Akcess, the Swindon-based community transport company, is using its 10th anniversary to prove that not-for-profit businesses can thrive in highly-competitive markets.
The community interest company (CIC) specialises in special needs school transport and transport for wheelchair users and elderly people with mobility problems.
For the past decade it has made operating for the good of the community its driving force – and has reaped the rewards. It has been so successful that in the past 12 months it has had to relocate from Royal Wootton Bassett to a much larger site at Elgin, increasing its fleet of vehicles and staffing by a third.
The firm, launched by directors Mike and Mark Kennedy with one small wheelchair-accessible minibus, how has more than 100 vehicles, 100-plus staff and operates 96 school contracts for Swindon, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire councils, as well as day centre transport contracts for Swindon. 
At least two-thirds of its vehicles have wheelchair access, more than any other transport company in Wiltshire.
Mark, pictured, said: “We love having a business that helps the community. Our drivers really enjoy helping people – nothing is too much trouble as far as we are concerned. I imagine what life must be like for some of our passengers, how hard it must be and realise that silly things most people worry about just don’t compare.”
Mark had the idea for Akcess when he was between jobs and helping his father Mike with his taxi business, which had already started gaining a reputation as a wheelchair-friendly company.
On one occasion, having taken a customer in a wheelchair to a supermarket, he offered to stay and help him with his shopping, rather than leave and return later.
“This customer commented that as a wheelchair user he was rarely treated so well by drivers,” said Mark. “This gave me an enormous sense of well-being and really opened my eyes to how much we all take for granted. It made me realise there was potentially a whole area where we could genuinely help people in the community.
“Taxis, even adapted for wheelchairs, aren’t ideal transport for wheelchair users so we decided to buy a minibus, with wheelchair access, and set up the business as a community interest company, to give our customers the best value possible.”
CICs were introduced in 2004 as a way of helping social enterprises use their profits and assets for the public good.
Akcess ensures it earns enough to meet its overheads, but does not make a profit – allowing it to keep its fares low.
Mark added: “We’re getting new inquiries all the time, in particular from schools which have children with special needs and need wheelchair-accessible transport when they take children on visits, as it is generally a lot cheaper to use our services than to purchase and maintain a vehicle of their own.”
The firm’s move into Gloucestershire is relatively recent, but has already won a number of school contracts is hoping to expand further in the county.
It has also started to run day excursions for people living in care homes, so they can enjoy days out, and hopes to set up a wheelchair-accessible mini-coach service between people’s homes and Swindon’s Great Western Hospital.
