Edwards Coaches in the fast lane after multimillion pound contract win
- Lombard provides £2.2m to support customer’s multimillion pound contract win
- Edwards Coaches expands fleet and invests in eleven new, state-of-the-art coaches
- Edwards expands company and creates 40 new jobs in local community
Edwards Coaches Ltd is Wales’ largest privately owned coach operator and has a fleet of over 160 buses and coaches. Established in 1925, Edwards is a fifth generation family business based in Pontypridd, and has just been listed in The Telegraph’s 1000 Britain’s Brightest Businesses.
Having won a multimillion pound, seven year National Express contract to operate 14 routes, Edwards sought to invest £2.2m for eleven new and state-of-the-art 48 seater Caetano Levante Volvo B9s. The company also looked to support its expansion by creating 40 jobs.
Mark Mountford, Lombard Relationship Director, South & Central Wales Region, met with his team to establish the customer’s requirements, discuss general pressures seen in the coach sector and agree the potential way forward. Lombard subsequently provided a £2.2m hire purchase funding package to meet the cost of acquiring the new coaches and help Edwards realise its expansion plans.
Mountford explains, Edwards is a great example of an established family business realising its growth potential.
It’s terrific to hear that the business could be taking on new staff as a result of this. Well done to them for securing
such a major contract.
The business employs 300 staff, carries 80,000 passengers a year through its coach holiday arm and services over 130
school contracts carrying 6,500 students daily. It is also the preferred coach supplier to the Welsh Rugby Union and
Football Association of Wales. Jason Edwards, Commercial Director of Edwards Coaches Ltd, explains, We have always
been a local, family-operated company supporting the community and we are proud to have the ability to grow as rapidly
as we have. Our continued growth owes itself to the hard work and tremendous effort of our workforce, across all levels
of the business. We are very thankful for Lombard’s support. This initial deal was turned around promptly and
professionally, from the first meeting to payout and all in under four weeks. Mark was a pleasure to work with and no
doubt his effort, and his team’s effort, in turning around the deal in record breaking time has secured future business
from us.
Security may be required and product fees may apply.
Download the Edwards Coaches Case Study (PDF, opens in new window)
Get Adobe Reader
(from www.adobe.com)
