Member Blog

For most business owners, one of the most important things they need to do is secure finance for their company. Whether you are only just starting out, and you need money to open your business or you require funds to take your business to the next level, perhaps with a new department or product, getting the right business finance in Norfolk is of paramount importance. Keeping that in mind, we have put together this handy guide to reveal everything that you need to know.

When it comes to securing business finance in Norfolk, you do have several different options at your disposal. This includes your savings, business grants, borrowing from friends and family, business finance from the bank and lending money from finance companies. If you have landed on this page, then it is highly likely that you have already exhausted a couple of these options.

If you are seeking financial help, you probably do not have the savings available to assist your business, and it is likely that there are no friends or family members that are in a position to help you. There are also a lot of people who do not feel comfortable lending such huge sums of money from people close to them, and thus this idea may not appeal to you anyway,

So, that leaves you with business grants, finance from the bank and loans from finance companies. In regards to the former, business grants are, of course, extremely beneficial, as you do not need to pay the money back. However, as you can imagine, it is not easy to get a business grant. Therefore, while there is no harm in trying, you certainly should not pin your hopes on this.

This leaves the two most realistic options – lending from a bank and lending from a finance company. Most business owners will agree that it is better to go for the latter option. Why? Well, banks often charge higher rates of interest, and it can be difficult and time-consuming to get the finance you need. You will also probably have to compromise on a few aspects. However, with a finance company, you will be able to secure business finance in Norfolk that is completely suited to you and your business’s needs.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of the options that are available to you in terms ofbusiness finance in Norfolk. You can’t go wrong if you choose a professional lending company.

Obtaining your forklift licence is the ultimate aim for you if you are looking to further your career within this industry. It is the mark of someone who can not only drive a forklift but drive it securely, efficiently and in a professional manner.

At Shield Health & Safety we offer a complete beginners forklift course for those with no knowledge or experience of driving a forklift whatsoever, to help you I am going to share a few tips on how to go about obtaining your forklift licence.

The Importance of your Forklift Licence

Before you even begin the training it is good to get an understanding of the importance of having professional training to get your forklift certificate and how this is valued by an employer or company.

A forklift operator is an important cog in a company`s wheel, employers like to feel confident that their forklift operators are not only qualified but skilled and confident in their own ability too. At the end of the day if you have an accident you will not only be damaging the company`s equipment or products but also their reputation too. Of course, there is also the risk of injury to yourself and others and even the possibility of the loss of life.

Therefore it is important to understand the importance of how you gain your forklift licence and with the correct training will give you the ability, skill and confidence to further your career.

It is not easy!

Be under no illusion, gaining your forklift licence is not easy, even with the best training in the world!

The preparation and the exam itself are both difficult and require full concentration from you as well as 100% commitment. With these two factors in your mindset you will be giving yourself the best possible chance of passing your examination with flying colours.

Our training instructors are there to help you and will try to ease you through the course and take on and overcome any challenges and obstacles you may have or face, you will have all the tools and knowledge you need to help you pass your examination, but of course you will still need that concentration and commitment!

The training itself

What your training will cover is very important and through the level of expertise and understanding of our trainers we aim to make the training an easier and enjoyable experience.

The main areas that we focus on are:

1. Safety – It goes without saying, forklift safety is paramount, they can be dangerous tools in a working environment and can potentially injure or even kill somebody. Our experienced trainers will enable you to learn all the health and safety aspects and regulations from the very beginning.

2. The Basics – Learning how to use the basic controls of the forklift and how to carry out all the basic manoeuvres and functions is obviously an important factor in passing your training. Our experienced trainers will not only show you the basics but also pass on various tips and tricks to enable you to get the very best out of your training.

3. Efficiency – The third step is putting all of these factors together, put them into practice to help you become quicker and more efficient in the use of a forklift while at the same time remaining safe at all times. You will be expected to complete all the basic tasks in a timely, efficient and safe manner.

These 3 steps are taught by our trainers, all of whom are ex-forklift drivers, and their ability and experience will show you just what a future employer will expect from you from day one.

At Shield we not only train you for your examination but we prepare you for your future and a role in the workplace.

If you would like more information about our Forklift Training Courses please give us a call on 01508 218721 or contact us via e-mail.

For more advice, information and tips you can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and our website

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has recently published a consultation document entitled “Improving Large Business tax Compliance”. Although, as the title suggests, the document is aimed at larger businesses, its content is of relevance to any business that wishes to manage effectively its relationship with HMRC.

