October Travelines
Welcome to the October edition of Travelines, our company newsletter for employees, business partners and clients.
Winter is now fast approaching and the nights are drawing in. We look back on the events since our last newsletter in July 2009...
In training for the Olympics
Bakers has got off to a racing start in its campaign to secure contracts for the 2012 Olympics. We have now completed our second assignment of work assigned by the Olympic Delivery Authority (ODA). The ODA are the public body responsible for the construction of infrastructure for the forthcoming 2012 Games.
Our brief was to provide eight coaches, including two vehicles suitable for wheelchair access,
One special guest in the media focus:
Olympic Gold Medallist Tessa Sanderson CBE
to support the 'Open House Weekend' public tours of the London Olympic Park.
The event included guided coach tours of the Olympic Park, an exhibition featuring models of the venues and the opportunity to hear first-hand from people working on the project. The tours started from an off-site parking facility close to the park, arrangements were made to accommodate up to 4000 visitors who attended the event.
Bakers was selected following a competitive evaluation involving a number of rival firms. The contract was publicised using a government website designed to match companies with opportunities.
This success vindicates the decision that we made to update our fleet and provide access facilities for wheelchair users. The London 2012 Olympics will create many opportunities for companies like ours; this early experience will put us in a strong position to tender for future projects.
Philip Baker
Managing Director
Beartown Bus Service forms Partnership with Animals Asia Foundation
Bakers has formed a partnership with the Animals Asia Foundation (AAF). To show our support for the foundation, Congleton's Beartown buses, operated by Bakerbus, are now carrying the names and pictures of individual bears rescued by the AAF.
Drivers of the Beartown Service chose the bears named Abracadabra, Stardust and Chance to feature on the vehicles. Information leaflets are also available inside each bus.
A number of dignitaries from the town, including representatives from Animals Asia, were invited to a short naming ceremony to mark the launch of the partnership. The group included Phil Baker, Dave Neale - Animal Welfare Director AAF, Gill Maltby - UK Project and Funding Manager AAF, Dawn Gibbins MBE - Group founder and CEO Barefoot Living Ltd, David Watson - East Cheshire Chamber of Commerce and Enterprise, and Ernie Clarke - Congleton Town Mayor.
The Foundation's main project, the Moon Bear Rescue, involves the ongoing rescue of 500 suffering and endangered bears from bile farms in China, and 200 bears in Vietnam.
Scally Rally Racers backed by Bakers Coaches
Congratulations to two Bakers coach drivers Frank Bailey and Dave Sutton, supported by Dave's Brother Steve, for their third consecutive completion of the 'Scally Rally'.
The trio drove a £100 car 2500 miles from Den Haag in Holland to Bodo, Norway - in aid of the 'Help for Heroes' charity.
A total sum of £1,100 was raised and a cheque was handed over to Mr Andy Butterworth, the local fund raiser for 'Help the Heroes'.
Bakers supported the trip by making a contribution towards the fuel costs of the rally team. Well done to all involved!
Charity Bungee Jump
A Bakers coach driver has recently taken part in a breathtaking bungee jump for charity. David Parker raised £93.00 for LCH research, in memory of Olivier Jackson, a sufferer of the disease who sadly died at the age of 7 months. A big pat on the back for David!
Transporting the stars
Bakers are to provide transport for the stars of the Gala Charity Concert at the Victoria Hall in Stoke-on-Trent. Jonathan Ansell, the former front man of classical boy band G4 and Faryl Smith, of Britain's Got Talent fame, will be among the guests taken to and from the show.
Awaydays
An excellent August for the tours department with Awayday bookings up by 5% on last year, proving that more people really are choosing to take Staycations.
Thank you to the tour drivers for their excellent service throughout the summer including holidays to Torquay, Sandown, the Edinburgh Tattoo and Scarborough.
The Holiday Department has an open day on 10th October 2009, 10am until 2pm. Sue and Stephanie will be on hand to answer any questions about tours for the remainder of 2009 and to give you a sneaky peek at 2010 holidays. As an added benefit, a 5% discount will added to any holiday booked on the day.
Private Hire - New Contracts
We have won three new contracts in the private hire sector. The first contract includes the transportation of students to and from Reaseheath College, twice a day.
The second included a trip to Wembley Stadium, with 43 coaches and over 2100 Warrington Wolves supporters being transported to see their team clinch victory against Huddersfield Giants in the Rugby league Challenge cup final.
The third contract is with a Christmas Party organiser, who require coaches to cover their transport for the extravaganza nights at Tatton Park throughout November, December and the New Year. A great result and busy times ahead for Bakers!
New Coach
A new corporate coach has joined our ever-expanding fleet. The coach has 32 leather seats and 8 tables with all mod cons, including sky television. Ideal for special day trips, football club requirements or corporate hires, the coach has already attracted contracts for its use.
Local bus services Bakerbus expands operations serving Crewe and Sandbach
As part of our improved services in and around Crewe, we will be taking over THE HARRIER service D1, a commercial operation which has been run successfully by Harrier Travel Limited for the last seventeen years. The new bus should be recognisable as the HARRIER branding has been incorporated into the striking bakerbus livery colours of yellow over blue bands - now a common sight around South Cheshire. A new passenger friendly bus has been introduced to the service with additional seating capacity and low floor easy access.
The timetable is largely unchanged, but additional journeys have been added. These include a new service X38 which links Biddulph with the new operations in Sandbach and Crewe.The new X38 service offers journey options for commuting and shopping, especially the famous Sandbach Market, held each Thursday and Saturday.
We are also taking over the operation of another route on behalf of Cheshire East Council. Service 32 will run between Sandbach and Crewe, via Warmingham. On the same day, we take over the Monday to Saturday evening operation of service 9 between Crewe and Willaston, also on behalf of Cheshire East Council.
