Andy Peters
Brighton & Hove Cab Trade Association
info@bhcta.co.uk www.bhcta.co.uk
Takeover that never happened
Very recently a venture capitalist group took over / partnered (or whatever took place) a small local cab company here. Of course, we all wish the owner the very best of luck with this new venture.
That group then set its eyes on the largest local taxi company in the city that was established as an owner-driver association/cooperative nearly 90 years ago and a meeting with the members took place with the representative of that group.
The details of that meeting are understandably private and confidential so I am unable to provide specifics of what took place. However, what I can say is that the members listened very carefully to what was on offer… and unanimously rejected taking the matter any further. Tail between legs would better describe it.
I understand that another taxi company here also sent them packing, so good for them!
I have absolutely no doubt that this was absolutely the right decision, which allows that association to steer its own path and destiny rather than having its business taken out of its own hands. I for one could never even consider doing this job without that freedom having been on that association for some 40 years.
I have always been a strong advocate of taxi and private hire companies being run as non-profit making entities which exist for the sole benefit of the members and not for an individual owner. I know that there are many taxi/PH companies up and down country based on this model and they may long continue this way without the threat of hostile takeovers.
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For example, Mark Jennings (mentioned in the mag many times over the years) has proven this with the very
successful Southend Taxi Cooperative
www.333444.uk
Having said that, I know only too well the strongest point of being part of such an organisation can also be the weakest; that being that all the members can have a say in how things are run, but being masters of your own destiny trumps that by miles!
Who knows what will happen in the future, but what is clear is that if the day ever comes when I am forced to work for a national app and be totally controlled with the fear of being cut off by a faceless entity because of one bad review out of thousands of good ones, then that will be the day I hand my badge in.
Yet another app The headline in the local rag recently was:
“A taxi firm boss is hoping his new app will “revolutionise” the private hire industry”
Yep, another app that seeks to lower the fares of his drivers, or so it appears. “Customers input their location and destination before selecting one of five price bands. The offer will then go out to all taxis on the network and the drivers can accept the customer’s price or suggest a different one in their response.”
MAY 2024 PHTM
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