The document puts forward three proposals:

• A requirement for large businesses to publish their tax strategy;
• A voluntary ‘Code of Practice on Taxation for Large Business’; and
• A targeted ‘Special Measures’ regime to tackle a small number of large businesses that persistently undertake aggressive tax planning or refuse to engage with HMRC in an open and collaborative manner.

It is the first two of these that are of wider interest.

A recent piece of independent research conducted for HMRC found that businesses with a greater tendency to take risks tended not to have written or published strategies. Those business that do articulate their strategies can be separated into two groups; those striving to be compliant and legal only (higher risk), and those committed to operating within the spirit as well as the letter of the law.

It is not surprising, therefore, that HMRC is keen for large businesses to make their tax strategies visible. Tax strategies that are terse or focus on ensuring that the business pays no more tax than is legally required might indicate higher risk organisations, which would be subject to increased scrutiny by HMRC.

But it is not just HMRC that will have an interest in a business’ tax strategy. In the current “tax climate” customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders will wish to know where the business stands in relation to its tax obligations.

A tax strategy document would usually provide a high-level commentary on the organisation’s approach to risk management, its attitude to tax planning (eg whether the business will operate within both the spirit and the letter of the law) and its approach to working with HMRC.

The tax strategy might also say whether the business will comply with HMRC’s proposed Code of Practice on Taxation. Broadly, this would require businesses to work in a collaborative and professional manner with HMRC, be open and transparent with HMRC as regards decisions that have a significant tax impact, and avoid structures that give a tax result that’s inconsistent with the underlying economic circumstances.

All businesses will have a tax strategy, although in many cases it will not be documented. Those businesses that see paying tax as a moral duty – perhaps part of their corporate social responsibility – are perhaps more likely to wish to publicise their policies. It should not be forgotten that Tax Inspectors have access to the internet, and so publishing tax policies on the business’ website could even have the benefit of heading-off unnecessary compliance checks or enquiries by HMRC.

Historically, businesses that want to be left alone by HMRC have tended to keep as quiet as possible. In future it might instead be in their interest to become a bit more visible.

P272 & P322 – Although sounding like the latest droids from the new Star Wars Film, they are in fact the latest energy industry rule changes supported by OFGEM.

They are a little confusing & do have some cost implications, but there is a silver lining.

P272 affects any organisation with a metering profile of 05, 06, 07 and 08. You can find this out by looking at the first two digits of your S Number this can be found on your latest bill.

There are an estimated 160,000 meters across the UK that will be affected by this regulation, 92 out of our 500ish clients have meters that fall under this regulation so it is possible.

If you would like to know a little more, we have produced this guide Peck Here

As a member of the Norfolk Chamber, we would be more than happy to check any bills that are sent to us, to let you know if you will be affected.

Why are you complaining about me?Because we’re at work and you’re damn hot!

Thank you for the nice comment, after all I am your closest star and you Brits very rarely see me!

Yes and we love you, but why are you making it so hot for us when we’re at work, can you not just come out at weekends or when we’re at the seaside, or better still on bank holidays?

That’s nature I’m afraid, you just never know when I’ll appear! Boom here I am 30oC in the shade.Yeah and 35oC in the office!

The issue you have in the UK is that your buildings are not suited to hot weather, your houses rarely have air conditioning fitted and offices that do have air con, are never suitable at the right time.

So what is the legal temperature to work in?

Over to my friend, the safety guy!

Thanks Sun… (Wow that’s weird)… Well frankly there isn’t one for our workplaces, but the temperature should provide reasonable comfort without the need for specific protective clothing.

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992, Regulation 7 states, ‘During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.’

Typical, it’s never specific is it!

Well that’s a good thing too, it means that your employer has to interpret what he sees as suitable for the workplace, the processes and the people within it. If you had set temperatures it means you’ll be closing all your buildings and sending people home all the time, however by indicating reasonable, it means adjustments can be made to ensure that you remain productive.

Well that kind of makes sense, but what is reasonable, are there any examples?

How the Regulation is implemented depends on the nature of the working environment i.e. is it a cold store, bakery, factory with heat generating processes, office or warehouse?

The temperature at work should provide reasonable comfort without the need for special clothing. Where such a temperature is impractical because of hot weather, all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a temperature which is as close as possible to comfortable.

