Taxi Driver Online

A few mergers and takeovers in the news last week, and suspect we'll see a good few more of them as the economic wreckage of the pandemic becomes a bit clearer, although most won't be featured in the press

This is from Glasgow, and kind of thing that probably wouldn't have happened without Covid, I'm guessing.

But at least they are honest enough to state that Covid has been a factor, but of course these things are normally advertorial in nature, so they put a positive gloss on it rather than saying its an act of desperation, or whatever.

But consistent with the advertorial feel is a 'How To Download The App' bit on the newsite, although it is marked 'Advertiser Content from GlasGO Cabs'.


GlasGO Cabs launches as two local firms merge to create an ‘invincible fleet'

https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/special-f ... l-20495297

Glasgow Private Hire and Hampden Cars have joined forces to develop a more efficient service for customers


Image: Glasgow Live

A new private hire and taxi service is now available in Glasgow as two local firms have announced a merger.

Glasgow Private Hire and Hampden Cars, which have both been operating in the city for more than 20 years, will be known as GlasGO Cabs.

GlasGO Cabs is now one of the largest private hire and taxi services in Glasgow, covering all areas citywide. It also has the benefits of being a dual fleet, meaning there are private and public cars to suit a variety of requirements and occasions.

It promises to get people from A to B in the fastest, safest and cheapest way possible and it can reduce waiting time with its huge fleet of drivers.

GlasGO Cabs has also launched an app to coincide with the new company announcement. The app will mean customers can easily book its service and even link their credit card so payment is stress-free.

Hampden Cars general manager Martin Hogg explained: “In a nutshell, customers will now get an improved service because we have a bigger fleet. Technology is also playing a part as we are doing a big push on contactless payments in vehicles, including Apple Pay.

“We are encouraging people to download the app and book via that platform as it means you can pay without pulling your credit card out your pocket.”

GlasGO Cabs has also made sure that every vehicle follows the latest government guidelines and is safe during the pandemic. Vehicles are regularly sanitised and the customer’s comfort during a journey is at the forefront of every driver’s mind.

Although these two companies might have been once known as competitors, the pandemic made the owners see the potential of working together to create a stronger service for its staff and customers.

“The two owners started talking and came up with the idea as it made sense to join forces and move forward together,” explained Martin. “Everybody is looking forward to coming out of lockdown and to start a new chapter. Personally, it’ll be great to see a bigger company flourishing in Glasgow and hopefully take the lion’s share of the market.”

Glasgow Private Hire manager Stuart Brennan agrees. He said: “I’ve been involved in the taxi industry for a long time and it’s good to see this progression. The feedback so far from both companies is optimistic and GlasGO Cabs is going to build a very large and invincible fleet.

“But the reason to merge was always about better service for our customers. That will always be our priority.”

GlasGO Cabs also has big plans for the future as it looks ahead to phase two of Glasgow's Low Emission Zone in 2023. The company plans to go electric and create an eco-friendly fleet which will be rolled out over the next few years.

“I think we will be a force to be reckoned with!” added Stuart.

These are two acquisitions by the Veezu group, via Dragon Taxis in south Wales, and Go Carz in Shropshire. They're more in the character of takeovers or acquisitions rather than what looks like a merger in Glasgow.


Dragon Taxi acquires A2B Taxis in Barry

https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/ ... xis-barry/

Go Carz joins forces with Diamond Cars

https://www.phtm.co.uk/news/3661/phtm-n ... amond-cars


Anyone reading both pieces will notice that they're very, er, formulaic, and obviously it's a template that the Veezu Group HQ uses. So both:

- have references to 'driver-partners'

- point out that the old office's legacy phone number can still be used

- but that the old app can't be used, so use the Dragon Taxis or Go Carz apps

- similar spiel about payment options

- similar spiel about how they've coped with the pandemic and done their utmost to promote safety etc

- final paragraph about 'transport technology innovators Veezu Group' in both pieces

And, obviously, the usual stuff about how the deals will enhance the customer experience, blah, blah.

This fourth one is slightly different again, and from Stoke, where 40-years-old Intercity Taxis has been acquired by MBH Corporation plc. Again, broadly similar advertorial style to the three pieces above.


