DRIVE & Survive and New Driving Initiatives - two of the UK's leading driver training companies - have finalised the terms of their joint venture, which will operate from within an umbrella organisation called the Distinctive group of companies.

Both companies will retain their own identities, and have separate profit centres, but will bring together their own particular strengths. Drive & Survive will concentrate on directly arranged car and commercial fleet driver training, along with corporate events, and specialist driving-related projects. NDI will focus on fleet driver training via insurance, leasing and contract hire companies. It will also manage the customer facing side of the business, including account management, although long standing Drive & Survive customers will remain with their original contact.

A joint operations centre will co-ordinate both companies' training, and Kevin Emmett, NDI's head of training, will be responsible for the training standards of both companies' instructors.