So it may mean sending out young Joe to get some fans or Naiomi may want to fetch ice creams. You could implement a dress down policy, provide extra breaks, rotate job processes so workers can take a break from hot processes, implement physical barriers from radiation (blinds). Whatever the methods you choose it should help maintain a comfortable workplace to be in. Obviously there may be days when it’s too hot, so you have no choice but to send people home to work.

Workplace thermal comfort should be risk assessed when more than 10% of your people (in offices) complain about the temperature. Your assessment will allow you to consider control measures to put in place.

You mentioned clothing, which makes sense to dress down, but my question is about footwear? Can we wear flip flops?

That will depend on your company policy, but you must consider the workplace and the hazards associated. I probably don’t have to tell you that a construction site is far more dangerous than a quiet office, but consider;

• The likelihood of items dropping on feet when carrying things
• Contact with plant and machinery (stubbed toes)
• Floor surfaces and whether they are smooth and slip resistant
• Any hygiene issues with open shoes
• Prohibiting wearing of ‘flimsy’ shoes in areas of greater risk
• Barefoot is probably a step too far in all workplaces (not illegal but is it reasonable?).

Do I have to provide air conditioning?

No not really, but you may wish to invest in it if you feel your production rates are dramatically affected by the weather, but that’s a management decision not legislative. Also following a risk assessment where people may be showing symptoms of heat stress it may be reasonably practicable to invest in it.

Will a thermometer help?

Yes it can but it won’t give a true reflection of thermal comfort for everyone and so you can consider the following:

• Increase air movement – stagnant air can make us feel stuffy, whereas moving the air artificially or naturally (by opening windows to create a through draft) can help reduce the temperature
• Reduce humidity – the moisture of air can affect the amount we sweat, sweating is the body’s natural way of keeping cool, the moisture on our skin cools when air passes over it
• Reduce radiant heat – heat generated from warm objects (machinery, glazing) can be considered.

During periods of hot weather, the obvious solution to a warm office is to switch on the air conditioning however, as with many employers, if you don’t have this then what options do you have?

There are a number of things you can do to make the working environment comfortable:

• Protect windows with blinds to block out sunlight and radiant heat and reduce glare on computer screens
• Provide employees with fans or portable air conditioning units
• Access to drinking water or supply additional refreshments
• Alternate work and provide longer rest periods in cool areas
• If possible, heavy work should be scheduled during the cooler parts of the day
• Consider implementing a summer dress code for particularly hot periods
• If natural light is sufficient, consider turning off lighting to reduce heat from florescent bulbs.

What about my workers outside?

You have a legal duty to ensure that the working environment is safe and to assess the risks of working in the sun. Educate and inform employees about the health implications that the sun can have and the importance of appropriately protecting and checking their skin for signs of change.

• Choose the right protective equipment and skin care products to include sun protection advice in routine health and safety training
• Consider scheduling work to minimise exposure during the hottest times of the day
• Encourage workers to wear clothes that protect their skin, wear a hat and use sunscreen
• Ensure and encourage sufficient access to water and rest areas in the shade
• Encourage workers to check their skin for unusual spots or moles that change size, shape or colour and seek medical advice if they find anything.

Don’t forget to consider those employees who are vulnerable, such as; pregnant women and those with medical conditions who can be affected by heat.

For more information on the working environment visit here.

Article by QDOS Consulting

Best use for aerial video for business

The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS), Quad-copter or drones as the popular press like to call them, have become notorious over recent years. Some of this notoriety is well found. Where they have earned a bad reputation is in part because they have become so accessible, people are flying them without the necessary experience in places where to be honest its dangerous to the public to fly these drones. It may also be illegal is some cases. So… there’s no real need to expand on the negative press about them, its well known and well documented.

Make a significant difference to the production values of as business film

As a professional business film maker, (www.aboutmybusinessvideo.co.uk ) however and to you the business owner, having the facility to use video and images filmed by a Phantom 3, Inspire 1 or any other drone for that matter, can make a significant difference to the production values of a business film. It also enables you to show and demonstrate aspects of your product or business that would not have been possible without aerial video. So when it’s available why not?

Increase property sales

There are some very unusual uses of drones on YouTube, which does make fascinating viewing. Many of these are around delivery of product, often food or mail. Even Amazon are suggesting they will be using drones soon.

However I believe the real value of using a drone is where the video camera is used to best effect. One use that you may have seen is to increase property sales.

