Fleets have a key role to play in carbon reduction and tackling climate change, according to Norman Baker, under-secretary of state for transport.

Speaking at the Energy Saving Trust Fleet Hero Awards, Baker said: “You have a meaningful and valuable contribution to make. You establish the demand and lead the way for others to follow suit. We wouldn’t see these technologies take off without your support.”

He added that creating growth and cutting carbon had to go hand in hand, and pointed to the £400 million investment the government was making in incentives and infrastructure to encourage to uptake of electric vehicles.

Energy Saving Trust, which has just celebrated training its 700,000th driver, has committed to offering free smarter driver training lessons to the first buyers of electric vehicles. They will save the usual £15 fee.

EST expects to train around 10,000 people in total this year from around 600 companies.
Its Fleet Hero Awards, now in their fifth year, celebrate the fleets and companies that are driving forward the green agenda. This year it received around 90 applications from more than 50 organisations.

Fleet Hero Awards Winners

Best large private sector fleet
Winner: Kelly Communications Plant
Runner up: Addison Lee

Best small private sector fleet
Winner: RME Services Ltd
Runner up: Carlson Wagonlit Travel

Best large public sector fleet
Winner: HM Revenue & Customs
Runner up: Yorkshire Ambulance Service

Best small public sector fleet
Winner: North Lincolnshire & Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Runner up: Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead

Innovation in car and van manufacture
Winner: Volkswagen UK
Runner up: Ashwoods Automotive
Highly commended: Citroen

Innovation in services and systems
Winner: The Miles Consultancy
Runner up: Wiles Greenworld
Highly commended ALD Automotive

Innovation in fleet management
Winner: London Borough of Camden
Runner up: Addison Lee
Highly commended: Blackpool Coastal Housing

Leadership in the public sector
Winner: Lake District National Park Authority
Runner up: HMRC

Leadership in the private sector
Winner: Willmott Dixon Group
Runner up: Commercial Group

Smarter Driving
Winner: Ceuta Healthcare
Runner up: Hull City Council
Highly commended: Qdell Couriers & LHR Express Cars

Grey fleet management
Winner: Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust
Runner up: Lake District National Park Authority
Highly commended: North Lincolnshire & Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Business mileage management
Winner: HMRC
Runner up: St Edmundsbury Borough Council

Industry supplier
Winner: BMW
Runner up: Green Motion & LeasePlan

Motorvate member of the year
Phil Clifford, St Edmundsbury Borough Council