Rags to riches story for Aaron's bus company in Wick as new contracts are won for 2023
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The owner of a Wick-based bus company spoke about his delight at winning new contracts but says he remains "humble" after hitting rock bottom last year.
Aaron Wilson talked to the paper during a break from a return trip to Manchester where he had just purchased a new coach to add to his growing fleet.
"I just want to thank everyone locally who's supported us over the last few years," he said.
"If it wasn't for everyone keeping us busy we wouldn't be in this position to take on staff and do all this work. I just want to thank everyone, as the support has just been phenomenal and I'm overwhelmed with all the cards coming through the door wishing us good luck."
Aaron's story over the last few years reads like a classic fairy tale of rags to riches then back to rags when Covid hit and over 2022 he gradually built up his fleet of coaches and minibuses, won new travel contracts, and is now in a better position than ever.
"A year ago, I was on my hands and knees when Covid came along. I had absolutely nothing left. I worked hard, though, and never gave up. My dad spurred me on one-hundred per cent. He really pushed me on. I've also got two sons and that helps spur me on too."
Aaron emphasised the importance of his family to help keep him motivated and positive during the dark days of Covid lockdowns. He came back with all guns firing and has built up an impressive fleet of coaches and minibuses along with lucrative new contracts to start the new year.
"We're going to have 10 coaches on the road at once, every day, chaperoning the schoolkids and once they're in we're going to do all the service work. I think Stagecoach are still doing a little bit of it but I don't think they're doing much. Between the coaches and the minibuses we're going to have around 20 vehicles on the road every day now."
The new contracts with Highland Council and the service routes through Caithness means that Aaron's of Wick has expanded rapidly and now employs 25 staff. The company went to a new premises on Rutherford Street in Wick where its fleet can be better accommodated and maintained. "It was MM Miller's place. My dad actually worked there in the past and now we've taken it over. It's a really good yard."
Aaron describes it as a "massive achievement" to be awarded the council schools contract which will start up on January 9 with the new service routes ready to begin on January 4 – a good start to a new year for the burgeoning company.
The 29-year-old had driven overnight from Wick to Manchester to pick up his latest coach just a couple of days before Christmas. "We set off at 3am and that's us just heading back now," he said on Friday afternoon during a quick break. "I'm just going up behind the other bus we're taking home – it's a 70-seater. We'll have to stop for the night at a hotel but we're hoping to be back by lunchtime tomorrow."
Aaron says that he is replacing his older buses with newer PSVAR (Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations) compliant vehicles. "We always have the right parts on the buses and they're serviced every six weeks. It's a massive fleet compared to what we had at the start of this year. We only had three back then and now that's us up to 22." Those 22 vehicles comprise of 14 coaches, that have from 49 to 75 seats, along with 8 minibuses that have from 8 to 16 seats.
"We want to give the public a good service. We're a local company and we're here to listen to the public, so if there's anything wrong or needing changed it's their opinions that matter." With a careful consideration of local needs, Aaron said he overhauled the school run service and says his buses will arrive 10 minutes before the pupils leave at the end of the day. "They'll know the buses will be waiting for them when they get out."
Aaron said he didn't think his company was going to win the school contract with Highland Council at first. "I went home and spoke to my dad about it and I said 'if this is something I win, this company is going to be big'. But then I thought we'll never win this. I put my price in and we won 18 contacts with them [Highland Council]. It was brilliant."
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Some of the new service contracts include Wick to Thurso; Wick to John O'Groats/Gills; Thurso to John O'Groats; Berriedale to Wick and Reay to Thurso. Aaron's of Wick will still be taking dance groups and football fans outside of the county and will lay on rail replacement coaches when needed. "I've also got plenty bookings in the diary for cruise ships coming in at Invergordon and Scrabster. I think I'll have to increase the fleet again next year before the summer comes in."
With a growing fleet, new contacts being won and more staff being employed, 2023 looks set to be a very good year for Aaron Wilson and his bus company.
