20/11/2025 - Guild of British Coach Operators Celebrate 40 Good Years
The Guild of British Coach Operators have been celebrating 40 years since their founding in 1985, throughout the year.
The Guild was founded by Simon Newman of Armchair Coaches and Don Swinard of Swinards Travel in April 1985. The aim was and still is, to bring together coach operators who operate to high quality standards, to share best practice and provide mutual aid. The quality element, proved through an exacting bi-annual independent audit, with prescribed financial performance also required. The Guild has always complemented the trade associations as it provides a different and more personal support network for members and their staff. This extends not only to principals, but operations, training and engineering for which separate annual forums are held. The Guild members meet three times a year, with the aim to ensure those attending, leave with inspiration and new ideas to apply within their own company.
The membership presently stands at twenty-six and although representing a small percentage of UK coach operators, it is a significant buyer in the new coach market, representing up to 20% of annual registrations. It is also prominent in driving quality standards as evidenced by the high number of award-winning operators who are members of the Guild. Its annual “Think Tank”, provides the industry’s only consistent year by year benchmark of key operational, marketing and finance data, available exclusively to Guild members.
During the anniversary year, the Guild has been looking to the future and changes expected over the next 40 years. Presented by the younger members, they showcased radical changes ahead but with an exciting future for those who adapt to the new world.
The Guild’s Administrator and company secretary, Steve Whiteway remarked, “What Simon and Don started all those years ago, has blossomed and still holds dear the founders charter, to develop best practice and our people to be the best in our industry. The Guild continues to thrive in an ever-challenging environment, evidence of the unique mutual support members enjoy”.