Agents or vendors can use drones to shoot aerial stills of properties to show unusual angles or to use video to show the extent of grounds and facilities. I was recently contacted on Linked In… in response to a question I asked about how businesses are using video. A lady who I had worked with many years ago contacted me to tell me… as a property agent… they had used video to market property and had sold property to prospects who had only seen the video and not visited. A big advantage when you are looking for property from the other side of the world. Here is an example of a property agent sold on the idea https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEBzr5CiY8s#t=25

Smooth Internal shots show how living in a property might work for you

Internal shots of property can be taken using similar technology. The reason drone videos look so smooth is because the video camera is set on a gimbal which keeps the camera level, no matter what the attitude of the aircraft. For internal shots we a use a hand held 3 axis gimbal with a extremely hi resolution camera (4K) for internal smooth shots… to show how living in a property might work for a prospect… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgiD0k342C8

Farmers Are Using Drones Out in the fields

Other boom areas for drone usage are security, survey and agriculture. Farmers and their consultants are using drones to take a closer look out in the fields and saving lots of money by doing so.

It might be that aerial footage is the best way to shoot a cinematic introduction to your video depending upon your business and situation. I am current making a film for a school with a rural situation and I plan to do just that.

Let us know how you want to use Video for your business

If you have any interesting uses for unmanned aerial systems or drones please let us know… as a business filmmaker I’m always on the look out for new and innovative ways to get cinematic shots.

Michael Brook

About My Business Video Company

The Business Video Specialists

Michael@ambv.co.uk

07977493774

Are you of the opinion energy costs go up a lot quicker than they stay down? Many are…and following an investigation by the independent Competition and Markets Authority these general feelings have been validated.

A full market review by the body has confirmed that between 2009 and 2013 householders and Small and Medium (SME) customers were left significantly out of pocket. Households paid £1.2bn more than they needed each year, and businesses were overcharged £0.5bn a year.

The electricity and gas regulator Ofgem referred the energy sector as a whole to the Competition and Markets Authority in June 2014.

The reason for this referral was that Ofgem’s own market assessment found evidence of practices in the market that prevented, restricted or distorted competition.

The Competition and Markets Authority subsequently carried out an investigation and issued its initial findings on 7 July 2015.

There have been well-documented, rapid increases in household prices in recent years, and a perception among the general public that prices and supplier profits were too high.

Most of the increases are a result of infrastructure charges for the networks, and the cost of supporting environmental subsidies.

Over the last 10 years, electricity prices have risen by 75% and gas prices by 125%.

Households on Standard Variable Tariffs were identified as being most at risk of paying higher charges because they are disengaged from the market.

In some instances customers on these tariffs are paying 10% more than they need to for electricity, and 13% for gas. Despite costing more, around 70% of Big Six customers remain on these types of tariff.

SMEs and microbusinesses were found to be also at risk of “considerable variation” in the rates available to them.

If these customers are “rolled over” after the end of a contract, new electricity rates have been 29% to 36% higher and gas rates have been 25% to 28% above the previous rates.

The Competition and Markets Authority said there was a lack of transparency around tariffs for these types of customers, and the average prices available are “substantially above the levels we expect to see in a well-functioning market”.

While there has been evidence of overcharging, profit margins among the largest suppliers still remain fairly small.

Their margins on household electricity averaged 2.1%, while gas margins were higher at 4.4%. Average profit margins on business from large Industrial and Commercial customers were 2%, but profit margins on SME supplies were much higher – at 10% on gas and 8% on electricity.

Several suggestions for improving competition in the market were put forward, including:

• Removing the auto-rollover of microbusinesses onto contracts that prevent easy switching to alternative suppliers
• Introducing a “transitional safeguard regulated tariff” that would be available to disengaged households and microbusinesses
• Having Ofgem oversee an independent price comparison website
• Changing the rules on the information that Third Party Intermediaries have to provide microbusinesses

The final recommendations are expected by the end of 2015; the Government has pledged to implement all recommendations in full.

In short: make sure your business avoids “out of contract” rates, submits termination notices in time to avoid being rolled into these less preferential terms.

The more research you do on suppliers and the tariffs they offer and what your own requirements are, the more informed a decision you will be able to make about your energy.

Do you sometimes click on a tempting headline only to be disappointed by what you read? How often do you find yourself thinking “so what” at the end of a blog? Worse still,  do you find yourself thinking “this is just another sales pitch” when you get to the *artless plug* for the product or service? [Warning – watch out for the artless plug a bit further on.]

