A group structure for growth
Originally founded as Hackney Community Transport in 1982, we became HCT Group in 2008 to reflect the increasing diversity of the communities we serve and to recognise our developing group structure, as explained below.
Asset-locked, mission-locked: HCT Group is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. Our charitable status provides an asset lock - meaning that the organisation cannot be sold for private gain and that we do not distribute profits to shareholders (we don't have any). It also provides a mission-lock - enshrining our social purpose as our first priority. HCT Group is the 'top company' of a group structure, which ensures that the asset lock and mission lock applies to all subsidiaries.
Merging with other organisations: To focus on the needs of particular communities, we have merged with other community transport providers – LaSCoT in South London, Leeds Alternative Travel, Manchester Community Transport, Bristol Community Transport and Social Access in Bristol and CT4TC/Derbyshire Community Transport.
Trading subsidiaries: We have developed trading subsidiary companies – HCT Group Operations CIC (formerly CT Plus CIC), CT Plus (Yorkshire) CIC, CT Plus Guernsey and CT Plus Jersey – to provide an efficient platform from which to compete for contracts.
Commercial acquisitions: We have acquired commercial transport operators with a view to turning them into social enterprises - Impact Group in London and Powell's Bus in South Yorkshire.
This has led to a complex group structure embracing a wide variety of legal forms. It does mean that we have been able to compete in the marketplace for business, work in partnership with others and maintain a community focus even as we have grown.
The future: We anticipate that this structure will continue to change over time – we are always open to talking with like-minded organisations who are interested in joining our Group, or seeking new partners for joint venture approaches.