As I write this, it has been a pretty challenging week, one way or another. The age-old mistake of operating at 120% of fleet capacity inevitably means that someone will go off sick, or that their neighbour’s tortoise has a vet’s appointment that it is crucial for the member of staff to attend.
But like most of you reading this, I have seen it all before. Come Saturday at 1800hrs, the week is finished apart from a couple of stragglers coming back from football matches. You have survived with only a minor flesh wound.
On Saturday night we had some friends round. I have written before that I have had the same circle of acquaintances since school. But how we socialise now is massively different from 20 years ago.
Back in those days, it would have been straight to the pub for a couple of liveners, then into the big city until an 0400hrs kebab and taxi home. I would be hungover for a week if I tried that now. Instead, we had a couple of glasses of wine and a takeaway, and I was in bed for midnight and fresh enough to enjoy my son’s junior football match the following morning.
Just as my social life has changed over the years, the way I run our business has evolved also. I no longer chase every quote, and I rarely take on a late-night job. The staff do not want to drive them, and I don’t either.
I was always taught not to expect anyone to do a job that you are not prepared to do yourself. As I type this, an email has flashed up asking why we have not responded to a previous message asking to book seats on a day excursion.
The first of those emails was sent at 1000hrs on Sunday, and the chaser at 1800hrs. I don’t let it irritate me these days that people think our office should be open seven day per week, because I know one of the administration staff will pick it up when they get to work on Monday morning.
Our business is a third-generation family coach company, and I am the last person standing, so to speak. As my social life and approach to business mature, I am looking around for the next batch of young coach operators to take up the slack. But I don’t see them.
I am still just about the youngest around here. I suspect my children will not follow me into the business, and I see the same thing with the local companies I deal with. I believe that my generation will be the last one that is prepared to be available seven days per week and to miss the mother-in-law’s birthday because a coach has broken down on its way back from Newport County FC.
Coaching done properly is expensive and heavily regulated. The old days of buying a Bedford and doing some nightclub work and working men’s clubs trips to Blackpool to get a foot in the door have long gone.
To get a home-to-school contract you must jump through lots of hoops and fill in endless pre-qualification questionnaires detailing your policies from anti-slavery to how waste is disposed of. In short, a coach operation is not an easy business to set up. Anyone who does so and lasts has my greatest respect.
So if the next generation don’t take on family companies, and people like me pack in and rent my yard to the likes of Starbucks, who will provide the coach travel of the future? I am not sure I have any idea.
