Souter Investments is delighted to announce it has invested in the ‘EdTech’ transport specialist CoachHire.com.
The deal secures growth capital investment for CoachHire.com to roll out its cutting-edge suite of apps for drivers, parents and school staff to safeguard pupils on their way to and from school.
Its flagship SchoolSafe software uses tracking and travel technology to alert parents when their child boards their school coach and where they are while onboard.
The investment will enable CoachHire.com to accelerate the development and rollout of its technology to make the school run safer and smoother than ever; saving parents time and schools money.
CoachHire.com Managing Director and founder, Mathew Hassell, said: “We’re pleased that Souter Investments share our vision and see the potential in CoachHire.com. We’re dedicated to improving the safety, usability and value for money of school transport services and we now have the backing to realise these ambitions for schools across the country.”
Founded in 2011, CoachHire.com provides technology-led passenger transport services, vehicle tracking and passenger safeguarding solutions to the education, corporate and leisure sectors nationwide through its SchoolSafe and TripBooker software.
Parents can download a SchoolSafe smartphone app, which allows them to track their child’s vehicle on a map and receive notifications in case of any traffic disruptions and delays. It even alerts them when their child boards and alights their school bus.
CoachHire.com’s education tech packages have led the company’s recent growth, with the business’s annualised revenues exceeding £7m this year.
The firm is on track to turn over more than £10m next year and has ambitious plans to add over 60 new schools to its customer base and create 50 new jobs in 2018.
CoachHire.com is also a managed transport service provider for the corporate sector, and an online broker of bus, coach, minibus and other travel and vehicle hire for the leisure sector.
John Berthinussen, Investment Director at Souter Investments said: “CoachHire.com represents an exciting opportunity for Souter Investments to support a fast growing, dynamic and innovative business with a highly entrepreneurial and passionate management team. We look forward to supporting Mathew and his team for the next phase of growth.” John will join the board following the transaction.
Souter’s diligence partners for the transaction were Addleshaw Goddard LLP (legal), Johnston Carmichael (financial), FWB Park Brown (management), Intuitus (digital) and Neotas (digital).
For further information, please contact Gordon Beattie on 0800 612 9890.
About CoachHire.com is a market leading ‘EdTech’ transport specialist and provider of coach and minibus transport services across the UK and to more than 100 cities worldwide. It provides technology-led passenger transport services, vehicle tracking and passenger safeguarding solutions to the education, corporate and leisure sectors nationwide through its SchoolSafe and TripBooker software.
Founded in 2011, the company has grown rapidly; carrying in excess of 500,000 passengers in 2016 and forecasting more than 750,000 passengers in 2017.
For more details visit www.coachhire.com.
About Souter Investments
Souter Investments is the family investment office of Sir Brian Souter, co-founder and Chairman of Stagecoach Group plc. It makes investments across a broad range of asset classes, with a primary focus on private equity and a portfolio of more than 30 direct investments.
Recent investments include TWMA, the international drilling waste management and solutions provider to the oil and gas industry; specialist construction and house-building recruiter Potensis; luxury fragrance and interiors brand Clive Christian; and institutional investment platform, solutions provider and life company Mobius Life.
For more details visit www.souterinvestments.com.