A much-loved coach firm is beginning a new chapter in its long history.
FirstGroup has acquired KB Coaches based at Eastington, near Stonehouse, adding 30 vehicles to its growing UK and Ireland coach portfolio.
Current owner Andy Francis is retiring following the acquisition, while Transport Manager Tom Weaver and Operations Manager Dean Francis will remain with the business.
KB Coaches began more than 40 years ago under Ken Boulton and has built a strong reputation across Gloucestershire for its personal service.
The business currently employs 34 people and specialises in home-to-school transport, as well as private hire and team travel for Forest Green Rovers and numerous other football clubs.
The company will continue to operate under its existing arrangements, with current services, contracts and bookings continuing as normal.
Dean Francis, Operations Manager at KB Coaches, said the company’s reputation for providing a “high-quality, personal service” would remain at the heart of the business.
“For our customers it will very much be business as usual, while for the team it opens up new opportunities to develop the business for the future,” he said.
The acquisition marks First Bus’s entry into the Gloucestershire coach market and adds further expertise in the home-to-school transport sector.
FirstGroup’s UK coach portfolio now comprises almost 600 vehicles and employs more than 700 people across the UK and Ireland.
The group has expanded its coach operations in recent years through the acquisition of operators including Anderson Travel, Eagle Coaches, Hills Coaches, J&B Travel, Lakeside Group, Tetley’s Coaches, Wilfreda Beehive, Matthews and York Pullman.
Gareth Davies, Managing Director (Coaching) for First Bus, said KB Coaches had developed a “really strong business in Gloucestershire”.
“It brings something new to our coach portfolio, both in terms of geography and the markets it serves, and gives us a strong platform from which to develop our presence in the region,” he said.
He added that First Bus wanted to preserve the “local knowledge and relationships” that had made businesses such as KB Coaches successful while giving them access to the wider group’s resources and investment.
The acquisition is the latest step in FirstGroup’s expansion of its coach operations across the UK and Ireland.
If you enjoyed reading this article please consider supporting free-to-view independent journalism with a pay-what-you-feel donation — click here HERE
