Renfrew bus and coach company placed into liquidation

On 6 April 2022 Ken Pattullo and Kenny Craig of Begbies Traynor were appointed as joint provisional liquidators of Gibson Direct Ltd.

The bus and coach business, based in Renfrew, near Glasgow, held a number of contracts to provide coach hire to football supporters’ clubs and school coaches to councils, as well as offering wedding coach hire and executive coach hire. Established in 1996, it had a fleet of 50 vehicles and operated in Glasgow and across Scotland.

Unfortunately, the company proved unable to recover from the impact of Covid-19 lockdowns that had
a significant impact on its business, which primarily served school contracts.

All 25 staff were subsequently made redundant on 6 April when the petition to liquidate was granted.

Ken Pattullo, managing partner at Begbies Traynor in Scotland, said: “Unfortunately, like many other sectors, transport services have suffered from the impact of Covid with multiple lockdowns resulting in businesses facing periods without revenue. In particular, Gibson Direct was severely affected by the repeated withdrawal of school bus services over the last two years as remote learning for children was implemented, and this proved to be too heavy a burden for the business to bear.

“We are currently in the process of realising any assets we can to provide the best return for creditors, as well as liaising with councils and alternative operators to help minimise disruption and cover the school bus services.”

The joint provisional liquidators will also assist the former staff by helping them to register any claims to the Redundancy Payments Office and access support services from PACE.