The fleet industry must be progressive and train the next generation of leaders or it will be ‘all over’, like the collapsed Blockbuster video rental chain.

That was the warning from Paul Hollick (pictured), chairman of training body ICFM, who was speaking at the recent Fleet200 Executive Club meeting.

Showing an image of the last Blockbuster store in America which, said Hollick, has “become a bit of a museum” with people going to remember what it was like “in the old days” when they had the hassle of renting a video rather than streaming a film online, he explained how “things are moving really quickly in life”.

“What I don’t want is the fleet industry to be like Blockbuster and it's got the potential to be,” Hollick said. “And therefore we need to act now and be progressive and train the next generation to make sure we are at the forefront of everything that is happening around mobility, legislation, the economy and everything else. Otherwise it's going to be all over.”

He said that the skills required are changing in the fleet industry and future leaders will need to be curious, creative, imaginative and, above all, strategic.

He urged Fleet200 members to put anyone within their fleet team who is new to fleet through the ICFM’s training courses so they could “start to deeply understand the topic”.

“The talent that you are nurturing will be your successors and will help shape the future industry in 10, 15 years so please get behind them and support them and support us,” he said. 

MORE: To get a copy of Hollick's slides email jeremy.bennett@bauermedia.co.uk

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The Fleet200 Executive Club

The Fleet200 Executive Club is a group of the most influential fleets operating in the UK.

It produces research on key fleet trends and holds events which bring together the UK’s most professional fleet decision makers to debate the issues of importance to their businesses, share ideas on new initiatives and industry developments, and hear from outstanding, thought-provoking speakers.

Included in this special Fleet200 section are the key points shared at the Executive Club meetings.

The next meeting is on November 21 at the Mini Plant, Oxford.

If you're a fleet decision maker interested in joining the club, email kate.howard@bauermedia.co.uk. Membership is free.