FMG praised for keeping GB on the move

FMG has been recognised by the Highways Agency for its contribution to ensuring the effective management for England's strategic road network during last summer's Olympics.

The provider of incident management and accident reduction services, has received a special supplier recognition commendation, which was presented by the Highways Agency chief executive, Graham Dalton.

FMG holds the national vehicle recovery manager (NVRM) contract for the Highways Agency, overseeing vehicle recoveries and coordinating incident responses across the Motorway and major roads network in England. From FMG’s head office in Huddersfield, the company oversees a range of incidents.

During last summer's event, the company worked alongside the Highways Agency to implement plans aimed at relieving congestion and coping with increased traffic volumes. This involved setting up additional bases near to venues and strategic stretches of road, whereby recovery operators could be deployed to deal with incidents at a moments notice.

The additional analysis and actions proved their worth, contributing to a positive travel experience for millions of athletes and fans. The additional measures came into their own in several scenarios, including when dealing with a recovery on the M4, which helped to ensure thousands of spectators were able to freely attend the rowing events at Dorney Lake.

Dalton said: "It is more important than ever that we create an environment where our suppliers are encouraged to share best practice and effective, imaginative solutions to further improve our delivery in all aspects of the service we provide.

"Once again there were a large number of high-quality entries for the awards. We are very proud to be able to publicly congratulate those suppliers who have clearly demonstrated innovation and effectiveness in helping us to deliver a truly effective road network."

Philip Graham, head of contracts at FMG, said: "This was a unique challenge, and this endorsement from the Highways Agency is a real testament to the hard work of our people. We set up an additional 19 on-road support units at strategic locations during the games. This helped to ensure we were able to assist the Highways Agency in keeping the roads moving at this very important time for the country.

"Having to be prepared to change plans at very short notice made the situation even more demanding. Through advanced planning and accurate prediction of traffic flows, we have worked with the Highways Agency to ensure a safer and smooth running games."