FuturePlus partners with Diode
FuturePlus, the online sustainability measurement platform, has formed a partnership with electric vehicle (EV) technology start-up Diode.
The partnership will see the companies working together to provide a solution for organisations to help them transition to EVs.
The partnership will also allow FuturePlus members and their employees to use the Diode platform to understand the environmental benefits of switching to EV.
Dan Eyre, co-founder and chief operating officer (COO) at Diode, said: “Climate change is the biggest issue we will all face in our lifetime, and our new partnership with Future Plus will support businesses as they embark on their transition into zero-emission vehicles.
Alex Smith, co-founder and partner of The Sustainability Group and FuturePlus, said: “FuturePlus powered by Diode’ is an innovative collaboration that creates real-life solutions for companies by providing personalised information, including infrastructure, carbon savings, car options and investment requirements, in an easily digestible way.”
Silverstone Fleet Management celebrates 10-year milestone
Silverstone Fleet Management (SFM) is celebrating a decade of trading.
In 2022, the company anticipates sales of up to 1,500 vehicles nationwide with a continued yearly growth of 25%.
The firm was founded by Scott Norville and incorporated in August 2012.
Scott Norville, managing director (MD) at SFM, said: “Before I started the SFM journey, I worked for a dealer supplying cars and quotations to the broker market. This gave me a great insight into how the world of brokers worked.
“The leasing broker market was saturated and had been for years with many ‘bedroom brokers’ offering services with extremely poor customer service. On the flip side to this, many other brokers were high volume brokerages focusing on churning out cars, rather than on the customer and journey.
“Silverstone Fleet Management was born out of recognising the gap in the market for a customer-focused solution.
“Despite all the recent challenges, we continue to work hard, stay positive and provide a first-class customer service, which is why I started SFM in the first place. It is a dream come true to have successfully reached the 10-year milestone.”
Over two thirds of young people want to take driving test in EV
A new study of 500 learner drivers aged 18-24 across the UK, commissioned by LeasePlan UK, has revealed that over two thirds (70%) of young people would choose to take their driving test in an electric vehicle (EV) if it were available to them.
The study also found that young women were more likely than their male counterparts to want to take their test in an EV (73% vs 67% respectively).
Three quarters (74%) of respondents said they were considering getting an EV as their first vehicle, and almost half (49%) said that they would prefer leasing over purchasing to reduce the upfront costs.
More women than men showed an interest in driving an EV, with 78% of female respondents saying they would look to get an EV after passing their test compared to 66% of male respondents.
Almost three quarters (74%) of male and female respondents reported this as the main barrier to entry.
More than half (56%) said they were worried about insufficient charging infrastructure, while a third (33%) said that a lack of experience of driving an EV would deter them from opting for one as their first vehicle.
Alfonson Martines, MD at LeasePlan, said: “As the research confirms, we are now starting to see a new generation of drivers emerge – young people who want to go electric because they see it as the right thing to do.
“We therefore need to ensure that they have access to EV driving lessons, as well as the option of sitting their test in an EV.
“While those who sit their test in an EV won’t be able to go on to drive a manual car, it is evident that many people would prefer to have this as an option.
“At the same time, it’s crucial that all young drivers, regardless of their socio-economic background, are given the opportunity to drive an EV.”
Sapphire Vehicle Services achieves ISO9001 certification
Truck and van repairer Sapphire Vehicle Services has achieved ISO9001:2015 accreditation.
Two auditors from the British Assessment Bureau spent six days scrutinising the company’s process and management controls, visiting sites across the national network and interviewing employees.
They awarded the ISO9001:2015 to cover the head office in Appleby Magna, Derbyshire, and all 14 of the company’s workshops in the UK.
Kevin Buswell, process and compliance manager at Sapphire, said: “This is a major achievement for Sapphire, with very few independent motor vehicle repairers holding the ISO9001:2015 accreditation and even fewer with UKAS accreditation.
“It has only been achieved thanks to the dedication and hard work of colleagues at all levels, from our engaged leadership and management team to the people on the workshop floors.
“Our workshop teams, led by operations manager Dave Williams, really bought into this project.
“The systems we put in place for all managers to engage, feedback and share best practices have allowed us to markedly improve our quality management processes across all 14 of our sites. And it doesn’t stop here – we’ll continue to push forward to deliver the best customer experience possible.”
Lightfoot reaches Global Good Awards final
Lightfoot has made it through to the finals of the 2022 Global Goods Awards in the Best Product of the Year category.
The company has been recognised for its advanced driver coaching technology, which provides real-time feedback to help guide drivers to a smoother, safer, lower emission style of driving.
The company is also up for the Fleet Safety Product of the Year at the Brake UK Fleet Champions Awards.
Paul Hollick, MD of Lightfoot, said: “It’s a huge privilege to have been selected as one of the five finalists for the Best Product of the Year award out of hundreds of nominees from across the globe.
“Our nomination reflects the social and environmental innovations offered by our self-managing, driver-focussed technology.”
The winners will be revealed at a ceremony on October 13.
> Interested in comparing electric vehicle data? Check out our EV tool.
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Jessica is event and digital content co-ordinator for all our events.
She was the web producer at Fleet News, Commercial Fleet and Smart Transport until April 2023.
She started her career as a content writer for a digital marketing agency that specialised in financial services, where she worked for more than two years.
Jessica was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts with Honours in Multimedia Journalism in 2017.
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