EXPERT advice on running a safer fleet, cutting costs and keeping the taxman at bay are the main focus of a major conference for fleet managers taking place next month.

The Fleet News Double Jeopardy Conference, which focuses on corporate and financial risk, will be held on May 9 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

A line-up of 10 expert speakers has been booked for the conference, to be chaired by Robert Gifford, executive director of the Parliamentary Advisory Council for Transport Safety. The financial risk session will range from taxes to fuels, and the corporate risk session focuses on key areas of health and safety affecting fleets.

Speakers are:

Elizabeth Ward, policy advisor at HM Revenue & Customs;

Harvey Perkins, KPMG director;

Colin Matthews, head of transport grant programmes, Energy Saving Trust;

Saul Jeavons, head of investigations and risk management at the Transport Research Laboratory;

Robert Gifford;

Norwich Union motor risk manager Bill Pownall;

Sara Cook, fleet manager for BSkyB;

Claire Shrewsbury, head of a new van driver safety scheme, SafED;

David Faithful, consultant, Lyons Davidson Solicitors

Mark McArthur-Christie, director of policy for the Association of British Drivers.

Topics they will cover include the latest changes to tax rules, fuel policies, fleet safety best practice, risk management, the legal issues of allowing drivers to cover business mileage in private cars and the driver’s view on current road safety issues. All delegates will receive a free CD-Rom containing risk policy and fleet policy templates, provided by fleet managers’ association Acfo.

Further details on the event, sponsored by SEAT and euroShell Card and sub-sponsored by Nobilas Claims and Fleet solutions, from Sandra Evitt on 01733 468307 or email sandra.evitt@emap.com. For sponsorship and exhibition enquiries, contact Emma Cole, on 01733 468345 or email emma.cole@emap.com

Visit the event website at www.fnspringconference.com and book online.