“People are just trying to survive” – Salford taxi company share their struggle during Covid

Salford taxi company, Swans Minicabs, have struggled more than ever throughout the pandemic and their customers are quickly decreasing.

Following the second lockdown, the company in Eccles have faced more consequences.

The business is owned by Conrad Asquith, 55, and his son, also named Conrad Asquith, 30, said: “The work has dropped rapidly as no one is going to work, to shops or all the other places that are closed.

“We are only getting supermarket and hospital work and as there are other companies in the area we are all looking for the same work, it’s just hard.

“I personally did not draw a wage in April, May and June and when the drivers returned in September, we were managing to keep our heads above water.”

From the beginning of the first lock-down in March, the family-owned business faced complications since a large percentage of their drivers had health issues and could not work.

They went from having 30+ drivers, to only 13.

When the tier 3 restrictions were put in place, Swans Minicabs lost major revenue and because of the restrictions on restaurants and bars, it meant they had no night-time takings.

Mr Asquith added: “They weren’t telling people to isolate or offering grants, but they had restrictions on pubs and restaurants by closing at 10pm as you can imagine this is our major revenue, so we lost out again.

“We didn’t think we could pay our data provider, our data master, pay rent on property, pay our phones and pay our office staff.

“We also have had to reduce our phone staff again to one person per shift which has caused them financial hardship as well. Covid-19 has completely destroyed the taxi trade and people are just trying to survive!”

Government guidance has become law in an attempt to maintain the safety of both drivers and passengers.

Mr Asquith said: “We have to ask people to order two cabs if there is more than two people because we were advised to only have two passengers, but that isn’t a financial option for some people.

“It’s an awful thing to have happened and I’m lucky I’m still open because some people have lost their whole livelihoods. The amount of people using food banks is off the scale and taxis are a luxury now to a lot of people.”

The pandemic has had a significant effect on many businesses’ ability to remain operative, and as people are confined to their homes, the need for taxis has dropped sharply.