News > Autumn Travelines: Our Company News Letter

Published 17 December 2013

Welcome to the Autumn edition of Bakers Travelines, our company newsletter for employees, business partners and clients.

Chinese philosophers have introduced us to the concept of "yin and yang", to describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces are interconnected and how they can sometimes also interrelate to one another.

We are certainly experiencing the effects at Bakers Coaches. Our order book for contract hire and excursions has achieved record growth while at the same time we are having to rationalise our local bus service operations.

We are currently recruiting drivers while also facing up to the need to review staffing levels within the head office administration. Fleet requirements reflect these changes and the internal processes will be changing as we move forward with the deployment our new business management system.

Phil Baker

Coach Hire Services
 
Holiday travel in the UK is in good shape and we are expanding our fleet to take advantage of the potential growth in this sector.  Six new coaches have been introduced over the Summer – three of them are in Hino livery. One has been fitted out for VIP / Corporate business and there are also two vehicles suitable for smaller group travel requirements.

Our coach operations have been extremely busy over the Summer period and there are no signs of this falling off yet. The contract with Hino Travel has notched up over 1,000 days since it was inaugurated in June. Overall our touring work is four times higher than last year- a 400 per cent increase!

Our local colleges and schools are an important source of business and we are pleased that so many are choosing to use our services.  During the winter months many plan ski trips for their lucky students and while travel plans for these breaks are usually arranged through tour operators, Bakers Coaches are involved either by providing transport directly to the destinations or simply transfers to the airport.

Discussions are underway with several tour operators to ensure we not only maintain our work-load throughout the winter months, but also to help us to achieve further growth during the 2014 summer season.  Recent assignments included the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games in September. Over 1,600 school children competed across 12 sports at this Youth Sport Trust event which was held in Sheffield. Bakers supplied seven double decker buses to provide a shuttle service between accommodation and the venues.

To mark its acquisition of sponsorship of the Manchester Arena – Phones 4U – the UK’s largest mobile phone retailer booked 4 vehicles, in matching livery and quality,  to take staff from their headquarters in Newcastle Under Lyme up to the arena for a concert by Jay Z – a famous ‘rapper’ artist.

Battlefield tours 2014-18.
Bakers Coaches has been selected as one of only five operators in the country to carry out Battlefield tours over the next four years for a series of commemorative events marking the 100th anniversary of the First World War (1914-1918).

Crewe Alex keeps on running.
Bakers Coaches continues its longstanding relationship with League One football club, Crewe Alexandra. The contract was renewed with the introduction of the new team transport coach. Reliability is paramount for sporting fixtures and this is a key account for Bakers Coaches. In addition to the team coach, the company is also the preferred supplier for the supporters transport.

Holidays

“Our business from Away-Days has grown by 15 per cent over last year,” reports tours manager, Stephanie Dean.  This is our traditional market from the local community and as a testament to our trips, it comes mainly from repeat bookings, word of mouth referrals and the website. In October we held an open-house ‘Holiday Planning’ event at the Coach Travel Centre to showcase the Winter Holidays and Away-days.  We were also able to give our customers a much awaited preview of the 2014 programme.

Apart from our own marketing efforts, we have also enjoyed the benefits of better weather this year – maybe there is a bit more of a feel good factor also. Although pre-bookings were up slightly we are finding that customers are booking much later – maybe using the Internet to look for bargain offers.

“We are seeing increasing numbers of visitors onto the Bakers Holidays website,” says tours manager, Stephanie Dean. “The 2014 season includes a number of new tour ideas. Some of these are a result of a new business partnership enabling Bakers to tap into the considerable resources of the Warners’ Leisure group.

“Another important partnership is with the QHotels group which been highly rated for customer service by the Which? Consumer Association. So far we have two QHotels on our books for destinations in Hampshire and Lincolnshire. It’s nice to know that our choice has been backed by such an important endorsement.”

Concerts

Having dipped our toes into the Strictly Come Dancing shows in Birmingham and Manchester, we have now launched our Bakers Concerts product and are running excursions to other concert venues.

These include seasonal productions such as Disney on Ice and the Dancing on Ice Live Tour.  This is a new market for us and we are hoping increase our clients base with two fixtures for the One Direction ‘gigs’ in Manchester and London and the Justin Timberlake 20/20 experience tour during April in Manchester.  With more to come later in 2014.

A Day At The Races

For those who enjoy a flutter on the horses, there are two racing events scheduled; Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and Ascot during June. Each of these events has options for either a standard package or the full VIP treatment travelling in the Bakers corporate hospitality coach.

You're invited....  Best of Britain 'Afternoon Tea Party...

To celebrate the launch of our 2014 Adventures By Coach Brochure we're hosting a Best of Britain 'Afternoon' Tea Party.  Come and visit us at the Coach Travel
Centre, Biddulph 10am- 2pm on Sunday 12th January for Tea, Cake and money off our Holidays and Awaydays!

Recruitment.

Overall our business is expanding and we are actively recruiting drivers – both for bus services as well as touring coaches for next season. If necessary, we will offer training and drivers are encouraged to develop their skills- in particular aptitudes for hospitality and tourism. 

Engineering, support facilities.
Clearly all Bakers vehicles have to be serviced regularly to meet the requirements of our operating license. Apart from doing this essential maintenance, our engineering department also makes an important contribution by undertaking third party servicing. 

And finally: A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to You All!!!

