We talk to some of the industry figures involved to find out what they think Honk for Hope UK’s London protest has achieved 12 months later
When support for coaches during the pandemic was not forthcoming, the industry – in true fashion – banded together. This came in the form of Honk for Hope UK. The brainchild of Jenna Rush, MD of Newcastle upon Tyne operator North East Coach Travel, the campaign aimed to raise awareness of the coach industry and protest for more support from the government.
It’s been just over 12 months since Honk for Hope UK took to the streets of London. It was the movement’s most vocal and well-attended protest, a protest that made a lasting impression – and not only because of the Baby Shark musical horn. It grabbed the attention of the national press and MPs, notably Labour MP Emma Hardy.
Clearly, financial support from the government was not secured, despite Honk for Hope’s best efforts. But has it served its purpose? And are there any lasting results that came from the protests?
Parliament engagement
Richard Bamber of Runcorn-based Anthony’s Travel was heavily involved in organising the events. “If you were an operator who was after purely financial support and expecting it, you could say Honk for Hope failed,” he says. “But I don’t think it failed at all. What it did was provide us with the biggest political platform the coach industry has ever seen.”
This increase in engagement with parliament is something Mr Bamber, in part, attributes to Ms Hardy, who became involved after hearing the protesting coaches’ horns from her office window.
This involvement led to debates in parliament that had never been seen before, and that was “purely down to Honk for Hope”, says Mr Bamber.
“Our representation over the years has not been powerful enough within the corridors of Westminster, and this gave us the vehicle to get in.”
Tim Southby, MD of Dorset-based Heathside Travel, was one of the hundreds of operators to join the protest in London – and other Honk for Hope rallies. While he believes the campaign has had an impact, he questions whether it has had any long-term outcomes.
He says: “It was effective because we wanted to get heard, and we did. Hope for Hope attracted attention, and even to get the attention of MP Emma Hardy was powerful enough. But when it comes to the public, people still don’t understand our importance and why we didn’t have any support whatsoever.
“I think Honk for Hope was the right thing to do to start with when we got the initial response. But I don’t know whether it truly did us any good in the long run.”
‘A positive platform’
For organiser Ms Rush, one of the “best things” to come out of Honk for Hope is the Road Haulage Association’s Coaches Membership.
“Honk for Hope has opened doors with a new membership body. It’s a little bit more competition for what’s already out there to work a little bit harder for coaches.”
Adds Mr Bamber: “It’s noticeable now that trade associations have raised their game with lobbying government. Operators have three trade bodies, and they can pick the right ones for their business. All of them are now pointing emphasis on lobbying, which can only be good.”
The coach industry has always been known for its resilience and camaraderie. This is something Ms Rush feels has been strengthened by Honk for Hope.
The friendships that have been made thanks to Honk for Hope has been “unbelievable”, she says.
“Before we knew operators in our area but not further afield, and I think Honk for Hope has brought the industry closer together. Something of this scale has never been done before. We’ve made a lot of friendships, which is a positive outcome.”
Ian Jones, Director of road transport solicitors Backhouse Jones, echoes these feelings of optimism.
“A year ago, Backhouse Jones joined hundreds of coaches parading through Parliament Square with dignity and discipline to highlight the depth of the debt, death and destruction being wreaked upon their industry by the pandemic,” he says.
After a year of reflection, Mr Jones believes Honk for Hope has achieved a lot. In particular, it has created “a positive platform upon which we can build the future”.
The bigger picture
Many key learnings have come out of Honk for Hope. Looking back, Mr Southby can’t help but wonder whether more could have been done by the movement.
“It was very well organised,” he says. “The organisers had to get their heads together and sort a lot of things out very quickly to get such a huge number of vehicles together.
“They did a great job, but if we’d have had more time to plan, I wonder whether we could have made more of an impact.”
For Mr Bamber, it’s all about the bigger picture: “Some operators will say ‘what’s the point, we still haven’t got any money’, but I try to look at the full picture. We’ve got that engagement now, and we can shape the future of the industry if we keep on engaging. That’s the legacy of Honk for Hope.
“Now, it’s up to the trade bodies and coach operators to build on that engagement and don’t let the opportunity slip away.”
