SPOTLIGHT ON NPHTA MEMBER HYDE ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORT LTD: WORKING TOGETHER THROUGH TOUGH TIMES
This month we focus on NPHTA member Hyde Accessible Transport Ltd and its director Shaun Delaney.
Hyde Accessible Transport identified an important niche corner of the market and as such has a mixed fleet of entirely
wheelchair accessible vehicles including black cabs, private hire vehicles and PSV vehicles, supported by 70 drivers and transporting 400 of those who are less fortunate within the community daily.
Shaun has always been in the taxi and private hire industry. Having had his first taxi company at the age of 21, he then launched this latest company to focus on the wheelchair accessible market in May 2017. Since his launch he has seen an increase in turnover year on year, which he accredits to the hard work and dedication of his team of drivers.
PHTM had a long and thoroughly enjoyable chat with Shaun, during which he told us of his humble beginnings, and his actions now to support the drivers which includes recognising the challenge of meeting the upcoming emis- sions criteria. As a result he has invested over £1 million in compliant vehicles which drivers then have the option to purchase from the company over a period of time to make them more affordable; rent the vehicles; or work as PAYE employees in the replacement vehicles.
He did this simply because he recognised the simplest of facts: that as a limited company, he could claim the VAT ele- ment back, whereas drivers would not have this option; so by taking this expensive step, he would be able to reduce the cost overall to the drivers.
How’s that for being supportive!
During our chat, Shaun made it abundantly clear that he recognises the fact that an operator is only as good, as reliable, and as respected as its drivers. He said: “An opera- tor relies heavily on the loyalty, reliability and commitment of its workforce and drivers; without them, the operator has no service to offer. I can only drive one vehicle at a time, so without the drivers I am merely a one-man band!”
Since the start of lockdown, Shaun launched into food parcel deliveries, free transport for NHS and frontline staff, and of course maintaining what little bit of work was left due to the terrible pandemic we find ourselves in.
Although the ser-
vices offered were free of charge to the service users, the drivers still got paid for the work they were doing - this was all about supporting the public in their hour of need.
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Tameside Council has recognised Hyde Accessible Transport Ltd and even issued an award for the excellent service they pro- vided.
As mentioned, over 400 less fortunate passengers benefit from the excellent services provided by Shaun and his team every single day; this is a mixture of chil- dren, elderly, vulnerable, disabled and those with special needs. This is a vital community service which is worthy of national recognition and appreciation.
On the subject of appreciation and recognition, Shaun went above and beyond: not only has he either not been charging the usual base fees to drivers and made sure there was no rent throughout December; not only has he been making sure that all drivers and staff are looked after and protected as much as he can during this unprecedented time, but he wanted to show a little more appreciation than that for his team, so he went shopping for treats for his loyal drivers and office staff!
A round of applause from all at NPHTA and PHTM! Thank you for your appreciation, your recognition, and all your hard work Shaun, thank you for supporting your team and your community through 2020. Let us hope 2021 and the vaccine does indeed bring with it light at the end of the tunnel, and a return to some form of normal!
JANUARY 2021
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