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A family-run taxi firm in Barnsley has more than doubled the size of its business since launching a 24/7 local service two years ago.
Platinum Travel ran a successful long-distance private hire company for seven years before expanding into day-to-day local cab services in 2024.
Since then, there’s been growth on both sides of the business which shows no sign of slowing with the brothers now close to clocking up half a million journeys. Just last month, 600 brand new customers contacted them via their bookings app or telephone system.
Brothers Alex and Ryan Elbourne, who own the business, have responded to growing demand by expanding their operations team from 11 to 16, moving into larger premises and increasing the number of licensed drivers on their books four-fold, from 35 to 140.
Alex said: “The speed of growth since the launch of our local taxi service has been phenomenal. We aim to offer a local alternative to the big taxi brands who operate across the region. We offer a friendly, reliable and independent local alternative, rooted in the Barnsley economy.”
Platinum filled a gap in the market for a local service after Barnsley’s biggest local taxi firm, Blueline, was bought out by national business in 2023.
Alex said: “So many people were phoning us up and asking us to provide a local service on top of our long-distance offer. Customers wanted one and drivers wanted to work for one. So, we decided to go for it.”
Platinum Travel only works with Barnsley Council licensed drivers and vehicles as the brothers know the local system, and believe the authority sets some of the highest industry standards in the country. The drivers also bring a wealth of local knowledge and commitment.
Alex says Barnsley is a great place to run a home-grown business and they also embrace the town’s status as the UK’s first Tech Town.
Alex said: “We’re keen to be innovative and use the latest tech as much as the big companies. If we think we can do something better with a new digital tool, we’ll talk to one of the industry’s leading software developers, like Autocab and Opticab. We can develop a solution and get it working for us within a week.”
For example, Platinum has recently integrated what3words into their navigation system to ensure they can more quickly locate customers in remote rural areas. And, the company is about to launch a direct ‘driver to customer’ chat function so they can talk to each other easily if there is an issue with a pick-up.
The brothers set up Platinum Travel with their taxi-driving Mum Anne in 2017. The trio were the only drivers at first, taking airport, coastal, cruise and corporate bookings. As their reputation grew, they moved from being a home-based business to a start-up based at The Business Village, Wilthorpe, where they gained business support and free onsite parking.
Alex said: “The Business Village was a great place to build our business. It was a supportive, positive environment and so easy to expand into a bigger office space whenever we needed it. We gained expert advice and HR support there, which was vital as we employed more staff. And, we never took for granted the free parking for our vehicles. The Business Village enabled us to grow and gain the confidence we needed to take on delivery of 24/7 taxi services.”
Platinum is now based in premises on Mottram Way in Barnsley town centre with its own secure car park for its fleet of cars, MPVs, 8 and 16-seater minibuses. It has recorded nearly 500,000 bookings since its local service was launched in 2024.
The Business Village’s business development manager Kevin Steel said: “We’re delighted to have supported Platinum Travel on their business journey. Their success in an industry dominated by big name players is outstanding. They came to us as a small family enterprise and grew exponentially from the start, moving from our smallest unit to one three times the size within a year and then doubling that again to occupy 1,000 sqft workspace. They left us to take on their own premises, creating jobs for more than 150 local people and providing a vital service for the local economy. Supporting businesses like Platinum Travel is what we’re here for.”
Platinum has also grown through the provision of school transport services, corporate contracts and fast-response nationwide blood transfusion deliveries.
Alex said: “We want to grow, but first and foremost our priority is to do things right. We drive all over the UK but remain, at heart, a Barnsley-based family firm. My son and Ryan’s partner work in the business, and Mum, who’s now retired, pops in to see how we’re getting on. The rest of the family are massive champions for us and they’re behind our success.
“We regard all our drivers and customers as part of that wider family ethos too and want everybody to be happy whether they’re working for us or using our services. We don’t rush phone calls and pick-ups – for some of our customers we’re the only person they speak to in the day. It’s a personal service and that matters to us.” For information, about Platinum Travel visit https://platinumtravelbarnsley.co.uk/, download their app or call 01226 383838.
For information, about start-up and scale-up workspaces at The Business Village, Barnsley, contact Kevin Steel on 01226 249590 or ksteel@BarnsleyBIC.co.uk
The Business Village supports the objectives of the Barnsley Jobs and Business Plan by offering flexible managed workspace and offices to rent to businesses in approved business sectors, together with targeted business support. As a non-profit distribution organisation, its objective is to realise a reasonable return on its asset base to enable regular re-investment and maintenance of infrastructure. The Business Village is located at two sites – Wilthorpe and Cudworth – within easy reach of the M1 and Barnsley town centre. For further details, contact Kevin Steel, Business Development Manager on 07970 930560 or ksteel@barnsleybic.co.uk. For media enquiries, please contact steph@whippetpr.co.uk or call 07761964492.