Popular Stoke-on-Trent taxi firm sold off in multi-million pound deal

https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/news/st ... rm-5378169

The company has been around for more than 40 years

Of course, nothing particularly new about Veezu Group hoovering up the minnows, but I suspect the pandemic will accelerate that process.

However, I wonder what all these businesses think about the Supreme Court's judgement on Uber, and whether it has any relevance to them, and could also lead to some, er, rationalisation or consolidation of despatch circuits?

Or do they consider they're untouchable as regards the Supreme Court judgement?

The thing is it's all very well doing that but it would only take one small change in employment law and their business model would be up the creek and their business down the swanny with it

_________________
lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Think there is a lot of money slushing around, and maybe a few bargains to be had.

Think mergers make sense, and having one office full of staff is a lot cheaper than two offices full of staff.

_________________
IDFIMH

Interesting to compare this to the Veezu advertorial style earlier, which was aimed mainly at customers in the local markets.

This is on the BusinessLive website (another Reach plc site using the 'Live' branding) and is aimed more at the business community.


Private hire and taxi firm Veezu acquires two more businesses as part of UK expansion

https://www.business-live.co.uk/enterpr ... u-20579054

The Newport-based firm has acquired Diamond Cars in Telford and A2B Taxis in the Vale of Glamorgan


Veezu CEO Nathan Bowles (Image: BusinessLive)

Welsh-headquartered Veezu has acquired two private hire businesses as part of its UK growth plans.

The private hire technology platform’s acquisitions of Diamond Cars in Telford and A2B Taxis in the Vale of Glamorgan is the latest development in the business’ continued drive for expansion.

The Diamond Cars acquisition sees an additional 270 licensed vehicles in Telford operating with the Go Carz brand.

The A2B Taxis acquisition will see Dragon Taxis extend its service into the Vale of Glamorgan. The deal also provides Dragon Taxis partners with an additional 150 vehicles, and bridges coverage between its existing operating areas of Cardiff and Bridgend.

Nathan Bowles, Veezu CEO, said: “I’m delighted with our recent two acquisitions. It is a clear signal to the market that we are accelerating plans for further growth. As the UK’s leading private hire technology platform, we have an unrivalled reputation for successfully integrating private hire firms into our business.”

Identified in London Stock Exchange Group’s ‘1000 Companies to Inspire Britain’ 2020 report, Veezu has made eight acquisitions since January 2020.

With an appetite for continued growth, Veezu, which is based in Newport, has said it will target several more acquisitions before the end of 2021.

Mr Bowles added: “We want to grow our position as a market leading technology innovator and private hire platform. We are now identifying the next wave of acquisitions and are seeking several more private hire business owners looking to sell."

As opposed to which company?

Veezu keen to portray itself as UK's biggest private hire venture. As opposed to, you know, a US private hire venture.

Of course, even the business community will tend to view Veezu as operating in a different sector to Uber; you know, it's 'private hire', not 'ride-hailing', the 'gig economy', or whatever.


Well there is the economic wreckage wreaked by the pandemic to clear up, and it's an ill wind that blows no one any good, as they say

Maybe not quite what's called 'vulture capitalism', but...

Veezu must now have nearly 7,000 'driver-partners' on its books, mainly under the Dragon Taxis (South Wales), Go Carz (Shropshire) and Amber Cars (Leeds) brands

As well as minnows being gobbled up by the likes of Veezu/Go Carz, and how the pandemic's economic wreckage is likely to hasten that kind of thing, there will also be knock on effects.

So here some of the old Diamond Cars drivers and staff obviously don't like the thought of being under the Veezu/Go Carz umbrella, and have set up an alternative, very probably continuing the Diamond ethos rather than the more corporate approach of Veezu.

Otherwise classic advertorial, though.

(The promotional photo is a tad big, and can't be resized, so just a link below rather than displaying it here. But I'm guessing maybe Go Carz has a dress code, and maybe the former Diamond lads don't like it )


Former Diamond Cars staff launch new Telford taxi company

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/bus ... n-telford/

Dozens of jobs have been created after a new taxi firm was launched in Telford.

Photo: https://www.shropshirestar.com/resizer/ ... WBEAZY.jpg

1st Choice has been launched by a team of former drivers and staff of Diamond Cars which joined forces with other taxi firm Go Carz last month.

