Taxi Driver Online

Taxi firm employees band together and create new business after company sold

After their taxi firm was sold to a larger company, a group of employees have banded together and created their own business together. 10 friends from County Cars, which was sold to DG Cars in March 2023, have created their own local taxi firm called NG8 cars which is due to launch this week in the Broxtowe area.

The eight taxi drivers and two board operators were due to launch their new business on Monday, April 10, but now expect to open it later this week after some unexpected delays. The partners say that after their firm was sold it changed how they had to work and it took them far from their local area that they have been servicing for years.

However, the new business will focus on the NG8 area of Nottinghamshire, which is west of Nottingham, but will be servicing other areas too. Liam Chapman, 39, has been a taxi driver for 15 years, and explained that many of the group had worked at the previous company for a number of years.

He said: "Myself and nine other employees and drivers have clubbed together and started our own company in the same area. We worked there for 15 to 20 years and then they sold it to DG Cars.

"We all worked in the NG8 area and we know the area and we know all the customers and where everyone goes." Liam explained that they created the company so that they "can basically get back in the area that we were already in, it's like coming home for everyone."

He continued: "We've had lots of messages from drivers that worked here before asking if they can start here. It's been the excitement amongst the drivers that has made it so great."

The business was due to open in the former premises they worked in, however, the group have since had to relocate which caused the delay in their opening. Liam added: "This is the first working day since we should have opened so we have to get systems installed today."

Another one of the co-owners, Keith Leatherland, has been a taxi driver for 30 years. The 57 year old, of Nottingham, said: "We just can't wait to get started to be honest.

"Some of the customers are delighted that we are going to service them again, and they are not just customers some of them turn out to be friends. It's like the pensioners we pick up, they just can't wait, they are buzzing that we are starting back again and we just can't wait to get started."

The company currently has around eight drivers but by the end of the week expects to have almost 20. The service operates from 6am until midnight seven days a week, but plan to expand hours as they get more drivers.

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IDFIMH

happens a lot round here a few drivers fall out with company when the board goes up and start their own which is why we have 17 firms in a little town like this !

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector

Interesting that they didn't want to stay with the bigger firm.

Maybe the bigger firm didn't treat them with respect, and just considered them as mere numbers giving them money every week.

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IDFIMH

I'd guess their old company was one of these big city firms that was kind of local, and mainly confined to one area of the city. And the drivers are now having to work all over with DG Cars, and they feel a bit uncomfortable about it, especially as some of them seem quite old.

But don't know if it's a good idea to name their new firm after a particular postcode, although obviously they've hedged their bets by saying they'll go further afield as well.

But they're obviously just trying to replicate their previous comfort zone in terms of their day-to-day working activities

Never started up a taxi/PH firm, and never ever will. But if I did the firm would be called what the main landline number is.

I get that apps are all the thing, for good reason, but still loads of bookings are made via the old fashion way.

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IDFIMH

don't forget that round my way everyone licensed with the local council is hackney only those licensed Rutland to save money are licensed PH

There is a lot of sitting around waiting on the rank at certain times of day so there is not always much advantage to being on a bigger board because the busiest times of day when the big boards have lots of bookings are often when better fares can pop up off the rank.

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lack of modern legislation is the iceberg sinking the titanic of the transport sector