Ends Mar 2027
1 x 33 Seat Bus Hire
North Yorkshire Council · Yorkshire and the Humber · 3-year contract
Held by Mistral Bus & Coach PLC
Minibus hire tenders and contracts
UK public sector, covering 600+ buyer sites
376 minibus hire tenders and contracts, 82 this year.
Updated 4 November 2026 · compiled by BidSkim Limited · How we count
- Awarded a month£170k
- Contracts a month1.6
- Won by SMEs59%
- Renewing in 6 months1
- Frameworks and DPSs22
- Live now6See them →
Minibus hire contracts
Tap a region to see its contracts. Pick as many as you like.
38 contracts across the UK, of any size
Live now
6 minibus hire opportunities are open now
- Awarded23 Oct 2026CA18240 - CPC/KB/02/2023: Student Transport Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)NCG · North EastWon by Holmeswood Coaches Ltd£20k
- Awarded23 Oct 2026CA18237 - CPC/KB/02/2023: Student Transport Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)NCG · North EastWon by Stanley Travel (North East) Limited£140k
- Awarded7 Oct 2026Coach Hire for NCGNCGWon by Stanley Travel (North East) Limited and 3 more£140k
- Awarded1 Oct 2026Coach Hire (Norfolk)Construction Industry Training Board · East of EnglandWon by Eagles Coaches Limited£100k
- Awarded16 Sep 2026SPS-02990 Bus Service for SPS RecruitsScottish Prison Service · ScotlandWon by Braes travel Scotland ltd£138k
- Awarded16 Sep 2026SPS-02990 Bus Service for SPS RecruitsScottish Prison Service · ScotlandWon by Braes travel Scotland ltd£138k
- Awarded28 Aug 2026CA18241 - CPC/KB/02/2023: Student Transport Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)NCG · North EastWon by Sussex Coaches£10k
- Awarded26 Aug 2026BU082025 Bus and Coach TravelBangor University · WalesWon by Clynnog & Trefor Motor Co Ltd£458k
- Awarded10 Aug 2026Cross-Channel Transport ServicesHome Office · South EastWon by Bayliss Executive Travel Limited£1.7m
- Awarded3 Aug 2026Award of Transport Contracts operated by Public Service Vehicles Q3 2026 #2Perth & Kinross Council · ScotlandWon by Elizabeth Yule Transport Ltd and 9 more£99k
- Awarded18 Jun 2026Travel and Accommodation for Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) · LondonWon by Selwyns Travel Limited£200k
- Awarded3 Jun 2026Provision of Scholars Bus Routes for St Cuthbert’s Roman Catholic Academy TrustSt Cuthbert's Roman Catholic Academy Trust · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by Stagecoach and 2 more
- Awarded1 Jun 2026DPS - Adhoc and Coach Hire April - June 2026Fife Council · Scotland£215k
- Awarded15 Apr 2026HPFT - Minibus Transport HireHertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust · East of EnglandWon by Reacherscars & Mini Buses Ltd£72k
- Awarded7 Apr 2026Award of CC14730 - Linlithgow Academy - Transport - Music Camp 2026Scottish Government · ScotlandWon by Lothian Buses£2k
- Awarded31 Mar 2026DPS - Adhoc and Coach Hire April - June 2025Fife Council · Scotland£179k
- Awarded31 Mar 2026DPS - Adhoc and Coach Hire July - Septemebr 2025Fife Council · Scotland£37k
- Awarded31 Mar 2026DPS Adoc Bus and Coach Hire October - Decemeber 2025Fife Council · Scotland£56k
- Awarded31 Mar 2026DPS Adoc Bus and Coach Hire January - March 2026Fife Council · Scotland£88k
- Awarded18 Dec 2025Coach Hire for Student Open DaysUniversity of Exeter · South WestWon by Linden Holdings (Devon) LTD£103k
- Awarded1 Sep 2025The Provision of Coach & Driver Hire ServicesMetropolitan Police Service · LondonWon by CMAC Group£16.7m
- Awarded19 Aug 2025Coach HireGateshead College · North EastWon by Stanley Travel (North East) Limited£650k
- Awarded19 Aug 2025LOT 9: WBC203Wokingham Borough Council · South EastWon by Horseman Coaches£71k
- Awarded18 Aug 2025PIISC009Ministry of DefenceWon by Skills Leisure Limited£5.7m
- Awarded12 Jun 2025CA15765 - CPC/KB/02/2023: Student Transport Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education · Yorkshire and the HumberWon by Acklams Coaches
- Awarded27 May 2025Provision of Bus-Coach Transportation for DVLA EventsDriver and Vehicle Licensing Agency · WalesWon by South Wales Transport£54k
- Awarded30 Apr 2025Sellafield/Risley Coach ServiceSellafield Ltd · North WestWon by Spencer Graham Coaches Limited£147k
- Awarded28 Apr 2025Ad Hoc Car and Coach ServiceSellafield Ltd · North WestWon by Reays Coaches Ltd£50k
- Awarded16 Apr 2025001748 - BRASS Festival Performer TransportDurham County Council · North EastWon by Stanley Travel (North East) Limited£120k
- Awarded2 Apr 2025ID 5401460 Tourism Northern Ireland - Provision of Private Coach Hire ServicesTourism Northern Ireland · Northern IrelandWon by Quinn Coaches Ltd£125k
- Open to joinApply by 4 Nov 2026Yorkshire and the Humber framework
- Open to joinApply by 5 Nov 2026UK-wide framework
- Open to joinOpen nowScotland DPS32 suppliers on it
- Open to joinOpen nowScotland DPS15 suppliers on it
- Open to joinOpen nowLondon DPS11 suppliers on it
- Open to joinOpen nowNorth East DPS1 supplier on it
Where to bid
Where minibus hire tenders are run
In-Tend5 33%
Delta eSourcing3 20%
EU-Supply2 13%- Jaggaer2 13%
Defence Sourcing Portal1 7%- Other portals (2)2 13%
Tenders published in the last year that name the bid portal they run on.
