On the 2^nd of October a brand new minibus was launched at Peterstone Court near Brecon. Brecon Coachworks Ltd and engineering scientists from Swansea University have worked together to come up with what they claim to be the safest school minibus in the UK.

The new minibus has been named Iovan, after a Celtic god who protected the youth. 

The vehicle was designed following close consultation with Stuart’s Campaign, the safety group set up following the death of Stuart Cunningham –Jones on a school bus back in 2002, to ensure that every consideration was made to the safety of children using home-to-school transport.

Brecon Coachworks and Swansea University believe that this new vehicle has been built to the highest safety specification, and will change the way vehicles are used and designed for transporting children in the future.

This new vehicle has been backed by the Welsh Assembly’s Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones who has responsibility for transport.  The National Assembly is currently in the process of opting for the Learner Travel Measure – one of the very first ‘Made in Wales’ laws which will help improve safety on school buses for our school pupils. 

Brecon Coachworks has been building customised vehicles for a variety of public and private sector organisations including schools, and community groups for the last three years.  Mr John Wiggins, Managing Director said "every safety aspect of this minibus has been looked at in detail and improved where necessary, to improve the safest possible passenger environment"

The Local Supplier Development Project has worked closely with Brecon Coachworks over the last two years to help the company develop links with public sector organisations to identify tendering opportunities, and to source Welsh engineering companies to provide components and materials for vehicle building.  Guto Carrod, Local Supplier Champion in Powys said "This project has put Brecon Coachworks on the map in Wales, and I hope to work closer with the company to identify future tendering opportunities within the public and private sectors".