(L-R) Anne Mountjoy (Social Enterprise Mark Company), Stephen Hammond MP (Shadow Minister for Transport), and Dai Powell (Chair of CTA UK). Photo courtesy of Matthew Priestley Photography Ltd.
The Social Enterprise Mark recently exhibited at Access10, the CTA UK annual community & accessible transport event, which took place at Manchester’s Central Convention Complex.
Current Community Transport companies who are also Social Enterprise Mark holders are HCT and BCT (Bristol Community Transport), as well as Lambeth & Southwark Community Transport, Leeds Alternative Travel, CT Plus CIC and CT Plus (Yorkshire) CIC. It’s safe to say that there is lots of interest from community transport organisations about the Mark!
Stephen Hammond MP, the shadow transport minister, also stopped by the Mark’s exhibition stand and gave his support to the Mark, as you can see from the photo above.
Below is some further information about HCT and, just two of the many Community Transport companies who are holders of the Mark. You can find out more about applying for the Mark here.
HCT Group – www.hctgroup.org
HCT is an award winning and rapidly growing provider of public transport and related training services in the UK. Originally founded in 1982, HCT’s vision is social justice and equality for all. HCT aim to contribute towards this goal through the conduct of their activities, by re-investing their generated surpluses within their businesses, increasing employability, by promoting community transport concepts and by applying the social enterprise business model.
Bristol Community Transport – www.bristolcommunitytransport.org.uk
BCT is the largest community transport operator in Bristol. They operate a fleet of 26 minibuses for use by community groups and other not-for-profit organisations across Bristol. BCT provides cost effective transport to over 300 organisations, large and small, from such sectors as religious groups, children’s and youth services, social housing, neighbourhood renewal bodies, environmental groups, elderly care, primary care trusts, and many self-organised groups and clubs. BCT also provides driver training to members and external organisations, to a nationally recognised standard. As BCT has been operating for over 20 years, it has gained a valuable network of contacts with vehicle suppliers, minibus conversion and equipment suppliers, voluntary sector organisations, through to maintaining close links with large bodies such as Help the Aged. All of this helps BCT to maintain and develop all aspects of it’s services to those most in need of non-conventional transport.
