Northgate Vehicle Hire has been awarded the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents’ (RoSPA) 2009 Occupational Health and Safety Gold Award for the first time after winning Silver Awards last year and in 2006.

David Rawlins, RoSPA awards manager, said:“Northgate Vehicle Hire has shown a commitment to protecting the health and well-being of its employees and others.”

Colin Gilstin, Northgate’s health and safety manager, said: “We want to lead from the front where safety’s concerned, particularly within our industry.”

The company is also the only rental firm that has joined the Roadsafe Driving for Better Business campaign.

“Our goal is to promote an injury and accident-free culture inside and outside of Northgate,” said Gilstin.

Northgate employees attend a range of health and safety courses.

For example, a number of senior managers within the organisation completed the NEBOSH (The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health), general certificate standard in health and safety.

Additionally, Northgate has trained over 600 employees to the British Safety Council Level One standard in health and safety