The Rise of a South Coast Coach Firm
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Wednesday April 10, 2013 Issue 1082 | £2.95 www.coachandbusweek.com COACH: FACE TO FACE: BUS: TRAINING: Plaxton to launch Brothers Ian & Steve Rescue of Bolton- How Lucketts ensures 'baby' Panther at Luckett talk business based Maytree Travel its staff have the right UK Coach Rally p9 & technology p22 fails at 11th hour p4 set of skills p26 for recruitment FOCUS ON JOB ADVERTS EVERY WEEK The rise of a south RECRUITNOW coast coach firm p16 Cover1.indd 1 08/04/2013 18:09 16 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 10, 2013 April 10, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 17 OPERATOR PROFILE › LUCKETTS TRAVEL Lucketts: future of Worthing Coaches in 2005 National Express routes from after the previous owners decided Tellings Golden Miller. This a brief history to retire from the business. comprised Portsmouth to London, Further expansion came at Chichester to London and also Lucketts was founded in 1926 as a the end of March 2006, with the Portsmouth to Bristol. As part of haulage and storage company and acquisition of Flagship. This had this contract, a dozen new 58-plate only bought its first coach in 1976. been the coach business of what Caetano Levante-bodied Scania This photo literally sets The business was founded by was then still municipally-owned coaches were purchased. All the the scene – for it includes Harry Luckett, father of the current Eastbourne Buses and was set driving and operations staff were the three brands which Chairman, David Luckett. The up only three previously. Lucketts transferred from the previous make up Lucketts Group company was predominantly a agreed to retain the brand but the operator at the date of changeover. haulage and storage business but operation was run under the wing A further exciting development other activities were entered into, of Worthing Coaches. came in September 2010 when new including keeping chickens and On January 12, 2009 Lucketts offices and maintenance facilities other farmyard animals. took over operation of all the were officially opened at the David Luckett joined the firm company’s existing site in Fareham. in 1963 and took over shortly An impressive, modern multi-storey after in 1966 when Harry died office block replaced a single- unexpectedly. The company’s storey building and associated haulage business continued and portacabins. The facilities were went from strength to strength in certainly indicative of a firm which the late 1960s and early 1970s meant business and saw itself David purchased his first coach as securing its future. Indeed, the in 1976, choosing to drive it himself. event marked the culmination of It proved a very enjoyable and five years of phenomenal growth, successful venture and the second even during a time of recession coach was soon added. By the The civic ceremony was attended mid-1980s the coach fleet had by over 150 guests and dignitaries, outnumbered the haulage fleet including the Mayor and Mayoress and it was clear which way the of Fareham. The honour of company was proceeding. declaring the buildings open fell to The third generation of Lucketts Mark Hoban MP. joined the business – Steve in 1983 Perhaps a very public recognition and Ian in 1985. Since then the of the Lucketts’ drive and success company has grown. A 2010 view of father and his two came in September 2011 when Lucketts secured the long term sons – David, Ian & Steve the firm was named by the Daily Telegraph as being one of Britain’s ucketts is without you can relax in a comfortable examining some of the larger firms top 1,000 brightest businesses. doubt one of the seat. The welcoming environment in 2013 – but notably some of the History was again made on March Introduction UK’s most respected is further enhanced by the airy well-known coach businesses. 26, 2012 when Coliseum Coaches independent coach reception area – but there are no To this end, we’ve been fortunate became part of Lucketts Travel operators. Headed austere white walls here. A display to gain the enthusiasm of the Group. With 12 coaches and 15 up by experienced cabinet proudly shows off some Lucketts crew. Ian and Steve, the staff, Coliseum was a much smaller to Lucketts individuals who of the firm’s achievements, not to two brothers who head up the firm, operation than Lucketts. However, are experts in their field, it’s no mention a model coach or two and kindly gave up part of their day to it included high-profile, premium Lexaggeration to say the family- a Lucketts-branded teddy bear. talk to us and share with you their work, such as the operation of Travel Group owned firm is seen as a model