THE new local franchisee of Pinnacle Chauffeur Transport is planning to expand his business early next year, despite the recession.

Bob Whittaker took over the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire franchise earlier this year from Sandiacre-based Trevor Langley, who is the largest single shareholder in the company and has responsibility as both marketing and managing director.

This is the second franchise that Bob has held with the company, which has 22 franchise territories stretching from Aberdeen to Bournemouth and Cardiff to Norwich, offering bespoke chauffeured transport. This includes driving senior management of blue-chip companies and organisations such as the NHS.

Bob started with Pinnacle in 2005, having been made redundant from Kodak in Nottinghamshire after 25 years. He used his compensation to buy the Sheffield and South Yorkshire franchise, which he sold when he took over Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Although he lives in Stretton, near Alfreton, he says that his love and passion have always been in Nottingham where he grew up, and Derby.

He currently runs three cars, two of which are the 2009 version of the Chrysler Grand Voyager luxury vehicle, the standard issue used by Pinnacle.

He plans to replace the third, an older model with a new car in March costing around £35,000 and take on an extra full-time driver. He already employs one full-time chauffeur and uses another when necessary.

“I love the variety with Pinnacle. There’s something different every day,” said 58-year-old Bob. “I love driving. I love chauffeuring. I love performing a service to my clients.”

These include his franchise providing a service to Erewash Borough Council for a fifth successive year to transport the Mayor to civic engagements. His franchise is now providing a similar service to Ashfield District Council for a second year.