Highland Council To Acquire D&E Coaches Ltd To Help Reduce School Transport Costs

23rd January 2025

Photograph of Highland Council To Acquire D&E Coaches Ltd To Help Reduce School Transport Costs

The Highland Council is pleased to announce, that following a period of negotiation and due diligence, it intends to acquire the entire shareholding of D&E Coaches Limited.

Provision of home to school transport is a high-cost statutory function of the Council which has caused significant budget pressures in recent years.

The acquisition of the company will enable the Council to accelerate provision of public transport services in the area, achieve operational cost efficiencies and reduce the risk of future contract cost increases.

Assuming the satisfactory completion of all due diligence, the Council expects the acquisition to complete in the near future. It is the Council's intention that the company will continue to be run on a business-as-usual basis. Further details will be announced at that point.

Vice Convenor of the Council and Chair of Economy & Infrastructure Committee, Cllr Ken Gowans said: "I am delighted that negotiations have reached this stage, and as we approach completion, I would like to reassure customers, staff and suppliers that the transition in ownership will be handled as smoothly as possible. Discussions continue with the company management team, and I am genuinely excited for future public transport opportunities in the Highlands as a result of this expansion of our service."

Donald Mathieson, D&E Coaches Owner/Managing Director said: "D&E Coaches has been in business for almost three decades and we feel as a family firm that that we have taken the company as far as we can. Moving forward, we feel that the acquisition of D&E Coaches by The Highland Council is the best move for the company and everyone concerned, including our staff and customers. We are also pleased that the company will move into local authority/public ownership."

A very successful business D & E Coaches Ltd had a turnover of £6,552,818 with a profit of £986,080 in the year to 25 February 2024. The company employs over 70 staff and has modern fleet of coaches of different sizes. The company was founded by husband and wife team Donald and Elizabeth Mathieson 25 years ago.

Highland Council began running its own bus services in January 2025. They stepped in to provide a replacement bus service after Stagecoach announced they would no longer operate certain routes. This move allowed Highland Council to offer more reliable public transport options for local communities.

Investment has already been made in 18 buses, including 7 double-deckers, 6 single deckers, 4 minibuses & 1 coach to deliver passenger and school transport services at a lower cost than commercial contractors. The company headquarters are based in Inverness.

 

Related Businesses

 

Related Articles

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

Council Funded Advice services assist 25,000 customers and exceed £30.3 million in financial gains

Almost 25,000 customers were assisted by the Council’s Welfare Support Team and Citizens Advice during 2025/26 for support with welfare, debt and housing issues.   As a result, financial gains for clients exceeded £30.3 million, representing a £18.84 return for every £1 allocated to these services by the Council.  

28/8/2026 : Local Authority

 
Do We Need a New Kind of Cemetery? Could Highland's Greenspaces Help Make Funerals More Affordable?

There may be no more appropriate time to ask Highland Council whether we need to rethink the way we remember those who have died.   The Council has just launched a six-week consultation on its draft Greenspace Biodiversity Management Strategy 2026-2030.  

26/8/2026 : Local Authority

The Triple Squeeze: Energy, Mortgages and Council Tax — How Much More Can Households Take?

There is a point at which individual increases in household costs stop being individual problems and become something much bigger.   A £100 increase in the annual energy bill may be manageable.  

24/8/2026 : Local Authority

Thurso Schools: Public Meeting and Statutory Consultation – Key Dates

Highland Council has now formally launched its statutory consultation on proposals to replace Thurso High School and reorganise primary school provision in the town.   The consultation concerns the proposed relocation of Thurso High School, Pennyland Primary School and Miller Academy Primary School to a new education campus based around the existing Thurso High School site and the proposed Community Point of Delivery.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Public consultation to help shape future policy protecting Highland's dark skies

Councillors have approved the launch of a public consultation on draft guidance aimed at reducing light pollution across the Highlands, supporting environmental protection, public wellbeing and the area's internationally recognised dark skies.   Members of the Economy and Infrastructure Committee yesterday (Thursday 20 August) agreed to publish the draft Reducing Light Pollution: Good Practice Guidance for consultation, once minor clarifications are included, giving residents, communities, businesses and developers the opportunity to help shape future policy.  

21/8/2026 : Local Authority

Highland bus service improvement plans

The Highland Council's Economy and Infrastructure Committee has endorsed plans to launch a 12-week public consultation on a proposed Highland Bus Service Improvement Partnership (BSIP), giving communities, passengers and stakeholders the opportunity to help shape the future of bus services across the region.   The consultation will seek views on draft proposals developed by The Highland Council in partnership with HITRANS and bus operators to improve the operational performance, accessibility, attractiveness and consistency of bus services across Highland.  

19/8/2026 : Local Authority

Demand for social housing remains high across Highland Butit is part of a biggr Scottish Problem

Demand for social housing across the Highlands remains high, with almost 8,826 households on the Highland Housing Register (HHR).   Housing and Property Committee Chair, Cllr Glynis Campbell Sinclair, said: “The demand for social housing across Highland remains significant and continues to outstrip the number of homes available in many areas.  

19/8/2026 : Local Authority

Highland Council to consider Draft Visitor Levy Scheme at Special Meeting

A special meeting of The Highland Council will take place Tuesday 25 August 2026 to consider a draft Visitor Levy proposal.   No decision is being sought at this stage on whether a Visitor Levy should be introduced in the Highlands.  

11/8/2026 : Local Authority

 
Nature Restoration Fund Community Grants Programme opens for applications

Community groups, charities, public sector bodies and other eligible organisations across Highland are being encouraged to apply for funding through the 2026/27 Highland Nature Restoration Fund (NRF) Community Grants Programme, which opens for applications on Friday 14 August 2026.   Applications will be assessed on a rolling basis, with grants available from £2,000 to £25,000 for capital projects that help restore nature, safeguard wildlife and address biodiversity loss.  

7/8/2026 : Local Authority

Convener welcomes funding to support Cairngorms businesses

The Scottish Government has confirmed a £3 million fund to support businesses affected by the Cairngorms wildfire.   The funding package was announced today by the Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Tourism, Stephen Flynn, during a visit to Glenmore.