Fleet training body the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM) will focus its training online in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

The ICFM said it had taken the proactive approach to postpone all tutor-led training with immediate effect.

It said that the safety and wellbeing of its members were of paramount importance and as such all planned training courses involving delegates meeting and travel will cease until September at the earliest.

“That’s the responsible position to take,” said Peter Eldridge, sales and marketing director at the ICFM.

“We are focusing entirely now on supporting our members through online training facilities and there will be a significant ramping up of these offerings over the coming weeks and months.”

The news comes days after the ICFM and fleet representative group ACFO announced they were merging operations to create the Association of Fleet Professionals (AFP).

The new combined organisation aims to give fleet decision-makers ‘increased voice through combined strength’, but also cater those with fleet responsibility working in HR, finance and procurement roles and the fast-emerging mobility function.

Joint chairman of the AFP and chairman of the ICFM, Paul Hollick said: “This virus will undoubtedly have ramifications for our industry for years to come.”