Swindon bus company to supplied buses for the 2012 Games

Thamesdown Transport was one of many South West companies to benefit from business opportunities generated by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Swindon company was awarded a contract to supply 5 buses and 16 drivers for the Games Family Bus Services in London – which ran during the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The company found out about the opportunity to bid for the contract by registering on the Competefor website.

The Games Family Bus Services were part of the Accessible Transport Strategy for the Games; to ensure that a wide variety of accessible transport options were available for spectators travelling to and from the Games and to develop and promote a philosophy of inclusion for all the partners involved in the operation of the Games transport.

The London 2012 Games gave Thamesdown Transport the chance to expand their business through demonstrating their flexibility and innovative commercial approach in undertaking work outside their locality.

The contract also helped to provide additional motivation for those staff deployed on the contract, due to their involvement in the London 2012 Games. The company sought volunteers from amongst its workforce to work on the contract and more than twice the number of drivers applied for the positions available.

As Managing Director Paul Jenkins said, “We were very keen to give Thamesdown staff a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be involved in London 2012.”

Thamesdown Transport operated local bus services, mostly in the Swindon urban area, plus contract buses for schools and work places. In 1986 Thamesdown was set up as a limited company wholly owned by Swindon Borough Council.