LIVERPOOL

A group of Liverpool’s biggest private hire firms are launching a campaign to woo drivers from Sefton and Knowsley to join their ranks.

In the latest part of an ongoing ‘taxi war’ in the region, billboards will be put up today in both neighbouring boroughs offering incentives to drivers who make the cross-boundary switch.

The six firms - Excel, Alpha, Botanic, South Liverpool, Village and Acorn - between them operate over 1,300 Liverpool registered taxis and have more than 170 years of experience.

The firms will meet the cost of obtaining a Liverpool taxi driver’s badge, with half-price settle fees for four weeks as an added incentive.

Peter O’Halloran, owner of Excel, said: “This is a win-win for drivers currently working for firms outside of Liverpool. Most of the jobs done by these drivers are already in Liverpool, with some of them operating exclusively in Liverpool on a 24/7 basis.

“All we are saying to them is come and join us in Liverpool, give it a try and if you don’t like it, nothing is lost.

“I think many people became taxi drivers when they became unemployed and joined firms in Sefton or Knowsley so they have never known anything different.”

He added: “The private hire business has changed dramatically in the past few years, and has long since left behind its cloth cap image. Today there is NCQ training and much more sophisticated operational techniques.”

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/liverpool-taxi-firms-launch-charm-8645529?