October 28 2026
Coach UK, part of CPT, has criticised the Chancellor's failure to provide targeted support for Britain's coach industry in today's Autumn Budget, warning that a freeze in fuel duty and further increases in employment costs will leave operators facing mounting financial pressures, threatening vital school transport services, local jobs and businesses.
Peter Bradley, Head of Coach, said:
"The Chancellor has missed a vital opportunity to support Britain's coach industry at a time when many operators are fighting for survival. Businesses have faced a median 46% increase in diesel costs since February, putting school transport, tourism and community services under enormous pressure.
"We have called for a temporary 20p-per-litre rebate, at an estimated cost of around £52 million for a year, to provide immediate relief. This is a relatively modest intervention which could help safeguard thousands of jobs and vital transport links. We urge the Government to reconsider before operators are forced to make irreversible decisions about their businesses and services.
"These pressures will only be compounded by today's announcement on the minimum wage. Further increases in employment costs will place additional pressure on coach operators already facing exceptional financial challenges. The overwhelming majority of coach businesses are small or family-owned enterprises, and many have limited scope to absorb increases in costs or renegotiate existing contracts.
"Operators want to pay their staff fairly and invest in recruitment and training, but rising employment costs, alongside soaring diesel prices, threaten their ability to do so. We urge the Government to consider the cumulative impact of tax and wage decisions on these businesses and the essential services they provide."