Manchester’s targeted taxi funding draws praise from drivers seeking stability missing in other UK cities
- Perry Richardson
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
Greater Manchester’s decision to inject substantial backing into its hackney fleet is drawing a notably warm response from across the taxi trade, including from London drivers who say they envy the level of political support visible in the city region.
Remarks such as “we wish London had a Mayor like Andy Burnham” surfaced quickly after the funding announcement, reflecting a view that Manchester is stepping in where the capital has eased back.
Money matters when it comes to creating a clear pathway to cleaner, purpose built cabs. Manchester’s Hackney Support Fund gives drivers exactly that. Rather than relying on punitive charging mechanisms or expecting drivers to shoulder the cost of transition alone, the scheme couples government backing with LEVC’s additional support package worth up to £2 million. It is a practical signal that the city wants its taxi fleet to modernise without pricing drivers out of the job.
For many working drivers, the financial hurdle of switching from an ageing diesel to a newer zero-exhaust-emission capable taxi remains the single largest barrier to staying in the trade. Leasing costs have risen, residual values on diesel cabs continue to fall and operating margins have been under pressure since the pandemic. Manchester’s funding pathway does not remove those pressures entirely, but it softens them at a time when operators need a platform to rebuild confidence.
The contrast with London and other regions of the UK has not gone unnoticed. The capital’s taxi industry has experienced a prolonged exit of experienced drivers, with the cost of vehicle upgrades repeatedly cited as a major factor. While London pioneered the shift to cleaner black cabs, funding support has declined over the years, leaving the burden of fleet renewal to rest heavily on individual drivers. The industry have argued repeatedly that inconsistent or tapering grants undermine long term retention, particularly for drivers who entered the trade later in life or who operate on tight margins.
Manchester’s approach is being read as the opposite. The partnership with LEVC, extended warranties, and scrappage allowances for used TX purchases collectively reduce the capital outlay and provide a clearer path into low emission vehicles. For a working driver clocking long shifts, anything that cuts financial risk directly affects whether they remain in the job. Stability tends to keep people in the industry. Uncertainty tends to push them out.
There is also a broader strategic point. A taxi fleet cannot thrive without a reliable pipeline of drivers willing to invest in and operate vehicles over several years. By blending air quality goals with tangible driver support, Manchester has positioned itself to sustain its workforce rather than shrink it. Licensed drivers say this is exactly the type of policy that encourages them to commit to the profession rather than look for alternative work.
If the city region succeeds in maintaining an accessible and cleaner fleet while retaining drivers, it will raise questions about whether this model should be replicated elsewhere. Declining numbers in many of the UK’s major cities suggests that a more coordinated intervention could help avoid further decline in its licensed taxi numbers.
Manchester’s investment-led plan is still in its early stages, but the reaction from the trade is unusually aligned. Drivers want cleaner streets, but they also want a future they can afford. For once, a city may be giving the option of both.
