Liverpool minicab firms launch charm offensive to woo drivers from Sefton and Knowsley A group of six of the city's biggest minicab companies have joined forced for the billboard campaign
A group of Liverpool’s biggest private hire firms are launching a campaign to woo drivers from Sefton and Knowsley to join their ranks.
In the latest part of an ongoing ‘minicab war’ in the region, billboards will be put up today in both neighbouring boroughs offering incentives to drivers who make the cross-boundary switch.
The six firms - Excel, Alpha, Botanic, South Liverpool, Village and Acorn - between them operate over 1,300 Liverpool registered minicabs and have more than 170 years of experience.
The firms will meet the cost of obtaining a Liverpool minicab driver’s badge, with half-price settle fees for four weeks as an added incentive.
Peter O’Halloran, owner of Excel, said: “This is a win-win for drivers currently working for firms outside of Liverpool. Most of the jobs done by these drivers are already in Liverpool, with some of them operating exclusively in Liverpool on a 24/7 basis.
“All we are saying to them is come and join us in Liverpool, give it a try and if you don’t like it, nothing is lost.
“I think many people became minicab drivers when they became unemployed and joined firms in Sefton or Knowsley so they have never known anything different.”
He added: “The private hire business has changed dramatically in the past few years, and has long since left behind its cloth cap image. Today there is NCQ training and much more sophisticated operational techniques.”
Alpha’s James Bradley said: “Although the six of us operate our own minicab businesses in Liverpool, we are happy to work together on this campaign because we all realise it is in the best interests of our Liverpool passengers and the minicab trade in the city.
“There is plenty of work out there, particularly at peak times, and we will all welcome drivers licensed in Sefton and Knowsley. They don’t even have to give up their existing licences, and it won’t cost them a penny to join us. It really is a win-win for them and a win-win for Liverpool. All drivers need to do is contact one of the six minicab firms and we will happily welcome them.”
Acorn’s Liam Sweeney confirmed that a number of roadside billboard sites on key routes in both Sefton and Knowsley have been secured as part of the campaign.
He said: “We are excited our message will be beamed out loud and clear. The billboard posters will start appearing over the next few days and will run for a considerable time.”
The charm campaign is the most recent chapter in a series of ongoing minicab issues in the city.
On Thursday a court date was set for a full appeal hearing for Delta Minicabs to fight a decision to revoke its licence to operate in Liverpool.
The company was issued with a new private hire operator’s licence on November 18 to enable them to take fares in the city.
But Liverpool city council claim Delta breached a condition of this licence and decided to take it away.
A full hearing will take place and hear arguments from both parties on Wednesday, May 13.
Delta will still be able to operate until the dispute is resolved.
This week also saw a global taxi app that works exclusively with black cabs launched in Liverpool.
The Gettaxicab app has operated in London for around three years and is set to expand to six other cities in the UK.
The new taxi app provides an “on demand service” after users have downloaded it to their smartphone and logged their credit card details.
source:
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liv ... rm-8645529
Login
Register
FAQ