If that’s your experience of business articles and blogs, you are not alone. Although the term ‘clickbait’ only entered the Oxford dictionary in 2014, it already annoys millions of web users worldwide. Too many companies churn out low grade content that fails to deliver interesting, useful or relevant information for the reader. But why?

Many do it in the (often futile) hope of converting some hapless reader into a loyal customer. Perhaps some think they’ll become blogging superstars with millions of followers and invitations to glamorous parties, if they can only “produce enough stuff.” Most are simply wasting their reader’s time, damaging their brand and burning a valuable chunk of their marketing budget.

The question is: how do you avoid the same problem with your business blog? How do you write ‘stuff’ that people will enjoy reading? And how does this activity fit with the rest of your marketing communications?

*Artless plug* alert!

If you’ve read this far, you might like to sign up for my Norfolk Chamber workshop called “Engaging Writing for Business” – click here for more details on what to expect.

Meanwhile, back to this post…

What’s the point of blogging?

Blogging can be a great way to build your brand authority and, in time, encourage people to do business with you. But a huge number of blogs go live every day. Here are just some of the startling stats for WordPress blogs alone (there are other content management systems).

Around 70 million sites worldwide use WordPress, making it the most popular blogging platform. These sites (in over 120 languages) produce around 53 million news posts – every month. Yet WordPress only accounts for 23% of the top 10 million websites (by visitor traffic).

That’s the publishing side of the equation but figures on the audience side are even more startling. According to WordPress, around 409 million people view in the region of 19 BILLION pages every month. We are drowning in a sea of ‘information’ – and much of it appears to be of little real value.

So how do you cut through? What makes you different?

Blogging is not your business…

HubSpot is a marketing and sales software site used by some 15,000 companies in over 90 countries. It employs around 785 people, including a large team of writers whose sole job is to research and write (and rewrite) in the region of 200 blog posts every month. Unless you have those sorts of resources, you cannot compete on that quantity of output.

But here’s the thing. HubSpot admits that over 46% of their blog leads come from just 30 posts – in other words, just 0.5% of their 6,000 published blogs generate most of their leads. So could you produce 20-30 really good posts in, say, the next two years, that might compete on quality?

Possibly – but remember, HubSpot uses professional writers. While you are a professional, your skill probably lies in managing your business. If you are like most people, including many professional writers, you’ll find writing hard work – but, unlike most professional writers, you have other work to do too.

So what hope is there? Plenty – if you focus on your audience.

…Your business can be a source of engaging blogs. 

Far too many people get hung up on the mechanics of blogging. They worry about their keyword density and whether their blog is optimised for SEO. They fret about their data capture and which analytics to use, or whether to split infinitives and how to format info-graphics.

They constantly ask: “when is the best time to post?” “How do I get more followers?” And: “Should I guest blog on LinkedIn or stick to my own site?” But, all too often, they forget to ask the fundamental questions: who are you writing for, what are you going to say, why will they listen?

Remember: you have something Hubspot doesn’t have. In fact you have something that no other blogger in the world has. You have YOU.

It might seem obvious but you are an individual – and so is everyone who works with you. You have your own way of thinking and talking – and your own perspective on business. If you (or whoever writes your blogs) can capture this, you have the chance to communicate with an authentic ‘voice.’

Finding your voice – and your brand’s voice – is half the battle to writing stories that people will want to read. With a distinct voice you can create a blog with something far more important than catchy headlines: you can create a blog with personality. People buy people – so give your readers a sense of the people and the passion behind your brand.

Only start a conversation when you know what you want to say.

This is probably one of the best bits of advice you can heed in life – but particularly in blogging. Too many companies start blogs with no clear idea about the fit with their overall marketing communications. “Everyone has a blog,so we must have one” says the MD, as they send their marketing team rushing off to produce a blog.

The marketing team then spends a lot of time and money telling customers about their blog. Yet the customers, poor souls, invariably remain baffled about the value this blog is supposed to have in their busy lives.

Make it easy for your readers: have a clear sense of purpose. Then ask yourself (in all honesty) why would I read this blog – what makes it worth my time? If you can’t answer truthfully and convincingly, then you need to think harder about what you are trying to achieve.

What’s your purpose?

Here are six things to help you identify your purpose before you start blogging (whether on your own site or elsewhere).

