routeone Magazine

Savari recruits Matt Hanson as partner to coach operations platform

Coach and minibus transport management platform Savari has enlisted Matt Hanson (pictured, left), co-founder of Proximity Coach Travel, to serve as a strategic partner under his The Coach Wizard consultancy guise.

Mr Hanson will bring his knowledge of the coach sector and a strong network of operators to Savari. He will support the supplier as it continues to grow a presence in the UK and Ireland and looks towards its presence at Euro Bus Expo at the NEC Birmingham on 3-5 November.

With Savari, Mr Hanson will work with co-founders Jaswant and Romi Singh (pictured, right) to help introduce more operators to the platform. He will also provide coach industry insight as the Savari offering continues to evolve.

Jaswant Singh has welcomed Mr Hanson aboard as a strategic partner, noting how he has been a Savari customer prior to joining its journey. “He knows this industry; he speaks to operators every day and he understands the challenges they face. He has also used Savari in a live operating environment, so his support comes from genuine experience of the platform.”

Mr Singh adds that he wants Savari's thinking to be challenged by experienced operators and industry professionals who can also offer feedback “and help us to continue building something that genuinely makes a difference.” Mr Hanson’s experience and connections “gives us even more confidence about where we are heading," Ms Singh continues.

Proximity has been using Savari for around a year. Mr Hanson says that has allowed him to see how the platform has continued to develop while helping his own organisation to improve efficiency and save time.

He observes that the coach industry continues to evolve rapidly, with technology having an ever more important role to play. “Operators do not necessarily need more systems – they need better systems that genuinely make running their businesses easier,” Mr Hanson continues. “That is what attracted me to Savari.”

Proximity has observed Savari’s development and improvement, “and, most importantly, experienced first-hand the efficiencies it can create within an operation,” Mr Hanson outlines.

“My role is about opening doors, speaking to operators, and encouraging them to take a proper look at what Jas, Romi and the team have built. Give the Savari team 15 minutes and I genuinely believe a lot of operators will be surprised by just how much the platform can do.”

In acknowledging that any investment in technology must justify itself, Mr Hanson cautions how that question should not revolve around what a system costs. “It should be how much time it can save, what efficiencies it can create, and what value it can add to an operation,” he says.

“I believe that Savari has reached a very exciting point. The product has developed enormously; the proposition is strong, and there is a team behind it that genuinely understands this industry. I am excited to be part of the next stage.”

Visitors to Euro Bus Expo will be able to meet Mr Hanson and Jaswant and Romi Singh and the wider Savari team. The system will be demonstrated live, which Mr Hanson says is set to be an excellent opportunity for operators to explore its capabilities.

“I use it every day in my own business, which is why I am comfortable standing alongside the Savari team and encouraging other operators to take a look,” he notes.

Jaswant Singh adds that the supplier is already looking forward to Euro Bus Expo. “We have spent a huge amount of time listening to operators and developing Savari around the way this industry works.

“Having Matt alongside us strengthens that message because he has experienced Savari from the other side – as a customer and an operator. We are not asking people to buy into a sales pitch. Come and see us, give us 15 minutes, and let Savari speak for itself."

Euro Bus Expo is the UK's only dedicated coach and bus trade show. Entry is free. Register your attendance via a dedicated portal on the event website, where more information can be found.

by routeone Magazine

Premier Pits sold as founder Mel Burrell looks towards retirement

Specialist prefabricated vehicle pit manufacturer Premier Pits has been sold by founder and Managing Director Mel Burrell (pictured, centre) to David Myles (pictured, right) and Anuj Kapoor (pictured, left) as part of progression of Mr Burrell’s planned retirement.

That has seen MBE Fabrications Ltd acquired by MBE Capital Private Ltd. The deal includes the Premier Substructures arm. The business will continue to trade as MBE Fabrications/Premier Pits with its existing team, customer relationships and specialist manufacturing capabilities.

Based in Spalding, Premier Pits supplies the coach and bus, commercial vehicle and rail sectors. It has a long-established presence across the UK and what is termed a growing international customer base that extends to 17 countries.

The change of ownership will build on the existing capabilities, experience and reputation of the supplier's team and maintain a focus on continued product development, innovation, ambitious growth, and further expansion globally.

Speaking about the sale, Mr Burrell says: “I am pleased to have completed the transaction and to see the business move into safe hands. I will be supporting David and Anuj through a short handover period, and wish the team every success for the future.”

Adds Mr Myles: “MBE/Premier Pits is a specialist British manufacturing business with a strong reputation, an experienced team, and a well-established customer base.

“Our immediate priority is continuity, supporting the team, and taking time to understand the business properly as we build on what Mel has created.”

by routeone Magazine