01782 522101

Welcome to the Autumn edition of Bakers Travelines, our company newsletter for employees, business partners and clients.

Chinese philosophers have introduced us to the concept of "yin and yang", to describe how seemingly opposite or contrary forces are interconnected and how they can sometimes also interrelate to one another.
 
We are certainly experiencing the effects at Bakers Coaches. Our order book for contract hire and excursions has achieved record growth while at the same time we are having to rationalise our local bus service operations.
 
We are currently recruiting drivers while also facing up to the need to review staffing levels within the head office administration. Fleet requirements reflect these changes and the internal processes will be changing as we move forward with the deployment our new business management system.
 
Phil Baker

Coach Hire Services   Holiday travel in the UK is in good shape and we are expanding our fleet to take advantage of the potential growth in this sector.  Six new coaches have been introduced over the Summer – three of them are in Hino livery. One has been fitted out for VIP / Corporate business and there are also two vehicles suitable for smaller group travel requirements.   Our coach operations have been extremely busy over the Summer period and there are no signs of this falling off yet. The contract with Hino Travel has notched up over 1,000 days since it was inaugurated in June. Overall our touring work is four times higher than last year- a 400 per cent increase! Our local colleges and schools are an important source of business and we are pleased that so many are choosing to use our services.  During the winter months many plan ski trips for their lucky students and while travel plans for these breaks are usually arranged through tour operators, Bakers Coaches are involved either by providing transport directly to the destinations or simply transfers to the airport.   Discussions are underway with several tour operators to ensure we not only maintain our work-load throughout the winter months, but also to help us to achieve further growth during the 2014 summer season.  Recent assignments included the Sainsbury’s 2013 School Games in September. Over 1,600 school children competed across 12 sports at this Youth Sport Trust event which was held in Sheffield. Bakers supplied seven double decker buses to provide a shuttle service between accommodation and the venues.   To mark its acquisition of sponsorship of the Manchester Arena – Phones 4U – the UK’s largest mobile phone retailer booked 4 vehicles, in matching livery and quality,  to take staff from their headquarters in Newcastle Under Lyme up to the arena for a concert by Jay Z – a famous ‘rapper’ artist.   Battlefield tours 2014-18. Bakers Coaches has been selected as one of only five operators in the country to carry out Battlefield tours over the next four years for a series of commemorative events marking the 100th anniversary so the First World War (1914-1918).   Crewe Alex keeps on running. Bakers Coaches continues its longstanding relationship with League One football club, Crewe Alexandra. The contract was renewed with the introduction of the new team transport coach. Reliability is paramount for sporting fixtures and this is a key account for Bakers Coaches. In addition to the team coach, the company is also the preferred supplier for the supporters transport.

Holidays   “Our business from Away-Days has grown by 15 per cent over last year,” reports tours manager, Stephanie Dean.  This is our traditional market from the local community and as a testament to our trips, it comes mainly from repeat bookings, word of mouth referrals and the website. In October we held an open-house ‘Holiday Planning’ event at the Coach Travel Centre to showcase the Winter Holidays and Away-days.  We were also able to give our customers a much awaited preview of the 2014 programme.   Apart from our own marketing efforts, we have also enjoyed the benefits of better weather this year – maybe there is a bit more of a feel good factor also. Although pre-bookings were up slightly we are finding that customers are booking much later – maybe using the Internet to look for bargain offers.   “We are seeing increasing numbers of visitors onto the Bakers Holidays website,” says tours manager, Stephanie Dean. “The 2014 season includes a number of new tour ideas. Some of these are a result of a new business partnership enabling Bakers to tap into the considerable resources of the Warners’ Leisure group.        “Another important partnership is with the QHotels group which been highly rated for customer service by the Which? Consumer Association. So far we have two QHotels on our books for destinations in Hampshire and Lincolnshire. It’s nice to know that our choice has been backed by such an important endorsement.”

Bakers Concerts Having dipped our toes into the Strictly Come Dancing shows in Birmingham and Manchester, we have now launched our Bakers Concerts product and are running excursions to other concert venues. These include seasonal productions such as Disney on Ice and the Dancing on Ice Live Tour.  This is a new market for us and we are hoping increase our clients base with two fixtures for the One Direction ‘gigs’ in Manchester and London and the Justin Timberlake 20/20 experience tour during April in Manchester.  With more to come later in 2014.

A Day At The Races For those who enjoy a flutter on the horses, there are two racing events scheduled; Cheltenham Gold Cup in March and Ascot during June. Each of these events has options for either a standard package or the full VIP treatment travelling in the Bakers corporate hospitality coach.

You're invited....  Best of Britain 'Afternoon Tea Party... To celebrate the launch of our 2014 Adventures By Coach Brochure we're hosting a Best of Britain 'Afternoon' Tea Party.  Come and visit us at the Coach Travel Centre, Biddulph 10am- 2pm on Sunday 12th January for Tea, Cake and money off our Holidays and Awaydays!

Recruitment. Overall our business is expanding and we are actively recruiting drivers – both for bus services as well as touring coaches for next season. If necessary, we will offer training and drivers are encouraged to develop their skills- in particular aptitudes for hospitality and tourism.

Engineering, support facilities.   Clearly all Bakers vehicles have to be serviced regularly to meet the requirements of our operating license. Apart from doing this essential maintenance, our engineering department also makes an important contribution by undertaking third party servicing.