Edwards.qxp_feature 2 12/03/2015 14:15 Page 58 BUS & COACH90 REVIEW: EDWARDS COACHES Years Of Success Passion & innovation has helped family business Edwards Coaches stay one step ahead of the competition 58 TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE www.tandlonline.com Edwards.qxp_feature 2 12/03/2015 14:15 Page 59 BUS & COACH REVIEW: EDWARDS COACHES n the last year it is esti- and rubber wheels – with the sim- children every day on an am and mated that there were ple objective of providing a service pm school run and a lot of the over 5.2 billion bus and that would put a smile on people's schools have confidence in us.” coach passenger journeys faces, and since then their goal has It's good to know that the com- Iin Great Britain, making up remained the same. pany still treasure the same family around two thirds of all public “We're primarily a coach com- values after all these years – even transport journeys, meaning pany, but we've diversified in a though the business, and the coach that buses and coaches are no number of different transport func- industry itself, has changed dramati- small part of the UK economy. tions over the years,” said Jason cally. “It's not just a simple job any Operating out of South Wales, Edwards, Company Director. As more, to get out of bed and run a Edwards Coaches are among the well as a regional bus service pro- coach company,” admits Jason. In oldest coach companies in Great viding key transport routes for the recent years, government legislation Britain, having been founded in local community, the company also has meant that coach companies 1925. 90 years ago George offers rail transport, river and sea have come under strain, and as a Edwards came out of retirement cruises, flight tours, and other holi- result many have gone out of busi- and began transporting people day services. “But our bread and ness. However, it seems that Edwards around in a Charabanc – an early butter, really, is schools,” explains Coaches is thriving better than ever form of coach with an open top Jason. “We transport 6,500 school despite the economic climate. “We've always had people pick- “IT'S NOT JUST A SIMPLE JOB ANY MORE, ing up the phone and chasing us, looking to operate coaches for TO GET OUT OF BED AND RUN customers instead of the other way around. In recent years, we've gone A COACH COMPANY,” from operating one coach a day to London to around 35 coaches a www.tandlonline.com TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE 59 Edwards.qxp_feature 2 12/03/2015 14:15 Page 60 BUS & COACH REVIEW: EDWARDS COACHES day from the South Wales area,” on our holiday programme. This said Jason. “And we've just huge investment firmly cements launched a new service operated our company values - there will be through National Express from no compromise on quality. We will Cardiff University to Bristol be offering our customers, staff, Airport every two hours.” and drivers first-class travel with The company puts 210 vehicles the safest and best coaches on the on the road every day, ranging from road, allowing our own mainte- people carriers, chauffeur driven nance team to work on the best cars, to high occupancy double vehicles that money can buy.” The deckers, 70 seat school coaches, coaches will each have 49 seats, and everything in between. And wood-effect flooring, Luxline seats pillar of our business has really ply transport to the Welsh Football they are in the middle of expanding with leather head rests, a centre been the local people that travel Association, and we've got a large even further, having recently pur- toilet, and even wifi, ensuring that with us on a regular basis – one of contract with Cardiff City so we chased 10 luxurious Mercedes Edwards Coaches customers are the most important testaments do all of the away fixtures and all of Benz Tourismo M coaches for a really getting the luxury that the we've got has been with us for the the academies under that. We're massive £2.7 million, in honour of company believes they deserve. last 20 or so years, and does a day very into our sport, and we take their 90th anniversary. What sets the company apart trip with us every two months... care of the majority of internation- “We're just pushing the boat from competitors is, without Our feet are firmly on the floor.” al touring teams all entering Cardiff out a little bit this year. When our doubt, their down to earth attitude It is these strengths which have and South Wales – when you've got customers get on a Mercedes to the business. “[People] know attracted some high profile clients an interest in sports, you tend to coach, it gives you that 'Wow' fac- that we are a company they can over the years. “We've got a bus push the boat out that little bit tor. The coaches are coming in trust and we provide good value out in Paris now, transporting the further.” March and going straight to work for money,” Jason explained. “The Welsh rugby team around, we sup- Despite having their feet firmly THE COMPANY PUTS 210 VEHICLES ON THE ROAD EVERY DAY, RANGING FROM PEOPLE CARRIERS, CHAUFFEUR DRIVEN CARS, TO HIGH OCCUPANCY DOUBLE DECKERS 60 TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE www.tandlonline.com Edwards.qxp_feature 2 23/03/2015 08:25 Page 61 BUS & COACH REVIEW: EDWARDS COACHES www.tandlonline.com TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE 61 Edwards.qxp_feature 2 23/03/2015 08:25 Page 62 BUS & COACH REVIEW: EDWARDS COACHES 62 TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE www.tandlonline.com Edwards.qxp_feature 2 12/03/2015 14:15 Page 63 BUS & COACH REVI EW: EDWARDS COACHES tomers, suppliers, and VIPs all “FOR US WE ARE JUST PASSIONATE attending. We'll be testing out the new Mercedes coaches on arrival ABOUT WHAT WE DO – IT'S NOT JUST A too, so they'll be the first to travel on those, we'll have an open day JOB, IT'S WHAT WE'VE BEEN BROUGHT UP with face painting, choirs, hot dogs, and we'll just be trying to give WITH AND IT'S WHAT WE KNOW something back to the community and support local charities.” on the ground, Edwards Coaches there'd be black smoke coming out The company is proud to have aren't afraid of innovation – they of the back, now you can stand been awarded Coach of the Year have a comprehensive GPS tracking next to a coach and you won't even award for the second year in a row, system in place to look at the key know it's ticking over. We're trying along with many other accolades performance indicators of their to recycle and just generally be the such as Welsh Coach of the Year, drivers. The motion sensors detect best company that we can.” Tourist Coach of the Year, and being dangerous events such as hard The company is currently cele- nominated as one of the top 1000 steering, speeding, and jumping on brating it's 90th birthday this year, best companies to inspire Great the brakes, showing which of their with two high profile agreements Britain by a major newspaper. drivers are truly performing at the involving big companies, new “For us we are just passionate high standard that's been set over coaches, and a few planned events about what we do – it's not just a their long company life, and which all in the pipeline. “For a business job, it's what we've been brought needed a little bit more training. to start off 90 years ago and still be up with and it's what we know. It's They are also keen to improve flourishing and profitable and one big family business and your upon the size of their carbon foot- healthy, still offering something to name doesn't have to end with print - “What we've tried to do as the community and value for Edwards to feel like you own a part a business is to buy the latest, most money, is a really big achievement.” of it.” efficient carbon friendly engines explained Jason. “We've got a 90th that we can – years ago you used birthday party coming up, and www.booking.edwardscoaches.co.uk to stand next to a coach and we've got something like 300 cus- Tel: 01443 202048 www.tandlonline.com TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS MAGAZINE 63.