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Glasgow Taxis Chairman talks the past present & future of the cab trade amidst the global pandemic
Glasgow Taxis chairman Dougie McPherson offers his thoughts to TaxiPoint a year on from the first lockdown while looking ahead to what the rest of 2021 might bring.
He said: “It’s been a hell of a year for everyone as we know. From a Glasgow Taxis perspective, the first thing I must say, on behalf of the management committee, is a sincere thanks to all staff, drivers, operators, customers and partners for their support over the last 12 months. None of it has been easy but working together has helped us face all the challenges as well as we possibly could."
Trying to look at the very few positives to be taken out of national and local lockdowns, Dougie said: “One thing lockdown did allow us to do was to undertake a fresh audit of our internal processes and costs which has enabled us to create some new cost-effective solutions and provide a much more efficient service for our customers. Further to this, we are under way with taking the topographical test online – which we believe may be a first in the UK – which will make training easier and more accessible as we continue to work to attract new drivers into the trade."
Drivers within the taxi industry have been hit hard financially with work levels plummeting to near zero. Financial support has been offered by local councils around the UK, with Glasgow City Council setting aside funds to help licensed taxi and private hire licence holders. Dougie added: “The funding made available to the industry by the Scottish Government was very welcomed. We’ve been in constant dialogue with government to try to agree a separate fund to support operators and hope to see this bear fruit upon the new financial year."
The industry eagerly awaited the day when lockdown began to ease, allowing the general public to socialise, shop and enjoy nightlife again. Dougie remains optimistic that the industry will only benefit from this, saying: “From April, in Scotland, we saw the start to gradual easing of lockdown with schools back to capacity, businesses and retail reopening and, of course, pubs, restaurants and hotels due to open. While all optimism is measured, this will only be a positive for the trade. In fact, many stakeholders we have spoken to – in Glasgow and other cities – are predicting a domestic boom in spend through staycations and much more localised summer activity until such time that international travel really kicks in again.
“To what scale and just how quickly the events market opens up again is anyone’s guess but we all hope to see at least some supporters in Hampden during this summer’s Euros, while it appears to be full steam ahead for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November – which quite simply will be enormous. We are front and centre for such major events thanks to the strong partnerships and relationships we have fostered over many years with 'team Glasgow'."
Speaking about the measures put in place to help maintain safe travel, Dougie concluded: “One constant during the last year has been our Separated, Sanitised, Safe campaign and that will continue for the foreseeable future. In this much talked about 'new normal', people are understandably much more health-aware and safety-conscious so we want to continue to make it clear to them that a Glasgow Taxi can guarantee them that safety as they move around the city."
