Serving Hard-to-Reach Areas: RideTandem Powers Workforce Mobility with Tech-Driven Shuttle Services

Across the U.K., thousands of job opportunities go unfilled, not due to a lack of candidates, but because workers have no way to get to them. In rural and semi-urban areas, public transport has disappeared, ride-hailing is too expensive, and walking is impractical. RideTandem was built to close that gap.

Founded by Alex Shapland-Howes, along with co-founders Tatseng Chiam and Huw McLeod, the company takes a practical approach to a growing crisis: people unable to reach employment because transport simply doesn’t exist where they live. RideTandem partners with local taxi, minibus and coach firms to deliver scheduled commuter services. Employers and staffing agencies often cover part or all of the fare to ensure employees can show up to work on time and at scale.

Alex’s wake-up moment came during a visit to a community outside Manchester. He met fathers who had been unemployed for months. They had jobs lined up within a few miles but couldn’t reach them. The public bus route had been cut. That moment was the beginning of RideTandem’s founding story.

Replacing Lost Bus Routes With Smart Shuttles

As public funding for buses has dried up over the last decade, many local authorities have reduced or removed services. For people without access to a car, this change is more than an inconvenience. It closes off access to work, especially for early morning or late-night shifts. RideTandem steps into that space by arranging shuttle services directly tied to employers' needs.

Instead of purchasing vehicles, RideTandem works with local transport providers who have capacity and experience. They supply the drivers and vehicles. RideTandem supplies the tech, logistics and coordination. The result is a system where employees can rely on scheduled commutes, even when they live far from transport hubs.

Most users access the service through a mobile app. They can see the pickup location, track the vehicle, and confirm the ride. Many pay a modest fare, usually around £5 per return journey. In some cases, the fare is fully covered by the employer as part of a hiring incentive.

How It Helps Workers and Employers

The workers who benefit from RideTandem services are typically from lower-income brackets. They often live in areas where economic opportunity is thin and public infrastructure is under pressure. The shuttle routes often cover industrial parks, warehouses, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers—locations commonly far from residential zones and poorly served by buses or trains.

Employers get real value in return. Staff show up reliably. Absenteeism falls. Recruitment expands to areas that were previously out of reach. Human resources teams report that reliable transport becomes a critical retention tool, especially for shift-based roles.

Some companies now include RideTandem service as a key benefit when hiring. One large-scale employer in the Midlands noted a 20% drop in turnover among employees using the service. Another company in the logistics sector saw its applicant pool widen significantly after launching a RideTandem route.

Tech as a Means, Not the Message

RideTandem’s value is in execution, not just innovation. The app is simple by design. Workers can book a seat, pay if needed, and get timely updates. On the back end, employers see attendance data, route efficiency and environmental impact. Managers can adjust pickup points or increase capacity based on real-world usage patterns.

Behind the scenes, the company’s software team constantly works to improve routing algorithms and customer support systems. But the goal is not to dazzle with features. The aim is to make the process frictionless. RideTandem's philosophy is grounded in practicality.

Serving Local Economies

An important aspect of the business is its support of local transport providers. Many taxi firms and minibus operators face declining demand from traditional clients. RideTandem gives them predictable income by connecting them to large-scale, recurring bookings. These firms already have drivers, licenses, and road knowledge. They simply need passengers. RideTandem brings them.

In many communities, the economic benefit is twofold: more residents can work, and local operators get steady contracts. For some drivers, the shuttles are now their most reliable income stream.

Growth Backed by Results

RideTandem’s growth has been steady. It now supports routes across dozens of towns and small cities, mostly in areas underserved by traditional transport. The company has been able to scale thanks to early financial support from venture investors and the visible, measurable impact it creates.

Reports indicate that RideTandem has helped workers earn millions of pounds in previously inaccessible wages. Its vehicle routes have saved hundreds of tonnes of carbon dioxide by consolidating car trips into shared travel. Clients praise its high satisfaction rates and the professional handling of daily operations.

Not Without Challenges

There are challenges. Coordinating multiple third-party operators can result in inconsistency. Rural routes with low ridership can be costly. And while the company avoids owning vehicles, that dependency on partners means quality control takes ongoing effort.

Still, users frequently express satisfaction. Many riders describe the service as life-changing, not because of novelty, but because it solves a basic problem no one else has addressed. One worker in West Yorkshire said the shuttle made it possible to accept a job that was previously unreachable. Another, in Norfolk, described being able to work nights for the first time thanks to the guaranteed return journey.

Expanding the Model

As RideTandem looks ahead, it continues to explore partnerships in new sectors. The company is testing routes for healthcare workers, education staff and warehouse roles in other regions. It has also started to look beyond the U.K., testing feasibility in parts of continental Europe where similar transport gaps exist.

Alex has stated that the goal is not rapid, unchecked expansion. The team wants to maintain service quality, refine the tech and keep a tight feedback loop with employers and users. While funding has enabled growth, decisions remain measured.

Rooted in a Simple Idea

What sets RideTandem apart is not technology, branding or fundraising. It is the clarity of purpose. The company was founded to solve a real-world problem in a tangible way. Everything flows from that core idea.

People need to reach work. Public transport doesn’t always help. RideTandem steps in, without fuss or hype, to make that commute possible.

The company doesn’t aim to replace buses or disrupt the transport industry. It fits in the spaces others ignore. In doing so, it has become more than a logistics business. It is part of how people build better lives in places where opportunity was once just out of reach.

RideTandem wasn’t created to disrupt. It was built to fill a gap in public transport where bus routes disappeared, access declined, and opportunity became uneven. The company brings these back, one route at a time, one worker at a time. For thousands across the U.K., it’s more than just a ride. It’s a path to steady work, a stable life, and a fair chance to move forward.

Alex Shapland Howes, Co-Founder & CEO, RideTandem

We met fathers who couldn’t take a job five minutes away because there was no bus. That moment changed everything.