Latest news with #FishersTours
STV News
14 hours ago
- Business
- STV News
All jobs lost at private hire and school bus firm
All jobs have been lost at a Dundee-based private hire and school bus firm. James Dewar and Alistair McAlinden from Interpath were appointed as joint provisional liquidators to Fishers Tours Limited on Friday. The Dundee-based private hire coach company provided short and long-distance travel across the country. The company's collapse has also left Dundee City Council and Angus Council to make alternative arrangements for school transport for hundreds of pupils. The firm employed 27 people and operated from Mid Craigie Industrial Estate with a fleet of 18 coaches. The administrators said in recent months that the business faced financial challenges amid rising costs but operated with fixed-price customer contracts. Fishers Tours ceased trading on Friday, May 23 and all staff were made redundant upon appointment of the liquidators. All services, including pre-booked hires, group travel and music event travel, have been cancelled. Customers with bookings are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements, while those who have paid deposits advised to speak to their bank or credit card provider. Alistair McAlinden said: 'Fishers Tours has been a core part of the local transport network in the Dundee City and Angus region for more than two decades and we recognise the devastating impact the closure of the business will have on staff, customers and wider community. 'Regrettably, all bookings and services have been cancelled and customers are advised to seek alternative arrangements and engage with their bank or credit card provider if a deposit has been paid. 'As provisional liquidators, our immediate focus is to explore the circumstances of the liquidation and support affected employees to ensure they have access to the necessary guidance in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Office.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The Herald Scotland
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Liquidators appointed to Scottish school bus company
Fishers Tours was a Dundee-based private hire coach company that provided short and long-distance travel in Scotland. The company employed 27 people and operated from Mid Craigie Industrial Estate with a fleet of 18 coaches. The liquidator said: "In recent months, the business has faced financial challenges amidst rising costs but operated with fixed price customer contracts, which impacted its ability to meet its financial obligations." READ MORE: The business ceased trading and on appointment of the joint provisional liquidators all staff were made redundant. The liquidator also said: "All services, including pre-booked hires, group travel and music event travel, have ceased. Customers with bookings are advised to seek alternative travel arrangements, while customers who have paid deposits are advised to speak to their bank or credit card provider." Dundee City Council and Angus Council are "making arrangements to ensure the continuity of school transport services". Alistair McAlinden, managing director at Interpath and joint provisional liquidator of Fishers Tours Limited, said: "Fishers Tours has been a core part of the local transport network in the Dundee City and Angus region for more than two decades and we recognise the devastating impact the closure of the business will have on staff, customers and wider community. "Regrettably, all bookings and services have been cancelled and customers are advised to seek alternative arrangements and engage with their bank or credit card provider if a deposit has been paid. As provisional liquidators, our immediate focus is to explore the circumstances of the liquidation and support affected employees to ensure they have access to the necessary guidance in making claims to the Redundancy Payments Office."
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Dundee travel firm to auction off 10 buses after closing
The Dundee-based coach company, Fisher Tours, announced last week it would cease operating, with more than 20 staff members being made redundant. It has been reported that no formal liquidator or administrator has been named, and that drivers and mechanics with the now closed firm are still waiting for answers regarding unpaid wages, holiday entitlement, and redundancy settlements. Fishers Tours has now put 10 of its coaches on the auction website Sweeney Kincaid, which is due to go live in June. READ MORE: Labour has 'given up' on by-election amid SNP-Reform contest, says John Swinney Last Monday, drivers and mechanics were reportedly 'stunned' after they were informed that the company would cease trading on Friday, the same week. Fishers Tours had several long-standing contracts with local councils, including transportation agreements to take pupils to and from schools in Dundee and Angus, and is one of the biggest private coach hire companies in the area. According to The Courier, former staff at the firm were told pension payments had allegedly not been made by Fishers since the beginning of the year and that they were still waiting for answers regarding the company's liquidation. 'We're all still in limbo,' one driver told The Courier. 'We left on Friday with no paperwork and no replies to any of our emails asking for the information we need. 'This includes who the administrators are, what will happen to holidays and wages due, a letter of redundancy confirmation or pensions information. 'There are no case numbers yet, to apply for money owed. We were told there would be administrators by Tuesday morning. This hasn't happened. 'Now there are more than 20 lads all panicking. It's an absolute joke. 'All the buses were removed from the yard on Monday. 'How long do we have to wait? It's an absolute shambles.'
