May 19 2023

Roads and Local Transport Minister Richard Holden MP, along with the Confederation of Public Transport’s (CPT’s) North of England Manager Andrew McGuinness, visited North East coach company Stanley Travel this week in County Durham to celebrate #NationalCoachWeek.

The visit formed part of the campaign, which shines a light on over 2,500 coach operators in the UK, many of whom are family or individually run and collectively employ over 40,000 staff nationwide.

CPT members, Stanley Travel, have been a family-run business in the region for over six decades. As a major employer of over 90 staff, their 80 vehicles carry out thousands of coach journeys every year, ranging from day trips to corporate travel.

Roads Minister Richard Holden said:

“It was great to celebrate #NationalCoachWeek here with Stanley Travel in County Durham.

"It’s brilliant to see so many successful coach companies which are family-run businesses, showing the power of British entrepreneurship raising jobs and benefiting the economy across the country.”

Andrew McGuinness, CPT’s North of England Manager, said: “Our valued coach members are a vital component of the UK’s transport system and wider economy.

“They provide home-to-school, leisure, long-distance, corporate and tourism transport, as well as step in for other transport modes, come rain or shine, 365 days a year. Stanley Travel embody this commitment providing a valuable public transport service for the people of the North East and beyond.”

CPT is delighted to support the second year of the #NationalCoachWeek initiative, along with many other industry bodies, to highlight and promote the dynamic contribution the sector makes to communities across the UK.

For over 50 years, CPT has worked with and for the bus and coach industry to remove barriers, resolve issues and provide opportunities for its members.