Minibuses for team away-days and company events
Whether it's twelve colleagues heading to a riverside away-day or forty guests going on to a client dinner, you'll want everyone arriving together and in good spirits. A minibus or Sprinter with a driver keeps the group in one place, and a coach steps in when numbers grow.
Pick the size that fits the day
For a team of up to about sixteen, a minibus or Sprinter-style vehicle is usually the easy answer: one pick-up point, one driver and nobody reading a map. Mid-size groups often suit a midi coach, and a full-size coach makes sense once you're past thirty-odd people. The seat count on the quote is what you plan with; the ranges on the vehicle pages are typical, not promised.
Mention the kit as well as the people. Laptop bags are nothing, but display stands, banners or a sample case can fill the back of a minibus faster than you'd expect.
Early starts, late dinners
Company days often begin before breakfast and end after the speeches. When a minibus or coach carries a paying group, its driver is generally bound by the assimilated (formerly EU) hours regime, which limits time at the wheel and builds in breaks and overnight rest. A 07:00 hotel collection, a country-house venue and a late run back from dinner can add up to more than one driver may do.
Share your first pick-up and last drop-off when you enquire. The operator can then plan a second driver or a changeover, which is far easier to sort before the booking than on the night.
Rules worth knowing
- Under those rules a driver must take a 45-minute break after no more than 4.5 hours' driving
- An approved tachograph must record driving, breaks and rest for drivers under the assimilated or AETR rules
City-centre arrivals
Central London's Congestion Charge is fully discounted for anything seating nine or more, though some vehicles must first be registered with TfL, so it's worth confirming. In Manchester, the quick drop-off bays for coaches give you twenty minutes, no more, so have everyone waiting at the kerb. Birmingham's Clean Air Zone, inside the Middleway ring road, covers minibuses as well as coaches, so check the one quoted is compliant.
Your questions
Can the vehicle wait for us during the event?
Sometimes, if the venue has room. In busy centres it more often drops you, parks legally elsewhere and returns at an agreed time. Give the driver a mobile number for one person in the group.
We're staying in several hotels. Is that a problem?
Not at all. List each address with its postcode and how many people are there, and the quote will set out the route and timings.
Can we mix vehicle sizes?
Yes. A coach for the main party plus an executive car for speakers or guests who need to leave early is a popular pairing.
Cities
Vehicles
- Full-size coach — 49-81 seats
- Midi coach — 29-35 seats
- Minibus — 16-19 seats
- Executive Sprinter-style minibus — 17-19 seats
- Executive car — 1-3 seats
- Wheelchair-accessible minibus — Varies by layout; wheelchair positions replace seats
Planning a company day?
Send the date, the headcount and every address. Licensed, insured partner operators quote vehicles with drivers, and you choose.
Request a quote or call +44 1416 738261