Our business - about people and events
Welcome to the September edition of Bakers Travelines -
our company newsletter for employees, business partners and clients.
What an amazing year 2007 has been so far. We have relocated the business and celebrated our 70 years anniversary under sunny skies. Thanks to everybody the
official opening of the Coach Travel Centre was a triumph. All the preparation and hard work paid off and the coverage we obtained in the trade magazines has put Bakers Coaches of Biddulph on the map as a leading player in the UK travel business.
All three areas of our business have moved forward.
bakerbus routes have continued to develop and we have introduced a number of new vehicles, including four Optare Solos for the revamped 'Nines' service between Biddulph and Hanley and then the launch in August of the
Congleton Beartown Bus service, based on three new Plaxton Primos.
The
Holidays Division have benefited from the resurgence in demand as more people realise the benefits of stress free vacations nearer to home. Cornwall and the Isle of Wight have always been favourites although many other British resorts have raised their game and we have seen some growth in this area. Although bookings for day trips and excursions were depressed because of the poor weather during June and July, we are looking forward to a sunnier September and we hope that trips postponed will be made up by the end of the year.
On the contracting side, we have secured new work from specialist tour operators Equity Travel and Leisure Travel. This has resulted in an exceptionally busy time through June and July doing continental destinations including Italy, Austria, France, Germany, France, and Spain. Much of this work is for organised Activity Courses for young people.
Please read on to discover more about our other business relationships - our people, our expertise and resources and most important, our service, working together to meet the expectations of our customers.
Philip Baker
Managing Director
Colin scores for Port Vale
For Port Vale's football team, Exeter was the final game of a series of pre-season fixtures during July. The result was a 1 - 1 draw and the team set off for home with Colin Bosson at the wheel of the team's coach.
It had been a wet day and what should have been a comfortable three-and-a -half hour journey turned into a nine-hour ordeal for Colin. For the M5 was shut with thousands of motorists stranded, and flooding elsewhere in Worcestershire and Gloucestershire was causing chaos on the roads.
Colin got the team home safely using his experience to navigate through back roads. Vale defender Richard Walker said, "We thought we were going to have to stop in the coach overnight and then try again in the morning, but Colin did brilliantly to get us back."
Vale's team manager, Martyn Foyle praised Colin's performance and made him player of the week for the Devon tour.
Festival Shuttle Services
During the summer 07 Bakers provided free shuttle bus service to support the Leek 800 Festival as well as Biddulph's Rock on the Rocks and Folk in the Park.
Day trip to the zoo...
In July this group of youngsters from the Peter Pan Special Needs Nursery went of a family day out to Chester Zoo. The trip was organised by the Leek United Building Society, and Bakers provided the coach transport at a discounted hire rate.
Based in The Orme Centre, Newcastle, the Peter Pan Nursery is a registered charity offering help and support to all parents having children with special needs from birth to five years of age.
Congleton's bear backs new town service
Congleton's '
Beartown Bus' network was launched on 20th August 2007. Guests included Cheshire County Council Vice Chairman Cllr Steve Wilkinson who joined Bakerbus Managing Director Phil Baker to cut the ceremonial ribbon, watched of course by the bear, alias driver Lesley Jukes.
"Commuters have welcomed the new service and passenger numbers during August have confirmed our expectations," reports operations supervisor, Ian Donaldson.
New touring coaches - cleaner engines and wheelchair access
Earlier this summer, Bakers took delivery of two new Scania Berkoff 55 seat executive touring coaches featuring the latest generation Euro 4 compliant engines - that means reduced emissions making them cleaner and more environmentally friendly. Both vehicles are fitted with tow bars, which is a first for Bakers and drivers Scott Tingle and Dave Sutton have completed their trailer training. On-board equipment includes front, side and rear electronic destination screens and digital tachographs, another aspect involving new regulations and additional training.
The vehicles are also Bakers first coaches to meet the disability act requirements, both are prepared for and one is fully equipped with a side-mounted lift and accommodation for one or two wheelchairs, by reducing the fixed seating capacity accordingly.
Apart from their stylish appearance the executive specification includes air conditioning and reclining seats, toilet/ washroom, DVD and CD players and full draw curtains. Luggage capacity is increased and can be further supplemented by trailers for additional material such as performance props and musical instruments.
And as a additional security measure, these vehicles are equipped with an eight camera digital CCTV system. As well as helping to prevent unruly behavior of school children, the cameras can identify the causes of internal damage. They can also provide valuable evidence in the event of a road traffic accident and also protect the company in cases of deliberate incidents set up by insurance fraudsters!
