A new chapter is beginning for Stonehaven transport operator A&I Coaches Ltd after the long-established business was acquired by local investment group TB Corporations Ltd.
Founded in 1985, A&I Coaches has spent almost four decades serving communities across Aberdeenshire through its school transport contracts, taxi services and vehicle maintenance operations. Now, under new ownership, the business is preparing for the future while keeping the foundations that made it a trusted local name firmly in place.
The new ownership marks a significant milestone for the Stonehaven-based firm, but customers are unlikely to notice any dramatic changes. The company will continue operating under the A&I Coaches name, all staff have been retained and services will continue as normal from its base in Spurryhillock Industrial Estate.
Speaking about the transition, new owners Stephane Tchamdjou and Graham Budge said continuity has been at the centre of the takeover from the beginning.
“A&I Coaches has been trading for 40 years,” they said. “We don’t like too much disruption because at the heart of everything it is always about the customer.”
Rather than restructuring the company, the new owners have retained the existing management team, drivers and operational staff, a move designed to preserve both customer’s confidence and the experience that has underpinned the company’s long-standing success.
“We’ve seen acquisitions where a new owner comes in and changes the whole name,” they explained. “But in this case, the reputation is strong. All customers know about A&I Coaches, A&I Taxis and A&I Auto. There’s no reason for us to change anything.”
The business plays a vital role within the local community, particularly through its long-running school transport contracts with Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils. “The school run is probably the biggest service that we offer,” the new owners said. “We take that responsibility seriously.”
The company’s operations including school transport contracts, local taxi services and workshop operations will remain unchanged as the new ownership looks to build on existing strengths while exploring opportunities for sustainable long-term growth. “We want to make the business better,” they explained. “You cannot take it and keep it exactly where it is forever, so over time there will be improvements.”
Among the first changes potentially being introduced is the installation of vehicle tracking systems across the fleet, aimed at improving operational oversight and passenger safety. “We take children to school every day,” they said. “Hopefully nothing ever happens, but if anything was to happen, we know exactly where the vehicle is. These are the small improvements we’ll do over time.”
Although the new owners are based in Edinburgh, they say they have quickly developed a strong connection to both Stonehaven and the business’s place within the community.
“We are family men,” Stephane said. “I’ve got two children and Graham has three children. Every morning I do the school run myself, so having the opportunity to not only take my children to school but all these kids in Stonehaven to school, we are very proud of it.”
He added “The key line for me is simple, we take children to school safely. I love saying that.”
The new owners also praised the existing workforce and management team for helping ensure a smooth transition. “We feel very privileged to have inherited quite a capable team,” they said. “We have a very strong management team in place, and we want to see the business thrive.”
Community involvement is also expected to remain central to the company’s identity under its new ownership. A&I Coaches has a long history of supporting local causes and charities, including recent donations towards hospital equipment and community initiatives. “That’s a great heritage to have,” they said. “And we don’t want that to stop under us.”
For customers across Stonehaven and the wider North-East, the message from the new owners is clear, the familiar faces, trusted services and community spirit that has defined A&I Coaches for generations are here to stay, with careful investment aimed at securing the company’s future for decades to come.