Time to get your Fleet News Awards 2021 entries in

Fleets, suppliers and manufacturers have a month to go before the deadline passes for the Fleet News Awards 2021.

With new categories and a merger with the Commercial Fleet Awards, the 2021 event will bring together for the first time every aspect of fleet, from car to van to truck.

Winning a Fleet News Awards trophy doesn’t come easy, but the effort is worth every moment. Studies show that winners enjoy a measurable improvement in business performance and credibility, while it can also raise staff motivation.

Group fleet manager Shaun Atton described himself as “proud” and “over the moon” after collecting the most improved fleet of the year trophy for Auto Windscreens at last year’s Fleet News Awards. British Gas head of fleet Steve Winter, who won the fleet of the year gong, said it was “a great reward for our fleet team”.

He added: “It demonstrated we are correct in our strategy and has given us the ability to forge ahead with our ambitious plans.”

Winning can give a boost to individual careers, with several former Fleet News Awards winners getting promoted or headhunted for more senior positions. Winners say it has also helped them to acquire new talent and improve client relationships.

Three-time winner Nigel Morris, electric vehicle & V2X integration manager at Active Building Centre, Swansea University (fleet champion, environmental fleet and travel/mobility initiative), said the recognition was “really, really important”.

It also gave him “a weapon to use” to get additional funding for future initiatives within the organisation, while the marketing team was able to get positive publicity in the local media.

Matt Hammond, UK fleet and transport manager, Altrad Services (safe fleet of the year), said: “To be acknowledged at such a prestigious and high profile event by both peers and industry professionals gave us the confirmation that all the hard work was paying off, as well as being seen to be setting a standard within the industry.”

It’s not just the winners who bask in the glory of the Fleet News Awards. Being shortlisted for a fleet category, for example, is about more than a pat on the back for the fleet decision-maker; it raises the profile of the company brand with existing and potential customers.

Organisations who can prove they take seriously their safety and environmental obligations to their vehicle fleets are ideally placed to retain customers and attract new business – these things really matter to consumers.

To enter the awards, head to the website now. Deadline for entries is April 9.

Fleet News Awards 2021 categories

Excellence in Fleet Safety

Environmental Innovation
2020 winner: Active Building Centre - Swansea University

Mobility Achievement of the Year
2020 winner: Active Building Centre - Swansea University

Exceptional Contribution Award
New category recognising the fleet response to the Covid crisis

Fleet of the Year (up to 1,000 vehicles)
2020 winner: Eric Wright Group

Fleet of the Year (more than 1,000 vehicles)
2020 winner: British Gas

Supplier Awards

Leasing Company of the year (up to 20,000 vehicles)
2020 winner: Ogilvie Fleet

Leasing Company of the year (more than 20,000 vehicles)
2020 winner: Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions

Rental Company of the Year
2020 winner: Enterprise

Outstanding product or service
New category

Fleet Customer Partnership Award
2020 winner: Fleet Service GB

Fleet Dealer of the Year
2020 winner: Johnsons Fleet Services

Innovation in Mobility Technology Award
2020 winner: Fleetondemand

Manufacturer Awards

Best Small Van
New category

Best Medium Van
New category

Best Large Van
New category

Rigid Truck of the Year (6-16 tonnes)
New category

Rigid Truck of the Year (more than 16 tonnes)
New category

Best Small Car
2020 winner: Peugeot 208 

Best Lower Medium Car
2020 winner: Ford Focus

Best Upper Medium Car
2020 winner: Skoda Superb

Best Compact SUV
2020 winner: Peugeot 2008

Best Mid-size SUV
2020 winner: Toyota Rav4

Best Compact Premium Car
2020 winner: BMW 1 Series

Best Premium Car
2020 winner: BMW 3 Series

Best Executive Car
2020 winner: BMW 5 Series

Best Zero Emission Van
New category

Best Plug-in Hybrid Car
New category

Best Zero Emission Car
2020 winner: Kia e-Niro

Most improved fleet manufacturer
2020 winner: Suzuki GB

Headline Awards

Fleet Supplier of the Year
2020 winner: Reflex Vehicle Hire

Fleet Manufacturer of the Year – Car (Reader voted)
2020 winner: BMW Group UK

Fleet Manufacturer of the year – Van (Reader voted)
New category

Fleet Manufacturer of the year – Truck (Reader voted)
New category

Fleet Manager of the Year
2020 winner: Stewart Taylor, Police Scotland

Fleet News Hall of Fame
2020 winner: Liz Hollands

Fleet News Awards judges

Chairman: Christopher Macgowan OBE
Auditor: Brian Cooper, Ernst & Young

Fleet Awards

Stephen Briers, editor-in-chief, Fleet News
Stewart Lightbody, AFP vice-chair
Stewart Taylor, Police Scotland and current FNA fleet manager of the year
Paul Hollick, AFP chair
Julie Madoui, Kier fleet manager

Supplier Awards

Stephen Briers, Fleet News
Graham Short, Zip Water (UK)
Ryan Coles, Aviva
Peter Weston, Arcus
Lorna McAtear, National Grid
Jo Coffey, Anglian Water
Simon Gray, SSE
Cliff Lewis, Interserve
Willie Crawford, Network Rail

Manufacturer Awards

Stephen Briers, Fleet News
Matt dePrez, Fleet News staff writer
Jo Coffey, Anglian Water
Lorna McAtear, National Grid  
Martin Ward, industry expert
Andy Cutler, Glass’s  
Mark Jowsey, KeeResources
Matt Curtis, LeasePlan  
Shaun Sadlier, Arval       
Debbie Floyde, Bauer Media
Chris Connors, Countryside Properties
Steve Winter, Centrica  
Andy Picton, Glass’s
Ken Brown, CAP

​Headline Awards

Judges as above, relevant to the category