The six honest servants of communications (after Rudyard Kipling)

1. Who are you writing for? Do you really know your customers?

2. What will you say? What unique perspective can you bring to the subject?

3. Why will they listen? Are you telling them something relevant, useful, interesting or inspiring?

4. Where will you connect with them? What’s the best platform to use?

5. How do you want them to respond? Do you want them to follow, share, buy, ask a question, or simply gain a better understanding of your brand?

6. When do you need them to act? Now, today, or at some specific future event?

If you enjoyed this blog and want to find out more…

…Join me for my Engaging Business Writing workshop. Better Business Blogging sessions. You’ll get the chance to ask specific questions about your business and the blogging challenges you face – as well as learning from other participants. Let’s start exploring ways you can use blogs to add value to your business relationships.

When the economic climate is tough it can often be events or activities that help promote well-being at work that are the first to be deleted from the budget. Evidence from recent studies conducted by New Economics Foundation, the UK’s leading think tank promoting social, economic and environmental justice, show that people who achieve good standards of well-being at work are likely to be more creative, more loyal, more productive and provide better customer satisfaction than those with poor levels of well-being at work. From the individual’s perspective well-being may be all about maintaining a good work/life balance or healthy lifestyle. The same could also be said from the company point of view although, clearly, such companies would also wish to see outcomes from any well-being activities they support financially to have outcomes that are relevant to the workplace.

So are such cost savings a false economy or a worthwhile measure?As the much circulated ‘conversation’ goes:

CFO asks CEO “What happens if we invest in developing our people and then they leave us?

CEO “What happens if we don’t and they stay?”

Replace the word ‘people’ with ‘teams’ and the message remains the same. Almost always it is the team effort (or lack of) that determines whether a project is deemed a success (or not). Whilst a good leader can inspire, if the team are under-motivated or not joined-up then the task still remains enormous.

Team building does not need to be expensive or over complicated. But it does need to be relevant to the workplace. It also needs to be suitable for all abilities (both in the work place and physical sense). In organisations where the work force age spread may range from the teenager through to the near-retiree finding the right balance is important. Ultimately, whatever team building format you select it must be both engaging and inspiring but, perhaps, more importantly, work!

Since April additional charges have been introduced to all electricity supplies.

These charges, along with other government policies, are part of the Electricity Market Reform (EMR). These additional charges are to help raise the £110bn worth of investment that is needed over the next 10 years to make sure we can all put the kettle on after the News and to meet carbon reduction targets as a nation.

Unfortunatley, this legislation affects all electricity consumers. Controlling the amount of energy you use will help reduce the costs & when you are renewing your electricity supply contracts ensure you understand how these costs are included in the prices you are quoted.

We have prepared a little guide to give you a better understanding of the EMR in under 5 mins.

Peck Here

For many small businesses considering fleet management, buying vehicles may seem the best plan of action. However, when using your own vehicles – maintenance, repairs and associated costs lie solely in the hands of the business owner. The business also has total responsibility for the acquisition and disposal of vehicles – diverting cash flow from critical areas of business management.

Many businesses purchase used vehicles to cut down on expenses, but this approach is costing SMEs significantly down the line. Almost half (45%) of the total GHG emissions from road transport in the EU comes from company fleets, which is the result of the sector’s reliance on fuel inefficient vehicles. While leading to poor fuel management, used vehicles are also more prone to breakdowns and fleet downtime, resulting in costly repairs. As highlighted in LowCVP’s report, by choosing the right fleet vehicle, businesses can save up to £18,000 throughout the vehicle’s lifetime.

The cost of vehicle maintenance and downtime is costing businesses thousands. According to research from RAC Business, having vehicles off the road is costing UK SMEs up to £500 a day, equating to hours of fleet downtime – time which no business can afford to sacrifice.

Worryingly, many are unaware of the costs associated with vehicle ownership:

“Our research reveals that many of the UK’s small businesses are seriously miscalculating the true cost of maintaining their fleets, large or small, and in most cases spending far more than is necessary.” Alan Maloney of Ford Retail.

As businesses struggle to budget for the costs of big fleet management, fleet hire offers greater business agility, financial control and flexibility.

Summarised by The Why Buy? Report: “for most businesses, commercial vehicle rental would be more cost effective than purchasing”.

Keeping your vehicles on the road

Vehicle maintenance and repairs is often the most costly area of fleet management. Surprisingly, tyre problems are to blame for 21% of all breakdowns. Simple, easy to fix issues such as under inflated tyres are regularly going undetected by businesses, causing mounting problems further down the road.