Frameworks and DPS
22 frameworks and DPSs for minibus hire work are running. 6 are open to join now.
Stanley Travel (North East) Limited won the most minibus hire contracts
Each dot is one contract, coloured by who bought it.
CouncilsEducationCentral governmentTransport and utilitiesNHS and healthOther buyers
| Rank | Contractor | Contracts won, by buyer | Contracts | Value won | Buyers | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stanley Travel (North East) Limited North East · SME · See every contract | 4 | £1m | 3 | ||
| 2joint | Braes travel Scotland ltd Scotland · SME · See every contract | 2 | £276k | 1 | ||
| 2joint | Holmeswood Coaches Ltd North East · SME · See every contract | 2 | £35k | 1 | ||
| 2joint | Sussex Coaches North East · SME · See every contract | 2 | £17k | 1 | ||
| 2joint | Acklams Coaches Yorkshire and the Humber · SME · See every contract | 2 | Not published | 2 | ||
| 2joint | Eazy coach hire Scotland · SME · 1 framework place · See every contract | 2 | Not published | 1 | ||
| 2joint | Hamish Gordon Limited Scotland · SME · 1 framework place · See every contract | 2 | Not published | 1 | ||
| 2joint | Kingdom Transport Coaches Scotland · SME · 1 framework place · See every contract | 2 | Not published | 1 | ||
| 2joint | Smart Travel Scotland · SME · 1 framework place · See every contract | 2 | Not published | 1 | ||
| 2joint | Smith and Sons Coaches Scotland · SME · 1 framework place · See every contract | 2 | Not published | 1 |
31 more minibus hire contractors ranked. See the full ranking →
Win minibus hire contracts? Share your ranking.
Who buys
26 buyers awarded minibus hire contracts
Contracts with a published value in the last 2 years, from the type of buyer to the size of the contract.
6 buyers bought minibus hire more than once in the last 2 years
Each dot is a buyer, by how many minibus hire contracts it awarded in the last 2 years.
See who they are and when they usually buy →
Few and big, or many and small
Each dot is a buyer: how many minibus hire contracts it awarded against what they were worth. The busiest and biggest are named.
CouncilsEducationCentral governmentTransport and utilitiesNHS and healthOther buyers
Top buyers by contracts awarded
| Rank | Buyer | Contracts | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fife Council | 6 | £652k |
| 2 | NCG | 4 | £310k |
| 3 | Ministry of Defence | 2 | £6.1m |
| 4 | Scottish Prison Service | 2 | £276k |
| 5 | Perth & Kinross Council | 2 | £198k |
| 6 | Sellafield Ltd | 2 | £197k |
| 7 | Metropolitan Police Service | 1 | £16.7m |
| 8 | Home Office | 1 | £1.7m |
| 9 | Gateshead College | 1 | £650k |
| 10 | Bangor University | 1 | £458k |
142 minibus hire contracts awarded since 2021
- 112021
- 642022
- 152023
- 212024
- 162025
- 152026 so far
Prices
Half of minibus hire contracts are worth less than £104k
CouncilsEducationCentral governmentTransport and utilitiesNHS and healthOther buyers
The 10 biggest minibus hire contracts
- Metropolitan Police ServiceCMAC Group · 1 Sep 2025
- Ministry of DefenceSkills Leisure Limited · 18 Aug 2025
- Home OfficeBayliss Executive Travel Limited · 10 Aug 2026
- Gateshead CollegeStanley Travel (North East) Limited · 19 Aug 2025
- Bangor UniversityClynnog & Trefor Motor Co Ltd · 26 Aug 2026
- University Of WorcesterAstons Coaches Limited, Thandi Red Ltd, The Bridgnorth Bus & Coach Company Ltd, Welland Wheels Limited · 22 Nov 2024
- Ministry of DefenceM Coach USA, Inc · 25 Mar 2025
- Fife CouncilWinner not published · 1 Jun 2026
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)Selwyns Travel Limited · 18 Jun 2026
- Fife CouncilWinner not published · 31 Mar 2026
Renewing contracts
5 minibus hire contracts come up for renewal in the next 12 months
1 in the next 6 months. The 3 ending soonest are shown in full.
