Sheffield’s City Taxis becomes UK’s third largest independent taxi operator following new acquisition

Sheffield-based City Taxis becomes the UK’s third largest independent taxi operator following its latest acquisition.

City Taxis has purchased Club Taxis of Chesterfield under its new Northern Taxis brand.

City, which merged with Sheffield’s Mercury Taxis just over a year ago, also bought Barnsley-based Ace Taxis in July, preserving all 55 drivers and call centre staff jobs.

Arnie Singh, City’s managing director, commented: “Our first Derbyshire acquisition is the well-regarded Club Taxis in Chesterfield, Derbyshire’s market leader and another long established family business with 170 cars and 19 call centre staff.

“Club operate to our own high service levels by embracing the latest technology in taxi dispatch and telephony services.”

Scott Ashmore, Club Taxis’ managing director, added: “We see this as a progressive move for Club. All local jobs will be preserved and customers will find the same friendly, knowledgeable drivers and contact number they are used to.

“Plus, customers in neighboring towns will receive an improved service. The company will adopt the City name and livery but prices will stay the same.”

Since 2010, the £7.7m turnover firm has seen a 300% growth in staff. City drivers complete 110,000 jobs each week around South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

Confirming other acquisitions were in the pipeline, Mr Singh said: “Since moving to our state of the art Don Valley premises last year, the business has continued to grow with our 121 dedicated call centre staff and 1750 drivers handling around six million journeys a year.

“Consolidation is happening in our industry on a national scale right now- this is just the start in our local area as we introduce our efficiencies into other taxi firms.

“With technology making such mergers easier, we believe the industry will see many more over the next five years. Our directors are keen to expand across the city region, to protect and defend local jobs for local people against the resources of Google-backed US global brand, Uber.”