FirstGroup has announced its acquisition of Wilfreda Luxury Coaches Limited, which is currently trading as Wilfreda Beehive bases in Adwick le Street near Doncaster.
The business will henceforth be operated by First Bus, and marks another milestone in the company’s mission to expand its services to offer a diversified coach portfolio whilst providing more services in key markets across the UK.
Founded in 1949; Wilfreda Beehive operates a fleet of 45 vehicles, and employs 61 people – all of which will continue to work for the business under First Bus ownership. All existing services, contracts and bookings will also continue unchanged.
The business currently offers private hire, school contracts, contracted workplace shuttle services and a holiday programme providing trips to the Ireland, Europe and other areas of the UK.
Phil Haxby, Director from Wilfreda Beehive, said:Wilfreda Beehive has been proudly serving customers for more than 75 years, building a strong reputation for quality, reliability and personal services. My brother Nigel and I have our parents to thank for establishing a unique brand that, together with our fantastic long serving team, we have been able to grow to the company it is today.
We now embark on an exciting new chapter by joining First Bus, which allows us to protect what makes Wilfreda Beehive special, while benefiting from the scale, investment and expertise of a national operator, and very much look forward to the challenges ahead in taking the business to the next level.
Most importantly, it provides reassurance for our customers, colleagues and partners that we have a strong, long-term future, with new opportunities to significantly grow our holiday programme and expand our operations.
Over the past two years, FirstGroup has acquired a wide range of coach businesses, with the most recent being the Bristol-based Eagle Coaches, which was formally announced last week.
Andrew Jarvis, Managing Director for First Bus Business and Coach, said:This acquisition supports our ambition to grow a strong, diversified coach portfolio while expanding our operational footprint in key markets.
Wilfreda Beehive is a highly respected operator with a loyal customer base, experienced team and a well-established holiday offering that complements our existing coach operations. We’re delighted to welcome the whole team into the FirstGroup coach portfolio and look forward to supporting the business in its next phase of growth.
