South Yorkshire Police (SYP) and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR) decided to merge their fleet departments last year to create a “high performing, affordable and sustainable service”.

The new combined fleet of 849 vehicles (599 cars and 250 vans) is headed by Sarah Gilding, who was previously solely in charge of SYP’s fleet of 650 vehicles.

Gilding has already introduced a number of cost-saving initiatives to the SYP fleet, earning it the fleet of the year – 251-1,000 vehicles honour at the 2015 awards, and now provides strategic oversight and management of all aspect of both organisations’ fleet services to help progress their objectives.

Her environmental strategy focuses on increasing the number of low emission vehicles within the fleet wherever possible.

Having added a number of Vauxhall Ampera range-extenders to SYP’s fleet in 2014 she successfully trialled five pure electric Nissan e-NV200 vans between September 2017 and March 2018 as part project with the Energy Saving Trust and Highways England.

As a result, SYP has taken delivery of 11 new e-NV200s (10 of which are being used by the facilities management fleet, with the remaining vehicle being used by the driver services unit), bringing financial and environmental benefits.

Gilding expects to save £9,900 in wholelife costs and more than 24,700kg of CO2 per vehicle over four years, bringing a total saving of £108,900 and 271,907kg.

SYFR has one electric van on lease and two charging points on the estate, which will be reviewed in line with Gilding’s strategy.

Technology is being used to improve risk management. Dashcams have been rolled out to SYP’s fleet and are now being trialled by SYFR while the fitment of telematics to SYP vehicles started at the end of last year and a business case has been put forward for SYFR.

Finalists: Dundee City Council, Momentum Instore, Radian 

Award sponsored by Reflex Vehicle Hire 

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