SMS nominated for Energy Saving Trust’s ‘Fleet of the Year’ Award

SMS Plc is delighted to announce its nomination for the Energy Saving Trust’s Fleet of the Year Award 2019.

The Energy Saving Trust’s Fleet Heroes Awards & Conference is a flagship event that celebrates organisations who are delivering a cleaner and more efficient future for transport across the UK. It brings together transport experts, business and government to discuss fleet sustainability and innovation, ultra-low emission vehicles and air quality.

SMS has been nominated for the Fleet of the Year Award, which is recognition for the measures we have taken to improve the sustainability and energy-efficient performance of our fleet over the past 12 months, as well as the company’s plans for the future.

Measures include replacing older vehicles with newer, more energy-efficient and lower carbon-emitting models, improved monitoring of driving practice, and use of more efficient fuels. This year, SMS also began introducing electric vehicles and hybrids to its fleet with the intention of increasing this significantly in 2020.

These improvements have contributed to an indicative reduction in SMS vehicle emissions by 33% in 2019 – a significant achievement considering that fleet contributes 90% of the Group’s overall energy consumption.

The Fleet of the Year Award will be contested between SMS Plc, the UK Environment Agency (Defra Group Fleet Services) and Galliford Try.

Tim Anderson, Head of Transport at the Energy Saving Trust said: “Now in its fourteenth year, Fleet Heroes celebrates the best sustainable practices across the transport industry and the achievements of businesses, organisations and local authorities implementing them in the journey towards zero emissions. An exceptional shortlist of finalists from the length and breadth of the UK have been selected by our panel of independent judges, making the unveiling of the winners on awards night a truly inspirational one!”

Poppy Welch, head of the joint government and industry campaign Go Ultra Low, said: “Fleets have always been drivers of change when it comes to the implementation of new technologies, and the shift towards zero emission transport is just one such example. The companies shortlisted for a Fleet Heroes Award are demonstrating that introducing electric vehicles across their fleets can save businesses significant amounts of money, as well as helping build their organisation’s green credentials. We wish all of the finalists the best of luck on the night.”

The Fleet Heroes Awards & Conference takes place on Thursday 28 November at the National Gallery, Trafalgar Square in central London and is delivered in partnership with the Department for Transport.