copy Link
ByTim Deakin
Tim is Editor of routeone and has worked in both the coach and bus and haulage industries.
Previous Article Free bus travel for under 22s in Scotland to begin on 31 January Scotland under-22 free bus travel to start on 31 January
Next Article Plaxton coach production restarts sooner than expected Plaxton coach production restarts months sooner than expected
- Advertisement -

Latest News

Temsa HD12 and HD13 delivered to Cresta Coaches under Asset Alliance rental deal
Temsa pair join Cresta Coaches on Asset Alliance rental agreement
Deliveries
Go-Ahead London – Managing Director
Careers Jobs
andy burnham tfgm £15.6 billion (1) The funding announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves today (4 June) has been allocated to several combined mayoral authorities to use on rail, tram, road and bus infrastructure. Transport for Greater Manchester revealed today that part of the £2.5 billion it will receive will go towards making the Bee Network fully battery-electric by 2030. An as-yet undecided portion of that will support a planned investment in 1,000 new zero-emission buses over that period, the mayoral authority said. That is part of plans to build the UK's "first fully integrated, zero-emission public transport system", with trams and trains also set to benefit. Liverpool City Region's already announced BRT system is among the projects to which its £1.6 billion will be allocated. Under those plans - due for realisation by 2028 - a high-speed network will be served by articulated buses which are modelled on the 'Glider' in Belfast. It is due to link Liverpool city centre with John Lennon Airport, and Liverpool FC and Everton FC's respective stadia along three routes. Although the model of bus has not been confirmed, a Van Hool Exqui.City on loan from Belfast was last year used as a demonstrator. That 18m vehicle can accommodate around 30% more passengers than a typical bus and has three sets of double doors. The funding will also go towards buses elsewhere in the city as the region heads towards franchising services by 2027. Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram with a 'Glider' which was on loan from Belfast last year - an example of the sort of bus which could serve the new BRT Bus services in the East Midlands region will be boosted by the funding, thanks to the £2 billion handed to it today by the government. Some of that allocation will be used for a rapid transit network on the Trent Arc between Nottingham and Derby. Between the two cities, the Freeport, Infinity Park Investment Zone and Ratcliffe-on-Soar will also benefit from the improved bus services. South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority's newly announced commitment towards bus franchising has been boosted by £350 million in funding as part of that region's allocation. The funding for West Yorkshire will help build new bus stations in Bradford and Wakefield. Likewise, the Tees Valley Mayoral Authority will put its sum towards a new £15 million bus station in Middlesbrough. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander says: "Today marks a watershed moment on our journey to improving transport across the North and Midlands – opening up access to jobs, growing the economy and driving up quality of life as we deliver our Plan for Change. "For too long, people in the North and Midlands have been locked out of the investment they deserve. With £15.6bn of government investment, we’re giving local leaders the means to drive cities, towns and communities forward, investing in Britain’s renewal so you and your family are better off."
TfGM’s all-electric bus plan boosted by new £15.6 billion package
News
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Local Transport Minister opens First Bus electric depot in Hengrove
Bus
- Advertisement -
-

routeone magazine is the indispensable resource for professional UK coach, bus and minibus operators. The home of vehicle sales and the latest bus and coach job vacancies, routeone connects professional PCV operators with complete and unrivalled news coverage.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • GDPR Policy
  • Sustainability
  • Advertise
  • Latest Issue
  • Share Your News
routeonerouteone
Follow US
© 2024 routeone News | Powered by Diversified Business Communications UK Ltd