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Platinum Travel Barnsley Ltd began its journey in early 2018. Founded by brothers Alex and Ryan Elbourne, along with their mum, Anne, it’s a family business with a big heart. All three had worked as taxi drivers in the past and shared a simple goal – to offer a better kind of service.
“We set up Platinum Travel, to offer the same care and service we’d always shown with our own bookings,” says Alex. “At first, we focused on long-distance travel and airport transfers. Then we got the chance to work with the local authority on home to school transport for children with special educational needs.”
Business grew steadily, until the pandemic hit. But the family team worked through it. They adapted, helping to transport Covid tests for corporate clients. Then, as the world opened up again, demand returned for both airport and school transport. Before long, they had 35 drivers on the books.
Then came a big turning point.
In 2023, Blue Line, Barnsley’s biggest taxi firm, became part of a national chain, Veezu. Many locals were unhappy, and Platinum Travel found themselves being asked to step in.
“We had both passengers and drivers calling to ask for a local service,” Alex recalls. “We were unsure at first but, one day, just said ‘Let’s do it’. We sold a couple of vehicles to fund the expansion and put everything into making it work.”
Today, Platinum Travel is the largest independently owned taxi company in Barnsley. The team has over 140 drivers and is still family-owned. They handle everything from local trips to long-distance journeys.
“Whether it’s a hospital appointment, or a holiday in Cornwall, we’ve got you covered,” says Alex. “We serve everyone, from all different backgrounds. No job is too big or too small, and we treat every booking with the same care and attention.”
When they first started out, Alex, Ryan and Anne ran the business from home. But as it grew, it was clear they needed proper space.
“We had more drivers, more equipment, and more bookings,” says Alex. “We needed somewhere to store car seats and have proper meetings. Both Ryan and I had children at home, so it was important to have a quiet space where we could get the work done.”
In 2020, they moved into The Business Village and haven’t looked back.
“We love it here,” says Alex. “It’s a pleasure to come to work and be in a nice environment. We started in a small office and, as we’ve grown, moved into bigger spaces. We’re now in an office six times the size of our first one. The out of hours access is brilliant too – we have 11 operators covering the phones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”
One of the biggest practical benefits is free parking. Alex says the parking in other places they looked was either expensive or none at all. With several vehicles on site at a time, it made a big difference.
But it’s not only about the space.
“The people here are friendly and the support is fantastic,” says Alex. “We’ve had help with HR and, whenever we’ve had a question, someone’s always found an answer. As long as we can keep growing here, we’ll be staying. We like to support the businesses that support us.”
Platinum Travel has big ambitions. This means securing more local contracts and corporate clients through organic growth. But for Alex and Ryan, success is about more than growth, it’s about doing things the right way.
“We want to make a difference to the town,” says Alex. “That’s why we only work with Barnsley-licenced drivers. The standards here are some of the highest in the country, from vehicle checks to driver licencing, and we’re proud to meet them.”
While some firms bring in drivers from other parts of the country, Platinum Travel continues to invest in its own community.
“Barnsley Council did a full operator check on us recently,” says Alex. “They said they’d never been so impressed on a first visit. We go above and beyond. Every driver we work with is trained and licenced to the highest standard, ready to deliver the best service possible.”
For Alex and Ryan, trust is at the heart of everything Platinum Travel does.
“We’re open and honest, and we don’t mess people about,” says Alex. “That’s what keeps people coming back.”
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