Page 4 - Route One Article 2024

PROFILE/Sharpes of Nottingham
TWO DECADES,
THE FAMILY,
AND VAN HOOL
When Van Hool coaches make up your entire
coaching fleet, the current hiatus over the future
of the marque adds an unwelcome element to day-
to-day operations. But as Sharpes of Nottingham
celebrates its 20th anniversary, the family-run
business is taking it all in its stride
Stuart Render
/ Contributing Writer
Neil Sharpe, Managing Director of Sharpes of Nottingham, had
an inkling things weren’t quite right.
“We’d put an order in for a 14.28m, 59-seat Van Hool T17 Astron
at Busworld Brussels in October 2023,” he explains.
“Just before Christmas we travelled over to the Van Hool factory
in Koningshooikt in Belgium to agree our bespoke specification
for the vehicle. We’ve done that year on year. It’s always been
an enjoyable experience, but this time there was hardly anyone
there. When we sat down to go through the choices for the seat
moquette, curtains and other items we found those choices were
somewhat limited. It wasn’t what we were used to. Van Hool Belgium
said that it was all down to the COVID-19 pandemic, but you know
when you get the feeling that there’s more to it?
“But we carried on. Our 18-strong coach fleet is all Van Hool,
so we were pleased that the production of the latest addition to the
fleet was moving forward. The livery design artwork was laid down,
but then everything stopped. We realised something more serious
was afoot when the artwork process was never concluded. Then
the news broke. We’d paid a significant deposit. We’ve lost that.
We’re not seen as a preferred creditor so the chances of getting
it back are slim.
“We like Van Hool. It’s a quality product. We’ve looked at other
manufacturers but Van Hool would always be out first choice. As we
speak, we still have an order for the T17 Astron that we hope
to fulfil. We’ve just got to be patient.”
A future with Van Hool
routeone has already reported on growing suggestions that VDL,
which purchased parts of Van Hool’s coach and bus business out
of bankruptcy in June 2024, will retain more T range variants in the
long term than had previously been anticipated. An announcement
clarifying the situation was expected as routeone went to press.
The news, should it come, will be welcome, both to Sharpes, and
also the other operators of Van Hool coaches across the country, some
of whom have recently taken delivery of T range vehicles coming
through from the VDL Van Hool production line in North Macedonia.
“Assuming all goes well then it will be a huge relief,” says Neil.
“Looking ahead, we don’t intend buying anything other than a Van
Hool product. We’re pleased that VDL acquired Van Hool, along with its
parts and aftersales business. It all means we can get back to focusing
on running the business.”
From film to the kitchen table
2024 sees the operator celebrating 20 years providing high quality
private hire, contract and commercial service work from its base
at Langar in east Nottinghamshire.
Day-to-day duties include a mix of school and works contracts,
the provision of team coaches for local football, rugby and cricket
teams, the hiring out of coaches to other tour operators for domestic
and continental tour work, a full raft of private hire work and
a comprehensive day excursion programme.
From an almost standing start in 2004, and now with a fleet of 58
vehicles, of which more in a moment, Sharpes of Nottingham has been
a success story.
But although the brand first made its appearance 20 years ago, the
foundations go back much further.
In the 1960s, Neil’s father, Trevor Sharpe, had a job as projectionist
at the Odeon cinema in Nottingham whilst at the same time working
part-time as a driver for Lamcote Motors, a coach operator based
in Radcliffe on Trent, a few miles to the east of Nottingham.
In 1985 Trevor left Rank to become full-time Traffic Manager
at Lamcote. In 1996, following a brief period with Silverdale
116 / ROUTE-ONE.NET OCTOBER 2024