meridian transport limited
school transport
Meridian transport limited is intended to be a firm that exclusively offers transport services to schools across the country. To date, of all the educational institutions in Kenya only three private universities have an external transport provider. There is therefore a real need for Meridian Ltd in this country
Facts
2008
| Two years ago: | |
| Last year: | |
| This year (forecast): | 142,000 |
| Year 2 (forecast): | 426,000 |
| Year 3 (forecast): | 710,000 |
| Two years ago: | |
| Last year: | |
| This year (forecast): | 15,000 |
| Year 2 (forecast): | 45,000 |
| Year 3 (forecast): | 75,000 |
| Two years ago: | |
| Last year: | |
| This year (forecast): | 5 |
| Year 2 (forecast): | 15 |
| Year 3 (forecast): | 25 |
How do you expect this to be financed?
| Own Contribution in cash | 1,000 |
| Loans (debt) | 108,500 |
| Shares in your company that you offer to investors (equity) | |
| Other sources | |
| Total finance needed (US$) | 109,500 |
The Business
Meridian Transport as its name so readily suggests will be a firm geared towad the offering of premium transport services to schools colleges and other academic institutions.
in Kenya today only one firm can be said to be offering a service close to what Meridian intends to avail. This firm currently has a number of buses on lease to a handful of private universities. The rates involved in this kind of arrangement are too high for the average school or college and students have little choice but to use public means.
Public means in my country generally entails hours in endless traffic jams, unexpected hiking of fares and the daily risk of muggings and car jacking. Students residing in the urban areas have to live daily under this unforgiving regime and its effect on punctuality, class attendance as well as participation are detrimental.
It is therefore urgent that a solution be found to this problem of how to get students to school safely, reliably and without the hassle. This is exactly what Meridian Transport intends to do
Starting from the small coastal town of Malindi with five buses serving five different schools ferrying students to and from school each day. Malindi to this date still does not have a proper transport service within the town but is dependent on small Indian-style tricycles
The students would be picked up from certain specified pick up points and dropped off at the same every day. This operation will be carried out under a strict schedule planned in consultation with the administaration in the relevant achools.
This would have the impact of cutting out lateness, student fatigue from walking long distances and both parents and students would no longer have to worry about the issue of security.
A companay either stands or falls in main due to its marketing efforts. Meridian Transport intends to take marketing rather seriously. Its marketing will involve; active participation in school fairs
maintaining a media prescence through regular adverts
running of an interactive as well as informative website
sending of brochures to target institutions
personal visits to schools and colleges
placement of posters in public places
In short, meridian will have as its number one priority to make itself known to as many people as possible. The firm understands that no matter how good the service if people do not kow about it then none will ask for it. Information is key and this is what Meridian will seek to provide.
As for the competition, Meridian will have the distinct advantage of having a head start int the business and thus the reputation that comes with it. Also, we will be able to use our early clients as a reference to our knowledgability in the field thus making it difficult for schools to entrust their students with any other firm.
The final advantage over the oppostiton will be the exclusivity clause that Meridian will have in all its contracts. This clause will effectively lock out rivals and give the company room in which to establish itself.
School transport in the western world is as common as grass but here in Sub Saharan Africa it is a concept that is yet to catch on. The need exists but no one does anything about it. Meridian will be the first of its kind in this subsector.
The Entrepreneur & Management
Right after high school and before joining university I worked for the Malindi based Cotes Du Rhone group of companies. I stayed with them all through my university years and gathered quite a bit of expereince in the hospitality industry.
I left them two months ago and have been running a home based travel agency. I have also been running a car rental concern on behalf of a close family friend.
Though not directly related to running the business which I now propose,my expereince this far means that I am no stranger to the dynamics of setting up and running a business concern more so one that is service based.
Also, Meridian transport would be based in my home town of Malindi where I am well known thereby cutting out a lot of tedious bureaucracy when dealing with the target institutions.
Development
The developmental impact of merdian Transport is awesome in its scope. Beginning with Malind and its environs, the firm will have the potential to reach out to all towns across the republic. This would probably usher in a new era where lateness, student fatigue and insecurity wold become things of the past. Instead we would have students arriving in time, safely and ready to learn.
I believe that education is one of the most important aspects of any society and more so when that country undeveloped. This is why every effort must be made to ensure that the youth of this nation receive quality and relevant education. Meridian Transport will have a role to play ,albeit a small one, in this by ensuring that the trip to and from school is no longer the nightmare that it is for most students today.