Telford-based TTC Group is investing more than £500,000 into a new suite of services to help SMEs manage work-related road safety.

The road safety and fleet risk management organisation has hired nine new members of staff to help roll out DriverProtect, which aims to simplify the process of looking after staff who drive for work.

The appointments include a number of specialists that will work with companies across the UK on delivering fleet risk audits, policy management, driver licence checks, driver risk profiling and grey fleet management, as well as a new telesales team.

They will support a suite of e-learning modules, as well as a team of trainers who are offering in-house workshops and on-road driver training.

Andy Wheeler, business development director at TTC Group, said: "SMEs are often the overlooked segment of the market and that has to change as any business that employs people has a duty of care to manage the health, safety and welfare of employees who drive for work…whether that is in a company vehicle or their own.

“A recent survey we carried out showed that most firms, both large and small, were keen to improve their approach in this area and wanted access to our online fleet risk audit to improve management of work related road safety. It also showed that one in six businesses did not carry out any safety checks at all for their grey fleet.”

Andy Scott has been recruited to lead the new telesales team, which also features Jenifer Roe, Elaine Brown, Jason Briscoe and Kyle Peck.

Wheeler added: “We are looking for £1 million of new business through the introduction of products and solutions that combine modern digital technology and expert training to deliver compliance and effective learning at affordable prices.

"Another exciting development in 2018 will be the creation of a digital platform that will offer both driver and management portals, as well as integrated telematics to provide a truly tailored solution. This should be ready for launch in early March.”