SALES representative Rachel Burke has become the first employee at engineering supplier Barnes to be issued with the company's own in-house driving licence.

The company announced earlier this year that without the permit, effectively a secondary licence, no staff at engineering supplier Barnes may drive the company's vehicles or use their own vehicles on business (Fleet NewsNet, March 11).

It is given after employees' driving licences undergo confidential checks.

The process applies to all, including directors, who drive a Barnes vehicle or drive on business for Barnes in another vehicle, including their own cars.

Wives, partners and children also have to obtain a licence if they want to drive one of the company's cars, as part of the Driver Compliance Programme. The requirement is now a condition of employment.

Commenting on her licence, Burke said: 'I'm impressed and delighted. I've joined a company that cares about people and its staff on the road.

'Its Permission to Drive is definitely prestigious. I feel proud I am regarded as a safe driver and now I want to try hard to live up to that by driving always at my best and looking after my car really well.

'I want to be someone the company is proud of because it is interested in me. I'm pleased to know my driving record is being monitored. My driving skill is being recognised.

Burke added: 'Also, it means that if someone else drives my company car it will be recorded. I'm pleased about that. It's more protection for me.

'I'm delighted that I'm to be guided in maintenance and car care. As a woman who knows nothing about car technical matters, that's reassuring.'

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