A taxi firm that wants to take on the likes of Uber has made another acquisition.
Take Me has added Plymouth-based TAXIFIRST to its portfolio, joining former local rivals Tower Cabs as part of the same group.
Take Me was created by managing director David Hunter as a spin-off from the Leicestershire-based ADT TAXIS firm.
In recent months its expansion plans have seen it take on operators in Brighton, Birmingham, Leicester, Liverpool, Crew, London, Farnborough, and Cambridgeshire.
Last week Mr Hunter was named top executive within a medium-sized business at the LeicestershireLive Business Executive of the Year Awards. He said more acquisitions were in the pipeline.
He said: 鈥淭his year we have added Steve鈥檚 Taxis, VGT Taxis, Westside Taxis, Intercity Private Hire, Tower Cabs and TC Cars and now TAXIFIRST.
鈥淒avid Trace has been running TAXIFIRST in Plymouth for over 30 years and has built his fleet of vehicles up to over 160 now.
鈥淎lthough the recent pandemic has seen some extraordinary times, Mr Trace has always been there to help his team of drivers on a day to day basis.
鈥淗e has overseen a dramatic change in automation and systems within the business since starting and there is now over 80 per cent automation using the AutoCab booking systems.鈥
Mr Trace said: 鈥淚t has been an emotional journey here in Plymouth but let me reassure all my team and customers that it is very much business as usual for us all here at TAXIFIRST.
鈥淲e are all looking forward to the benefits of being part of a larger group and using their resources to offer a better service to our customers and to ensure our drivers have the latest technology and systems to help them.
鈥淭ake Me is a national group of taxi companies offering driver incentives, including cheaper insurance, car replacement and finance.
鈥淭his collaboration will enable us to reach new heights and take TAXIFIRST to a new level whilst re-establishing our position as one of the finest in Plymouth.
鈥淭here will be lots of exciting developments taking place in the next few months and we want you all to be part of the journey.鈥
One of the first initiatives that Take Me will be helping TAXIFIRST with is to develop a Taxi Academy in Plymouth, training the next generation of taxi drivers.
Mr Hunter said: 鈥淚t is exciting times at Take Me as we keep expanding and adding brilliant local businesses to our network fleet.
鈥淭ogether we can bring our skills and infrastructure from being a national brand but build on the local expertise of these amazing well established taxi operators.鈥