When your fleet vehicles aren’t serviced properly, further problems can occur – increasing the downtime of your fleet and inevitably the cost to your business.

Most fleet leasing services include a dedicated maintenance plan as standard and we personally operate a ‘keep you on the road’ philosophy. Our team of dedicated specialists are on hand 24/7, 365 days a year to offer your business quick and effective breakdown and repair services, keeping downtime to a minimum.

Flexibility

A common misconception about vehicle leasing is that flexibility is limited. However, with a leasing company like Burnt Tree, a number of flexible rental terms are available to suit your business needs, meaning you are never tied into lengthy un-breakable contracts. You can also return vehicles or exchange for the latest models without any penalties or additional costs.

Our flexible leasing allows businesses to financially plan ahead, without the fear of unplanned maintenance bills – cutting down on one of the largest areas of business spending. When using leased vehicles exclusively for business, you can also claim back 100% of the VAT, while lease payments are tax deductible.

With over 30 years’ experience working with small businesses, we appreciate that no two businesses are the same and each require specific needs catered to their business model, goals and budget. For more information on how our bespoke fleet management services can help you save money, contact us

Fleet compliance is not only required by the law, but it is also vital for ensuring the safety of your drivers. Among fleet drivers, accident rates far exceed the national average, with commercial vehicles accounting for nearly one in five road deaths according to road safety charity Brake.

A study by IAM Drive & Survive surveyed 100 businesses and found that almost nine out of ten fleets had experienced an accident in the past 12 months. More worryingly, half of the drivers surveyed said that they hadn’t received any follow-up training after an incident, increasing the risk of an accident happening again in the future. Shockingly, every participant in the study admitted that they had been in an accident that was their fault – highlighting the need for effective accident management.

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 highlights your responsibility as an employer, stating: “you must ensure, so far as reasonably practicable, the health and safety of all employees while at work. You must also ensure that others are not put at risk by your work-related driving activities.”

Managing fleet compliance is solely in the hands of you and your business, as well as any costs or injuries occurred from accidents – making the enforcement of accident management essential.

Ensure the wellbeing of drivers

In fleet culture, long hours place drivers in jeopardy of fatigue. Loss of concentration, irritability and a decrease in vigilance increases the risk of accidents, with fatigue contributing to 20% of fatal collisions. It is impossible to monitor how much sleep and rest your drivers receive, which is why safe driving training is a vital aspect of fleet compliance management, highlighting the dangers of fatigue to your fleet.

As discussed by The Health and Safety Executive, employers have a legal duty to assess the risks to the health and safety of employees and offer training and instructions for effective accident management. This includes dealing with issues associated with over-working, as well as other factors that impact the health of drivers such as alcohol and substance misuse.

Is your fleet breaking the law?

When it comes to the rules of the road, Brake charity’s report highlights how 49% of motorists admit to breaking traffic laws. This may be a result of the declining number of active police patrols, with 23% of drivers breaking the law “because they think they can get away with it”. Fleet drivers may be tempted to adopt this mentality when working against the clock to make deliveries, risking speed violations in attempt to meet tight deadlines.

It is possible that your drivers are breaking the law without even realising. Aesthetically similar vehicles can have different legal speed limits due to their classification as car derived vehicles. Likewise, the recent revisions to HGV speed limits highlights the need for an up to date knowledge and clear grasp of your vehicles legal requirements and restrictions.

Vehicle telematics technology enables you to effectively monitor your fleet and access real-time data – ensuring fleet compliance with duty of care and road transport regulations.

Compliance with the DVSA

For fleet vehicles to be legally roadworthy, they must pass the yearly Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency compliance check. While the past few years have highlighted a downward trend in prohibitions and serious offences, brake systems are still flagging red lights, accounting for up to 10% of HGV prohibitions.

Brake disk fractures and excessive brake actuator travel are common offenders, yet these defects can be avoided by efficient management and quality checks before the parts reach critical levels of damage. When using your own vehicles, it is the responsibility of the business owner to ensure fleet compliance management and maintenance, as well as associated costs for offending vehicles.

With our leased vehicles, we take care of every aspect of servicing and maintenance, with MOTs and regular servicing at manufacture recommended intervals to ensure your vehicles are always compliant with regulations. On the small chance that your fleet experiences a problem, our ‘keep you on road’ philosophy ensures that your vehicles are never off the road for long, minimising downtime as much as possible.