1st Choice, which has got about 40 drivers, will be based at Athena House in Donnington.

Adrian Picken has helped set up the new firm after working for Diamond Cars for nearly 30 years.

He said: "We are trying to run a more traditional, personal taxi service as a lot of people still like to phone and speak to someone rather than just rely on an app.

"We have got about 40 drivers and a full complement of office staff who have all come from Diamond Cars.

"We are just operating in Telford for the time being as we establish ourselves.

"All Covid measures required by the council have been adhered to.

"We set up a Facebook page a couple of weeks ago and have had some really nice comments. The response has been fantastic."

To contact 1st Choice call 01952 505050 or find the business on Facebook.

I wish them well, and it's not a bad number.

Personally I don't like the idea of drivers being bought and sold, without sharing in the spoils.

Yes the owners of the firms take the financial risks, but without drivers they are nothing.

_________________
IDFIMH

Very worthy cause, obviously - a childrens' hospice

But otherwise typical Veezu group advertorial, promoting the Dragon Taxis takeover of A2B, 'driver partners', payment options, 'giving something back to the community', blah, blah.



Dragon Taxi Vale of Glamorgan fundraising drive for Tŷ Hafan

https://www.barryanddistrictnews.co.uk/ ... -ty-hafan/


Image: Barry & District News

DRAGON Taxis Vale of Glamorgan is launching a charity campaign to support Tŷ Hafan.

They will be donating a percentage of all app bookings in the Vale to the Welsh children’s hospice throughout the summer.

Tŷ Hafan, one of the UK’s leading paediatric palliative care charities, offer comfort, care and support to life-limited children, young people and their families in the hospice, in the community and in their home so they can make the most of the time they have left together.

It costs just over £12,000 to keep the hospice open for just one day.

South Wales’ largest private hire and taxi firm, Dragon Taxis, acquired A2B Taxis in Barry in April to extend its service into Barry, Sully, and the Vale of Glamorgan.

Since launching in the region, Dragon Taxis Vale of Glamorgan has fulfilled 60,000 bookings to local residents and businesses.

Starting this July, Dragon Taxis is now donating a percentage of all bookings made via the app to Tŷ Hafan.

Jack Price, Regional Director for Dragon Taxis, said: “It’s been two months since we launched Dragon Taxis in the Vale of Glamorgan.

"We wanted to give something back to the community and support a local charity that is really making a difference.

"When people book their journeys via our app, they know that a percentage of their fare is going directly to support the children and families that Tŷ Hafan cares for.”

The donation to Tŷ Hafan comes directly from Dragon Taxis so that the 120 local Vale licenced driver partners aren’t out of pocket.

Corporate Senior Fundraiser for Tŷ Hafan Kelly Dibble said: "We are absolutely delighted that Dragon Taxis has chosen to support Tŷ Hafan.

"Every year we take care of over 300 families at our vibrant hospice based in Sully and through our diverse community programmes across Wales.

"Our families describe us as ‘lifeline’ but sadly we receive less than 10 per cent of government funding.

"Tŷ Hafan simply couldn’t provide its vital services without the kindness and generosity of the community and businesses like Dragon Taxis."

To support the Tŷ Hafan donation, passengers simply book via the Dragon Taxis app, which is available for both Android and Apple devices, and can pay with card, cash or their cashless SMS-payment option, AirPay.

The app booking donation to Tŷ Hafan is the latest in a series of local community initiatives by Dragon Taxis.

In February this year, the firm paid for thousands of free taxi rides for the elderly and vulnerable to get their vaccinations in Bridgend, Newport, Cardiff and Torfaen.

It has also covered the costs of food parcel deliveries to NHS staff at Heath Hospital Cardiff, food bank donations to the Bigger Picture in Newport, and made a donation to the Santa Appeal in Torfaen.

But interesting maybe that the donations only apply to app bookings - are mainstream firms just promoting apps as another way to book, or actively encouraging a shift from phone bookings to apps, as Veezu seems to be doing here?

Of course, app bookings certainly more efficient and less labour intensive than conventional booking procedures, so hardly surprising that a large cost-concious business like Veezu will be encouraging app bookings, thus hoping to emulate Uber's more financially efficent app-only model.