Ends Sep 2027
CA15765 - CPC/KB/02/2023: Student Transport Services Dynamic Purchasing System (DPS)
Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education · Yorkshire and the Humber · 2-year contract
Held by Acklams Coaches
Ends Oct 2027
GMCA 725 Provision of a Transport to “Safe Drive Stay Alive”
Greater Manchester Combined Authority · North West · 4-year contract
Held by Belle Vue Manchester
Minibus hire contract for a school, college or universityNorth East£100k to £1mEnds Oct 2027
Minibus hire contract for a school, college or universityEast of EnglandUnder £100kEnds Oct 2027
Where and when
Scotland awards the most minibus hire contracts
Contracts by region and by month awarded. Click a region to filter the page.
FewerMore contracts
The regions as a table
| Region | Open now | Contracts | Value | Typical contract | Won the most | Bought the most | Renewing in 12 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland | 0 | 13 | £1.2m | £88k | Braes travel Scotland ltd, Eazy coach hire and 6 more (2 each) | Fife Council (6) | 0 |
| North East | 0 | 6 | £940k | £120k | Stanley Travel (North East) Limited (3) | NCG (3) | 1 |
| North West | 0 | 2 | £197k | – | – | Sellafield Ltd (2) | 1 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 0 | 2 | Not published | – | Acklams Coaches (2) | – | 2 |
| West Midlands | 0 | 2 | £504k | – | – | – | 0 |
| East of England | 0 | 2 | £172k | – | – | – | 1 |
| London | 0 | 2 | £16.9m | – | – | – | 0 |
| South East | 0 | 2 | £1.8m | – | – | – | 0 |
| South West | 0 | 2 | £449k | – | – | – | 0 |
| Wales | 0 | 2 | £513k | – | – | – | 0 |
| Northern Ireland | 0 | 1 | £125k | – | – | – | 0 |
| East Midlands | 0 | 0 | Not published | – | – | – | 0 |
Often bought with minibus hire
Related services
Key findings
- £170k a month
of minibus hire contracts awarded.
Typical contract £103k x 1.7 contracts a month, last 12 months. - 1.6
minibus hire contracts are awarded in a typical month.
38 contracts in the last 2 years. - 1
minibus hire contract comes up for renewal in the next 6 months.
Recurring contracts with a named supplier and a published end date before 4 May 2027. - 22
frameworks and DPSs are running for minibus hire work.
6 open to join now. - 59%
of minibus hire contracts are won by SMEs.
As recorded by the buyer, on 29 award notices.
How many minibus hire tenders and contracts are there?
| Since November 2021 | Last 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| Notices published | 376 | 82 |
| Contracts awarded | 132 | 16 |
19 minibus hire contracts and frameworks end in the next 12 months, 19 of them recurring services. In the last two years, 26 buyers awarded minibus hire contracts to 41 suppliers.
Source: Find a Tender, Contracts Finder, Public Contracts Scotland, Sell2Wales and eTendersNI, to 4 November 2026. By Seamus White. How we count
Questions
How many minibus hire contracts does the UK public sector award?
38 in the 2 years to 4 November 2026, from 26 public buyers.
How long are minibus hire tenders open for?
The median minibus hire tender is open for 32 days from publication to deadline.
How much is a typical public sector minibus hire contract worth?
The median is £104k, and 80% are worth less than £250k.
Who wins the most public sector minibus hire contracts?
Stanley Travel (North East) Limited won the most (4).
Which part of the UK awards the most minibus hire contracts?
Scotland: 13 of 38 in the 2 years to 4 November 2026, then the North East (6) and the North West (2).
How many minibus hire contracts come up for renewal in the next 12 months?
5 contracts end and are likely to be re-let, the first on 31 March 2027.
Are there frameworks or DPSs for minibus hire work that are open to join?
22 frameworks and DPSs for minibus hire work are running. 6 are open to join now.
What is included
Ad hoc or call-off hire of coaches, buses and minibuses with drivers for trips, events, sports fixtures and group moves.
- Ad hoc bus and coach hire
- Coach hire frameworks and quick-quote call-offs
- Minibus hire with driver
What is not included
- Regular term-time school runs (see Mainstream home-to-school and college transport)
- Self-drive minibus hire and leasing,
- Tour operators packaging trips (see Group, educational and field trip travel)
- Rail replacement (see Rail replacement and emergency bus services)