Date - EMBARGOED RELEASE - Thursday, 9 February 2006
CULT MOVIE STARS’ REUNION TO HONOUR LONDON BLACK TAXI FIRM
Maureen Lipman and Mick Ford are joining other cast members of the 1979 ‘cult cabbie’ film The Knowledge to celebrate Radio Taxis picking up a Scope Access Equality Gold Award.
Scope’s Access Equality was launched to reward companies that are showing a true commitment to becoming accessible to disabled people, in line with the Disability Discrimination Act. Radio Taxis fleet is 100% accessible and most of their drivers have had Disability Equality Training which means they know how to meet the needs of disabled passengers.
Maureen Lipman, who played Brenda Weller in Jack Rosenthal’s The Knowledge, said: “London cabs are so convenient for disabled people. They take you from A to Z and can make a trip to the theatre for example much more enjoyable for people with reduced mobility.”
Speaking at the presentation of Scope’s Gold Access Award at Knowledge Point, Chris Richfield, Scope’s Head of Access, said: “After carefully examining their business model we were impressed by the level of commitment that Radio Taxis has for accessibility. This gold award is not just about their cabs being accessible, it’s also about their cabbies having The Knowledge to look after passengers; disabled people know that with Radio Taxis they’ll be treated well and with confidence.”
Radio Taxis has a London fleet of 3,000 black-cabs and is also the world's first CarbonNeutral® taxi company.
Speaking at the presentation of the award Andrew Herbert, Managing Director at Radio Taxis Group, said: “We are delighted to have been awarded a Scope Gold Access Equality Award and are confident that our disability awareness credentials will truly now be on the map. Being accessible makes business sense!”
For more information please contact Michelle Nunan, Head of Marketing on
020 7561 5471 or Email: michelle.nunan@radiotaxis.co.uk.
Notes to Editors:
About Radio Taxis:
Radio Taxis is London’s leading black cab companies with a fleet of over 3000. It has over 1,400 members who were each given a £1,100 windfall and 1000 shares when the company demutualised in June 2004. Based in North London, Geoffrey Riesel is the Chairman. Yellow Cabs Chairman, Brian McBride, now holds a minority stake of 28%.
- Scope is a national disability organisation whose focus is people with cerebral palsy. Our aim is that disabled people achieve equality: a society in which they are as valued and have the same human and civil rights as everyone else. www.scope.org.uk.
- Scope’s Time to Get Equal campaign is about disabled people achieving equality: www.timetogetequal.org.uk.
- Scope’s Access Equality awards are a way of being seen as inclusive and socially responsible company. See here for further information: www.accessequality.org.uk
- Radio Taxis: www.radiotaxis.co.uk
- The Knowledge is a 1979 film by Jack Rosenthal.
