Fleet briefs: Latest from Webfleet, VRA, Lightfoot, GSF Car Parts, Targa Telematics, Microlise and Cool Kit

EV Lounge events to help fleets towards a more sustainable future

A series of events designed to help UK business fleets achieve their net zero ambitions has been announced by Webfleet, Bridgestone’s fleet management solution.

The EV Lounge series, hosted by Webfleet and VEV, aims to gain in-depth insights into the commercial electric vehicle (EV) market, future trends and strategies for decarbonising their operations.

The series of events will kick off with partners In Car Technology at Old Thorns Hotel, at Liphook, Hampshire, on July 18, and Auto Electrical Services (AES Fleet) at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes on September 12.

Beverley Wise, Webfleet regional director for Bridgestone Mobility Solutions, said: “The EV Lounge series is an important initiative to support our partners and their customers in making the electric transition.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with In Car Technology and AES Fleet to deliver these insightful and impactful events.”

For more information and to reserve your spot at the EV Lounge event at Old Thorns Hotel, from 10am to 2pm on Thursday (July 18), click here. 

New wellbeing, diversity and inclusion committee launched by VRA

A wellbeing, diversity and inclusion committee has been launched by the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA)

The committee, under chair Olivia Mills, remarketing manager at Zenith, aims to promote the subject across the industry and provide support to more members.

Already, two people have joined the committee – Rachel Clift from BEN and Steven Whitton of Menable – and there are places for two more.

Mills said: “The VRA is in a unique position to guide and support organisations within remarketing who want to find out more about adopting and sharing best practice.”

A wellbeing, diversity and inclusion questionnaire has been issued to VRA members with the results presented at the organisation’s member meeting at Bruntingthorpe on July 25.

Philip Nothard, chair at the VRA, said: “This is an exciting development for the VRA and comes at a time of increasing and so more remarketing organisations will benefit from this initiative.”

GSF Car Parts continues expansion with new branch openings

GSF Car Parts has announced the opening of new branches in Openshaw and Crayford, extending its reach in essential Manchester and London markets.

The Openshaw branch, located in East Manchester, spans 4,000 square feet and currently operates with four delivery vans, with an additional van on the way and two bikes for quick deliveries.

The new Crayford branch, spanning nearly 9,000 square feet, is equipped with four vans and four bikes to ensure efficient parts movement and an electric charging point is to be installed soon.

The announcement comes during a rapid expansion phase for the parts distributor, which now operates more than 190 branches and employs 3,000 team members across the country.

Steve Horne, CEO of GSF Car Parts, said: “We’re pleased to welcome these new branches to the GSF network.

“Improving delivery times and providing greater parts availability for our customers is essential, and these locations extend our reach across two of the UK’s major cities.

“With thriving independent garage communities in both the capital and Greater Manchester, these new branches reflect our continued commitment to expanding and improving our network.

“These are key, strategic areas that allow us to deliver exceptional service and a wider product range to our customers across these regions.”      

Cool Kit raises more than £10,000 completing Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge

A team of 19 walkers representing Cool Kit raised more than £10,000 for two East Lancashire charities when they completed the Yorkshire Three Peaks Challenge.

Supported by other local businesses, customers and suppliers from around the UK, the Cool Kit team tackled Pen-y-Gent, Whernside and Ingleborough in aid of Blackburn and Darwen Youth Zone and homeless young people charity Nightsafe.

Cool Kit pledged to match the £5,000 target to take the amount to almost £11,000.

The challenge was to celebrate the success Cool Kit has achieved since suffering a devastating blaze at its unit in Burnley 12 months ago.

Managing director Daniel Miller said: “I am so proud of the team for their effort. All of us at Cool Kit are so grateful for everyone’s generous donations. They truly were the fuel to our engine on the 10-hour journey.

“The weekend was the first anniversary of perhaps the darkest days in Cool Kit’s history and to mark it with a show of another kind of resilience was a real testament to all of our people.”

He added: “Special mention must go to our Head of People Georgina Grice who conquered a serious fear of heights to climb Pen-Y-Gent’s notorious scramble and to Hollie George who, despite injuring her foot early on was determined to get over Whernside.”

Anyone who would like to make a donation to the Cool Kit challenge should click here. 

Brake’s UK Fleet Champions Awards more important than ever, says Lightfoot

Lightfoot says that there has never been a more important time to champion the causes of safety and decarbonisation.

Brake’s UK Fleet Champions Awards celebrate fleet organisations dedicated to reducing road injuries, preventing fatalities, and also reducing pollution caused by their vehicles.

Paul Hollick, managing director of Lightfoot, which is headline sponsor of this year’s awards, said that the shortlisted fleets can play a pivotal role in showing other businesses how to be safer and less polluting.

“For many fleets these are big, complex problems, and they need help,” he continued. “Brake’s UK Fleet Champions Awards provides them with real world examples of how to do it through the brilliant work being done by the shortlisted fleets and fleet managers, and that is hugely helpful in showing the way forward. It is why we felt it important to give our support as headline sponsor.”

The awards take place at the Royal Armouries in Leeds on October 3, with the winners announced from a shortlist of 43 organisations and individuals in 12 categories. 

Microlise helps raise £17k at Transaid charity football match

Microlise Group has helped raise more than £17,000 in support of a fundraising initiative the Transaid Cup.

Working alongside the charity and Libra Europe, Microlise employees took to the pitch at Ilkeston Town FC to compete against 14 other industry teams. 

The teams played against each other in a 7-aside format, with Dawsongroup securing an impressive 3-0 victory over Brigade in the final match.

Other teams in attendance on the day included Blue Cube, Boughey, Goodyear, GXO, Iron Mountain, RHA, MAN, Libra Europe and Michelin. 

The money raised will go directly to international development organisation, Transaid, which helps to transform lives through safe, available and sustainable transport in sub-Saharan Africa.

The charity works closely with local communities, government agencies, and the private sector to develop sustainable transportation systems and advocate for policy changes that enhance mobility and improve road safety.

Nadeem Raza, Microlise Group’s CEO, said: “Following the success of last year’s event, where we raised £15,000, we are delighted to extend our support for Transaid this year. 

“Its dedication to increasing road safety and supporting the career development of drivers closely aligns with our own in-house values. We’re hugely proud of our team members for making the day a huge success and we’re looking forward to continuing to support such a worthy cause.” 

Caroline Barber, chief executive at Transaid, added: “We are incredibly grateful to Transaid’s long-term corporate partner Microlise, for their generosity and support.  

“It’s incredibly heartwarming to see the industry come together to support our charity, raising vital unrestricted funds which will enable us to save lives through our vital work in improving road safety in sub-Saharan Africa. The day was a great success.” 

Targa Telematics secures by Frost & Sullivan award

Targa Telematics has been awarded the 2024 European Enabling Technology Leadership Award by Frost and Sullivan.

A rapidly growing sector in the coming years, Frost and Sullivan predicts that the adoption of telematics in the insurance market will reach $26.83 billion by 2028 and have a compound annual growth rate of 30.4% from 2021 to 2028.

Nicola De Mattia, CEO of Targa Telematics, said: “This award once again underscores the value that Targa Telematics brings to the insurance market, thanks to a constant inclination towards digital innovation and the ability to deeply understand both industry dynamics and individual customer needs.”