Twenty-one years on the road have seen Leicester coach hire and MOT specialists Ausden Clark grow from a one-man operation to a multi-million pound business.

The Leicester-born company, which has built its name around providing a first class service for local people, was established when Army-trained commercial vehicle technician Paul Ausden-Clark was made redundant in 1982.

Equipped with a £300 redundancy pay-off plus, a £5,000 overdraft from the bank, he began repairing coaches and commercial vehicles in a small garage in Barkby Road. Ausden Clark continued to grow and in 1992 came a major breakthrough with a decision to not only repair coaches, but operate them too.

Paul Ausden-Clark felt standards in the coaching business were not high enough and that he could do better. With the launch of the company's contract hire service, he has more than gone on to prove it.

Ausden Clark is now the biggest coach operator in Leicestershire, with a fleet of 55 standard and executive coaches including mini-coaches and double-deckers. A current workforce of 70 staff and growing - includes highly qualified drivers, mechanics and administrative support staff. Ausden Clark transports 3,000 Leicestershire pupils to school every day during term time, as well as working for the main universities. Major private contract hire, include trips nationwide and across Europe.

Ausden Clark has invested hugely in coaches spending £1.5m in the last six years!