The Story of Pom Voyage Excursions.
Before it began..
After approximately 25 years in motor trade aftersales the time was right for a change of career.
InSeptember 2023 I made the move into coach driving, through being taken on and trained by Excelsior Coaches. This removed the hectic, reactive, interuptive stresses of the previous job and gave me better control of the daily duties I was responsible for.
Why?
It was always the intention to be productive with free time and gaps during the hires when I wasn't driving, on rest, or maintaining cleanliness of the coach.
I have no desire to step away from the driver seat but if I ever did? What could the long term ambitions within this new (to me) industry be?.......supervisory?, management again?, or some other strategic role?
Admittedly one of the elements I missed from my previous job was kpi tracking - calculating, recording, improving and taking pride in the growth seen in regular accounts reviews.
Where did the idea come from?
A few pub conversations on days off with a friend started steering me towards organisation and got me thinking how a project we were discussing could be financially measurable and viable. Ideally any venture needed to be finding and filling gap in the market.
I had begun to notice the coaches arriving at the Royal International Air Tattoo, an event I have volunteered at for over 20 years. None of the companies appeared to be from Dorset or the surrounding areas, the area where I live and work.
With research I discovered this was indeed the case and set wheels in motion to offer day trips to the Airshow from the Dorset area.
....and the name?
I wanted to do this as a business. It needed a name that was original, relevant, maybe referenced me but not just using my name or initials. Also the name wouldn't be lost in a flow of results from an internet search engine..... what though?
I love a pun, or play on words, very nearly launched with completely the wrong idea!!
Relieved I had spotted the error before it was too late I went back to the drawing board, wracking my brain until "Pom Voyage" emerged. This received much positive feedback from friends and family, proving to be the right choice.
The concept.
August 2025 everything was in place including website, accounts, marketing material, etc. The plan to arrange RIAT excursions from the Dorset area was ready to advertise and accept bookings. However, it was nearly a year before the event. What else could I do while waiting for bookings to process?
I wanted to maintain a theme of days out to events/exhibitions for the enthusiasts, including the convenience of ordering your entry ticket meaning you only need to make a booking in one transaction. A concept of taking people to showgrounds or venues where visitors can wander freely at their own leisure while we take the strain of getting you there and back travelling with like minded individuals.
A few more events were researched and emails sent to organisers. After receiving encouraging responses a few more exhibitions were added. The Classic Motor Show was the first to be completed on 09th November 2025. Conversations during the journeys generated ideas for further days out to keep the momentum of Pom Voyage throughout the year and make me productive as originally intended.
Would never happen without....
I owe a huge amount of thanks to those who have helped in making all this happen:
- My Dad and Specialist Computing for the encouragement, guidance, knowledge, website creation and lots more input than i could list here.
-Friends and family for the feedback at planning stages and positivity towards this venture.
-Excelsior Coaches for being the Coach Operator providing transport for the excursions and giving me the necessary support to make things happen.
And....of course......
-The passengers, particularly those on the first excursion, for giving purpose to all of the work that goes into building a business from scratch.
I hope you find an excursion in our profile that interests you and you get to enjoy the day(s) out as much as I have creating Pom Voyage Excursions.
Stuart Pomeroy
Organiser
pomvoyage.co.uk
contact@pomvoyage.co.uk
