Dundee bus firm Fishers Tours has collapsed, with more than 20 job losses expected and staff left stunned.
Drivers and mechanics were informed on Monday morning the company would cease operating by Friday, a decision which sources say has come “out of the blue”.
Fishers Tours has a number of contracts with local councils, including transportation agreements to take hundreds of pupils to and from schools in Dundee and Angus.
Drivers at the firm told The Courier they worried about the impact Fishers Tours’ sudden closure would have for children getting to school.
One told The Courier they were “willing to work” to minimise it.
They also slammed the “smoke and mirrors” communication approach they claim management has adopted the past few months.
One said: “We feel totally helpless.”
Fishers Tours had a turnover of around £2.3 million in 2024 and posted a pre-tax loss of £34,000, their latest accounts show.
In 2023, they posted a profit of £96,000.
Bosses at the firm confirmed to The Courier the company was closing this Friday before saying they had no further comment to make regarding the circumstances.
The company’s social media presence has disappeared, but its website is still online.
‘Everyone is shocked’
Fishers Tours is one of the largest private coach hire firms in Dundee.
As well as school contracts, they offer travel to other cities for events like concerts and football matches.
One Fishers Tours driver told The Courier: “We were all told on Monday morning the company would be shut down by Friday.
“All staff at the yard were pulled into a meeting at 6.50am.
“This has come completely out of the blue. Everyone was stood on the yard completely shocked.
“That’s more than 20 drivers and mechanics who won’t have jobs next week. How is that fair? It has come completely out of the blue.
“Things have felt odd in the yard for some time now, with mechanics being told not to order parts.
“There were a lot of jobs on the books.
“And these jobs have been cancelled for no real reason. Customers have been told at short notice buses were having ‘technical issues’.
“But that’s not true at all.
“And they’re having to make new arrangements with no time to do so.”
School fears
He told of his fears schoolkids could be left in limbo by the firm’s demise.
The driver added: “How are these kids going to get to school? I’m not sure there’s a local fleet big enough to fulfil the contracts.
“What I do know is there are 20-plus drivers and mechanics ready to do what needs to be done, and buses that work and can do the work.
“We want to make sure the kids get to school.”
A spokesperson for Dundee City Council said: “We have been aware of the situation and are currently looking at the details.”
Angus Council was approached for comment.
The late Jim and late Kay Cosgrove, who passed away in 2021 and 2017 respectively, took over Fishers Tours in 2000.
Carrie Ann Telfer is the current director of the company, according to Companies House.
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