Many people living in East Yorkshire will be familiar with Acklams Coaches, which has become a very well-known name in local transport, providing reliable coach services for a variety of purposes including holidays, day trips, concerts and school runs. 

The family-run, Beverley-based company prides itself on its quality coach hire, enjoying a strong reputation for supplying all types and sizes of vehicles for all occasions, including wheelchair-accessible ones. 

The firm was started in 1952 by Bernard Acklam as Alpha Taxis and then, in the 1980s, the first coach was purchased by Paul Acklam, and the firm evolved into the Acklams Coaches we know today, run by Paul Acklam and then by his son Alan Acklam. 

Today, Acklams runs a fleet of more than 70 passenger-carrying vehicles (PCVs), which range from highly specialised coaches to minibuses, and  the company brand is an instantly recognisable sight on roads across the country. 

Staycation boom 

Lisa Morrison, Transport Manager, has been with Acklams for seven years. She said: “We currently undertake coach hire work for all organisations including schools, colleges, local businesses, sports teams and many more.” 

One positive impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the growth of UK-based holidays, or ‘staycations’, and the Acklams coach holiday schedule has become more appealing than ever. Lisa said: “Whether you’re looking for a short break or a coach holiday that lasts a bit longer, we have put together a fantastic programme which is full of the quality, variety and interest we hope people have come to expect from Acklams. 

“We can also plan a tailor-made, bespoke package, visiting places of interest and attractions in the Yorkshire area and beyond. 

“We do offer some trips overseas too. Our first one for 2022 was to Disneyland Paris, which proved popular.” 

Focus on safety 

This caring approach also extends to Acklams’ 120 employees as health and safety, and the wellbeing of the workforce, is among the company’s top priorities. 

Lisa said: “Most members of our team work as drivers, so obviously it’s paramount for their safety and that of their passengers, as well as other road users, that they are competent to drive. 

“Random drug and alcohol testing therefore forms an important part of our company policy, and we are very clear about this with employees from the moment they join us – it’s covered in our employee handbook and during induction. 

“We do random alcohol testing in-house but, for reasons of openness and fairness, we also use Lemon Cherry’s services too, so everyone is assured it’s completely independent, and of course they have all the latest, top-quality equipment and can give instant results.”

Acklams picked Lemon Cherry to provide this service partly because they are a local company, and also because of the team’s expertise and professionalism. Lisa said: “They’re really good at explaining the tests and the results, without relying on confusing jargon, and they are more than happy to fit around our drivers’ shifts – which sometimes means coming in at 5am to conduct tests!” 

Lisa is impressed with the Lemon Cherry team’s friendly attitude and willingness to go the extra mile, adding: “We always find them to be so knowledgeable and helpful, they definitely know their business. They’ll plan things in for us as and when we need them, so their flexibility is a big bonus.” 

Jonathan Smith, of Lemon Cherry, said: “Acklams treat drug and alcohol screening with the attention it deserves – they genuinely understand how it plays such an important part in their wider health and safety strategy. 

“We’ve enjoyed working with them since 2016, providing random drug and alcohol testing throughout the year, and we ensure our service is completely tailored to suit their business needs.” 

To find out more about Acklams, visit www.acklamscoaches.co.uk and call 01482 887666 if you’re interested in hiring a coach or booking your next holiday. 

If you’d like to speak to a member of the Lemon Cherry team about your drug and alcohol testing needs, call 01964 503773.