04/10/2017 - Bakers Dolphin Steps In To Save Coach Jobs
West Country coach operator on recruitment drive
West Country coach operator Bakers Dolphin is stepping in to offer jobs to drivers and other staff affected by difficulties at Coombs Travel.
Bakers Dolphin, which has its headquarters in Locking Road, Weston-super-Mare, just a few miles from Coombs Travel has been established for 128 years and has seen strong growth in recent years with its mix of national and international tours, contract work for schools and clubs and coach hire.
Managing Director Max Fletcher said: “We were shocked to hear that Coombs Travel had handed back a number of school contracts and rumours that it has ceased trading. We are trying to recruit drivers and staff at the moment so we are exploring how we can help by taking people on as we hear that some staff have been told not to come into work.
“We have many regular school contracts in the area and we are trying to get some clarity on what is happening at Coombs Travel so that we can support anyone, both staff and customers, which have been affected.
“It is always upsetting to see a coach business hit difficulty. Coach travel is a very competitive and highly-regulated business that is difficult for those without the broad spectrum of income that we have to operate within.”
Bakers Dolphin is contacting Somerset County Council to offer support for the school routes that have been affected and is appealing to any staff of Coombs Travel affected to contact Derek Forbes on 01934 415000.
Bakers Dolphin is the region’s top coach tour operator, offering hundreds of holiday tours around the UK and the continent. It also provides regular daily coach services for schools in the region as well as private hire vehicles.