Licence Check helps university with grey fleet compliance

Staffordshire University has introduced new licence checking technology to ensure the compliance of more than 400 grey fleet drivers.

Staff are using the DAVIS (Driver and Vehicle Information Solution) platform from Licence Check incorporating its single sign on (SSO) framework.

As well as the 405 university staff using their own vehicles for occupational driving, Staffordshire University, which has around 12,000 students across five campuses, also operates an owned and leased fleet of 24 vehicles, with 18 vans, two ambulances, two tractors, a mowing machine and a car for dignitaries.

Due to the complexity of managing the grey and owned fleet with multiple drivers making frequent trips between the five locations – Stafford, Stoke-on-Trent, Shrewsbury, Lichfield and London - head of health, safety and wellbeing, Sue Emery, put together a successful business case.

She said the biggest attraction in implementing the Licence Check solution was its SSO capability, which gives users immediate access to DAVIS as soon as they log on to their computer, removing the need for multiple usernames and passwords for different applications.

“Without doubt, SSO has been a key factor in helping raise awareness of the need for frequent checks to be made across our driver pool and in increasing the number of people successfully logging onto the system,” said Emery.

As a result of introducing DAVIS, staff using their own vehicles now have to confirm that they have business class insurance, a valid MOT and road fund licence in addition to having their licence checked.  

Drivers are also prompted to carry out regular vehicle roadworthiness checks such as such as tyres, brakes, fluid levels, lights and automotive glass.

Kia UK chooses Dealer Auction to remarket vehicles  

Kia UK has partnered with Dealer Auction to digitally remarket vehicles exclusively to its franchised retail partners.  

Up to 600 Kia cars will be sold via bespoke quarterly 24-hour auction events. Vehicles will be prepared to Kia's Approved Used Car Standard and made available to approved Kia retailers only via an exclusive closed network. 

The new format replaces the ‘green screen’ auctions previously run by Dealer Auction on behalf of Kia.

These were live, scheduled auctions, with an auctioneer and vehicles offered sequentially. The new closed network format better suits the digital environment, it said, with each vehicle offered on a timed auction.

Paul Williams, national used vehicle sales manager for Kia, said: “Like most manufacturers, we want to give our franchised retailers first refusal on our used vehicle stock.

“It’s right we reward their investment in the Kia brand by ensuring they have the best opportunity to secure quality stock for their forecourts, but it also plays an important role in protecting residual values and providing an opportunity to secure new customers.

“Competition for used stock has increased significantly of late and we’re taking positive action to look after our retail partners.” 

Kia is the latest manufacturer to embrace Dealer Auction to promote used stock digitally to franchised retail networks. Eleven manufacturers – including MG Motor UK, Hyundai Motor UK, Renault Group and Nissan Motor GB - have all established a closed network on the platform. 

Le Etta Pearce, Dealer Auction’s CEO, said: “Manufacturers increasingly want to assert a greater degree of control on where their vehicles are retailed.

“Closed networks are not a new concept, but our platform simplifies and improves the process for both buyers and sellers, and the results speak for themselves.”

SVA charity auctions raise £41,000 for Chestnut Tree House Hospice 

Shoreham Vehicle Auctions (SVA) raised £40,126 during its charity auction week for the Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice (CTH), based in Arundel, West Sussex.

Three auctions were hosted by Shoreham at the end of March - two car and one LCV auction - with dealers donating customer part exchange cars to auction off as well as making pledges to support families using CTH’s facilities.

ISVA has been supporting the charity since 2010, over which time it has raised £271,000 with the help and support of car and van dealers across the south coast.

Seventeen-part exchange cars were auctioned in total during the week with the highest price of £1,500 bid for a 57-plate Fiat Panda.

Alex Wright, SVA’s MD said: “Once again the warmth and generosity of the motor trade has been overwhelming. The auctions were a huge success as our buyers and vendors have grown very fond of supporting such as great cause. A big thank you from all of us at Shoreham Vehicle Auctions.”

Chestnut Tree House currently cares for around 300 children and young adults with life-limiting conditions and provides services including hydrotherapy and multi-sensory activities.

With daily running costs of over £10,000 CTH relies on public donations and events, meaning the funds raised by SVA are vital. 

Arval plants 1,000 trees in two days

One thousand trees have been planted over two days by employees from vehicle leasing and mobility company Arval UK.

The environmental initiative is part of the company’s global ‘1 Electrified Vehicle = 1 Tree’ scheme, a biodiversity initiative which pledges that a tree will be planted for every new electrified vehicle (EV) it leases, and could result in around 700,000 trees being planted globally by 2025.

In the UK, the initiative has so far seen more than 41,000 trees planted, which will absorb around 6,150 tonnes of CO2 over the next 30 years. Additionally, they will generate around 123,000 animal shelters and create more than 5,800 days of employment.

The latest tree planting took place on April 17-18 at Appleton near Oxford, which is the sixth UK site where Arval UK is carrying out tree planting and regeneration with the help of environmental specialist Reforest’Action.

It follows on from locations in North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Berkshire and West Sussex. Climate-resilient tree species being planted at Appleton include oak, lime, cherry and wild service tree.

Zoe Maitland, head of sustainability at Arval UK, said: “Around 55 people from our Swindon office planted 1,000 native trees which are suited to our climate at the new site.

“There’s a lot of enthusiasm about the project here and we enjoyed getting our hands and boots dirty planting the saplings in a beautiful woodland environment. Thankfully we had the best of the weather too.”

Gold medalists open new Bridgestone HQ

Bridgestone’s gold medal ambassadors Adam Peaty and Charlotte Worthington have officially reopened the company’s new-look Warwick headquarters, following an extensive refurbishment.

The swimmer and the freestyle BMX gold medallist were guests of honour at Bridgestone’s Tachbrook Park home and welcomed back up to 150 members of staff to the building.

It is home to the organisation’s sales and back-office support teams and will now house the Webfleet Solutions team, who have moved out of their previous London location to be even closer to their Bridgestone colleagues.

Bridgestone’s north region Vice president Andrea Manenti said: “It was a huge honour to welcome Adam and Charlotte to our offices and officially reopen them for our colleagues.

“The investment in our Warwick headquarters is so much more than an office refurbishment, but a commitment to our employees, our partners and the community.”

CitySprint names Make-a-Wish UK as key charity partner

CitySprint has named the Make-a-Wish UK Foundation as their key charity partner for 2023. 

Make-A-Wish was set up to give children with critical and life-limiting conditions the chance to choose a wish that’s unique to them. The charity then comes together with the child’s family, volunteers and supporting organisations to make that wish come true.

The announcement was made at CitySprint’s operations and sales conferences earlier this month, during which they held an auction and raffle to kick-start the fundraising – with a total of £6,300 raised by employees on the night.

Over the course of the rest of the year, CitySprint staff across the UK will be supporting Make-A-Wish UK through local and national fundraising initiatives, getting involved with making wishes come true and raising awareness of the charity amongst the business and its clients.

Mark Footman, chief operating officer at CitySprint, said: “Supporting and giving back to our local communities is incredibly important to us at CitySprint.

“We are honoured to be partnering with the Make-a-Wish UK Foundation and supporting them in their mission to bring happiness and magical memories to life for children with critical illnesses, by making their wishes come true in the year ahead.”