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i think you need to find out what the other operators are paying their drivers first, find out if on paye or self employed. i think you said your in devon on another of your posts. does this mean your mainly tourist based over summer months ?

once you find out what the others are paying, if the drivers get more working elsewhere then you need to find out if you can match their wages or even better them. also do the other companies have more contract work than yourself. because if you do rely on tourism then in the quiter months your going to need some good contract work to tide you over the leaner months. at least with the contract work its guaranteed work. but as your looking to recruit then you must be doing ok. so i guess it comes down to how much you pay them compared to if they worked for someone else. if you rent them the cars, are they old sheds etc. if you do rent then are you charging over the odds ?

but you really must get as much inside info on your competitors asap to decide where you can improve and become more competitive.

Thanks for that yozza. I know I pay my drivers better than anyone else locally that pays an hourly rate (50p an hour more). But if they wanted to go on a percentage I would be happy to do that too.

We have frighteningly little contract work due to the previous owner not chasing school contracts, etc. We are on the border of Devon and Somerset so are actively chasing contracts with both those councils. It's a difficult situation, not enough drivers to cover the work or not enough work for the drivers.

as you say or describe, its a bit of a catch 22 for you. is there any local supermarkets you can get a phone into ? what about airport transfers is that something you cover at the moment

Parkway glad you on board with Min Wage, local council contracts school runs etc. maybe a possibility, where the council arnt really our allies, they normally have many of our members working for them, now if your company were GMB recognised who knows what doors we could open! Its a difficult industry wish you luck!!

ORGANISE EDUCATE AGITATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!