for At the risk of sounding like a thoughts and experiences. the Southampton Football Club’s best practice. From humble roots, brochure for Lucketts, you’re likely We’ve also spoken to their father, travel. The deal came about after it has grown to an £18m business, to be familiar with the name but David, who while no longer on the Coliseum’s owners, David and Kerry operating 100-odd vehicles across what does it do in terms of work? frontline, retains his passion for Pitter announced their intention the South Coast, using the Lucketts, In addition to private hire, the coaching. He’s talked about the to retire. The brothers wanted the Worthing and Coliseum brands. firm also offers coach and touring past and present – not to mention a business to transfer to a secure The company does not pretend holidays, plus day trips. Perhaps couple of anecdotes. and reputable company. However, to offer a ‘cheap’ service but the reflecting Lucketts seemingly never- Paul Baringer and Ian Hills have Mark Pitter, David’s son, stayed on professionalism of its staff goes ending need and ability to not only outlined the firm’s commercial as General Manager to head up the without saying. It is often said that keep up but also ahead of the times, and training elements respectively, Southampton side of the business first impressions count. Indeed, on-line booking is available for while Engineering Director Mark – a role he continues in. imagine yourself as a potential coach hire and tours. Jordan has shared his experiences A third storey was added to corporate customer visiting the The company’s systematic of managing the fleet. We’ve also Luckett’s already impressive Coach & Bus Week’s Editor Gareth firm’s headquarters – it would be approach is backed up by external enjoyed a peek at the vehicles too, Fareham offices in March 2013. The Evans sets the scene for this issue’s hard to go away without feeling audits carried out for the Guild of which range in size from Ford expansion allowed the creation of impressed. You can park up on British Coach Operators and CPT’s Fiestas to a Neoplan Skyliner. a dedicated training suite on the super-feature on renowned South clean, tarmaced bays outside an CoachMarque quality standards. On a final note, Lucketts has not top floor. What had previously been impressive glass-fronted entrance. Following a similar pattern for been slow to embrace social media. storage space was transformed into Coast of England coach operator Once inside, you’re greeted by a the ‘super features’ on the so-called Therefore, if you don’t already do a lecture theatre and a separate Lucketts Travel Group, which is now a cheerful yet professional member ‘Big Five’ operators which proved so, follow the firm on Twitter @ room which can be used for of staff. As you wait to be attended popular with all sections of our lucketts and on Facebook at www. practical scenarios such as first 100-vehicle, £18m turnover business to by another member of the team, readership last year, we’re again facebook.com/LuckettsTravelOfficial. A before & after scene of Lucketts’ head office showing its transformation aid training. www.coachandbusweek.com www.coachandbusweek.com Lucketts_Intro.indd 16 08/04/2013 14:28 Lucketts_Intro.indd 17 08/04/2013 14:28 18 | COACH & BUS WEEK | April 10, 2013 April 10, 2013 | COACH & BUS WEEK | 19 FACE TO FACE › DAVID LUCKETT MBE NAME: David Luckett MBE POSITION: Chairman, Lucketts Travel Group CONTACT: 01329 823755 www.lucketts.co.uk From carrier to carriage Alex Tyler and Gareth Evans talk to Lucketts Chairman David Luckett MBE about how the well respected firm came to be and some of the memorable moments in his career hough a Chairman Hersham, Surrey in a Bedford YRQ. David remains as tends to take more “I drove coaches in North Wales passionate as ever of a backseat role, a lot and my first tour was with the about the firm he David Luckett still Senior Salvation Army Pensioners developed from his has an obvious Club,” he said. “Every year this dear father’s beginnings passion both for old lady would say ‘if you can’t then and is now rightly his company and I’ll have your son Steven’. She was a proud of what his for coaching in general. David is strict lady – you didn’t mess about sons have achieved Twell known in the industry and with her.” has a wealth of knowledge and “There’s no greater feeling than anecdotes, which as Lucketts gets going out after you’ve cleaned the larger, help the firm retain its vehicle the day before and you get family roots. in it, and pick up some people and Lucketts was founded as a haulage give them a good old day. I always company by David’s father Harry got a lot of satisfaction from that,” Luckett in 1926.