The Courier
5 days ago
- Business
- The Courier
Dundee Fishers Tours buses up for auction as staff wait for wages
Fishers Tours buses are being advertised for auction as staff wait for answers over unpaid wages and pension payments a week after the Dundee firm ceased operating. No formal liquidator or administrator has been named and drivers and mechanics are no further forward in making claims for pay, holiday entitlement and redundancy settlements. The Courier visited the Mid Craigie yard on Tuesday afternoon to put questions to the directors, but there was no one at the site. A fleet of 10 Fishers Tours coaches have been placed on auction website Sweeney Kincaid, which is due to go live in June. Prices are advertised on the website, but a 2015 Plaxton bus used by Fishers Tours can cost between £122,000 – £155,000. Fishers staff were told last Monday the company would cease operations that Friday. As well as leaving employees 'high and dry', Fishers operated contracts to take Angus pupils to and from school, which had to be hastily rearranged. A number of bookings were cancelled with limited warning leading up to the closure, and one Dundee children's charity lost a £1,000 booking after being told to 'claim it from the liquidator'. Staff were told pension payments had allegedly not been made by Fishers since the beginning of the year. And they are still waiting for answers on the company's liquidation, more than a week since being told their company was closing. 'We're all still in limbo,' one driver told The Courier. 'We left on Friday with no paperwork and no replies to any of our emails asking for the information we need. 'This includes who the administrators are, what will happen to holidays and wages due, a letter of redundancy confirmation or pensions information. 'There are no case numbers yet, to apply for money owed. We were told there would be administrators by Tuesday morning. This hasn't happened. 'Now there are more than 20 lads all panicking. It's an absolute joke. 'All the buses were removed from the yard on Monday. 'How long do we have to wait? It's an absolute shambles.' Some staff have been interviewed for jobs at other firms, with Xplore Dundee owner McGill's confirming they had approached former Fishers' employees. A spokesperson added: 'We are in discussion with the local authority regarding the provision of school transport services for pupils in the Dundee area affected by the collapse of Fishers. We remain ready to assist where necessary.' Angus Council has secured home-to-school travel for eligible pupils on Fishers routes until the end of term. They could not comment on what steps they would take to recover public money paid to Fishers for the transport contracts. But only pupils provided with a travel pass issued by Angus Council will be permitted to board the services. A previous arrangement where young people could use their national entitlement card to travel to school has been stopped. A spokesperson added: 'Arrangements are in place to cover all home-to-school transport routes for entitled pupils from Tuesday 27 May. 'You can read the most up-to-date information on our school transport webpage. 'We will consider all relevant matters in due course, but it would not be appropriate to comment further on these issues publicly at this time.'
The Courier
21-05-2025
- The Courier
Dundee and Angus school travel chaos in wake of Fishers Tours collapse
Parents and teachers at schools across Dundee and Angus have been left to pick up the pieces in the wake of the collapse of coach company Fishers Tours. Angus Council said it was 'confident' it could find transport for Monifieth High School pupils due to sit an exam on Monday. But as of Tuesday evening arrangements had not been 'secured'. Monday is an in-service day, but there are scheduled SQA practical exams in National 5 and Higher Art and Design at 9am. Health and Food Tech exams in National 5, Higher and Advanced Higher are also scheduled for Monday afternoon. Meanwhile one Dundee school head teacher tried 18 different coach companies to find a replacement coach for a school trip, without success. Fishers Tours staff were told on Monday the firm was to shut by the end of this week. Buses will run 'as normal' until Friday, but after that there are no guarantees pupils will be able to get to school without significant disruption. Parents are due to be given an update via the Angus Council Group Call system by Wednesday. Pupils at Sidlaw View Primary in Dundee were due to attend a class trip, which is at risk of being cancelled after Fishers' collapse. A letter sent to parents read by The Courier shows the intense efforts made by teachers in securing alternative transport. And parents of pupils at Eastern Primary School in Broughty Ferry have been asked to help with transport for an upcoming sports day. One Sidlaw View parent told The Courier: 'It couldn't have come at a worse time with all the school trips organised before the summer. 'You have to question why the company took all these bookings knowing it probably wouldn't be able to fulfil them, and why it didn't give the schools a bit more warning. 'I feel for the kids who are missing out but also the staff who are left to pick up the pieces. 'They should be able to spend their time on more important things than phoning round bus companies.' The Courier asked the local authorities what contingencies were in place to mitigate pupil disruption. Angus Council said home school services were still to be 'secured'. And transport is still to be finalised for P7 pupils due to attend transition days, but priority was being given to the to-and-from school journeys. A spokesperson said: 'We continue to work hard with alternative providers to secure cover for the Fisher Tours contracts. 'Progress is being made. We would like to reassure families that we are doing everything we can to ensure that the services to schools are in place, particularly mindful that exams continue to the end of next week. 'We are also confident that we'll have transport in place for those pupils attending Monifieth High School on Monday May 26 for an exam practical. 'Details will be communicated directly to those affected later this week. 'We're aware of other journeys which have also been affected by the withdrawal of Fisher Tours buses, which include swimming lessons and P7-S1 transition days, amongst others. 'These will be addressed once the home to school services are secured. 'We will continue to keep families informed directly via Group Call and we'll also carry details, once confirmed, on our dedicated webpage.' Fishers Tours did not respond to The Courier's request for comment. Dundee City Council did not respond when approached for comment.
