Cab Direct had the pleasure of sitting down with Neil McAskill from Teviot Taxis to hear about his inspiring journey into the taxi industry.
Neil’s story exemplifies how resilience and hard work can lead to significant growth, even in the face of challenges. He began Teviot Taxis in 2019, transitioning from a job in the agricultural industry with minimal knowledge of the taxi trade.
Neil recalled his first encounter with Cab Direct’s taxis: “I saw a Ford Pro Cab in the garage and was blown away by its look. I told one of my drivers that one day we would have a taxi like that.”
Resilience and Capitalising on Opportunity
Neil started small, operating locally and gradually growing his business. When it was time to expand his fleet, Cab Direct was his first choice. He upgraded to a larger, more reliable Ford ProCab vehicle, a dream realised.
Just two weeks after acquiring the new taxi, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. “I had my new Pro Cab on the road for two weeks, and then the country shut down for Covid,” Neil shared. It was a challenging period, with his business at a standstill and a significant investment at risk.
Undeterred, Neil took action by offering free taxi services to the elderly for their shopping trips, adhering to safety regulations. Although this didn’t generate revenue, it earned him recognition on social media, in local newspapers, and on the radio, building a strong community reputation. He also delivered food for local restaurants, generating enough income to cover his overheads as traditional taxi services came to a halt.
As Covid-19 restrictions eased, Neil secured school transport contracts, providing a stable income. He also expanded his services to transport people with disabilities to day centres. This growth allowed him to add two brand new Ford Tourneo Customs and a Ford Tourneo Connect to his fleet, all from Cab Direct. He recruited more drivers to support this expansion.
Neil has focused on larger vehicles to differentiate Teviot Taxis from standard services, catering to larger groups and boosting profitability. Since his initial purchase in 2019, Neil has bought seven more vehicles from Cab Direct. A Mercedes Vito, four Ford Tourneo Customs, a Ford Tourneo Connect and one of our electric vehicles, an MG5 EV.
His first electric vehicle, the MG 5, proved reliable and cost-effective, offering great fuel savings. When asked about the electric range of the vehicle, Neil said “The electric taxi from Cab Direct’s range is great; I haven’t encountered any issues with it at all when I use it to complete school contracts throughout the day”.
Why Cab Direct is the Top Taxi Choice
We asked Neil about his experiences with Cab Direct. “There is always somebody at the end of the phone,” he explained. For years, Neil has worked with our expert saleswoman Terri, who knows his business inside and out. “Terri knows what I am looking for in a vehicle better than any other salesperson,” Neil added. He appreciates the regular check-ins and the top-class service Cab Direct provides.
Teviot Taxis continues to thrive, aiming to become a public limited company this year. Neil plans further expansion, including taking on more contracts and covering a larger geographical area.
At Cab Direct, we are thrilled to be part of Neil’s journey and look forward to supporting his growth plans for Teviot Taxis.
If like Neil your dream is to start your own taxi business, get in touch and speak to one of our taxi specialists on the number above. You can browse our full range of standard, electric and wheelchair accessible taxis, including the new and exclusive Hackney conversion – the MAXiCab.