HERCULES MK2 - VERSATILITY AT ITS BEST

GLOBETROTTING FOR BRIT EUROPEAN!!!!

Our Managing Director, Graham Lackey. is having quite a busy year! Not only on a business front but also on a personal front. Let me deal with the business front first.

As you are probably aware Graham has been heavily involved in promoting the Dual Fuel concept for our distribution fleet. He has been a keynote speaker at a number of events over the past couple of months and is in fact speaking at a few more during the next few months. What is striking though is the amount of miles Graham will be travelling before the end of the year. So to give you some idea of how far he travels on behalf of Brit European here is Graham's travel itinerary for the next 2 months:

Belgium
China
Belgium
Netherlands
Hungary
Netherlands
Belgium

Then to top off all of this travelling in December he is getting married to the very lovely Hayley and will be jetting off to another far and distant country for his honeymoon! Phew!!!

DUAL FUEL TECHNOLOGY

DUAL FUEL TECHNOLOGY

ANOTHER MUD RUN WINNER!!

We have yet another Brit European JCB Mud Run runner! The very lovely Nina Jackson completed the course, got very muddy and agreed that all the training and hard work was worth the effort. The picture below shows Nina at the finish line. Well done.

  

JCB MUD RUN

One of our biggest customers, JCB, held their annual MUD RUN on Saturday 29th June 2013 on some land close to their World Headquarters. They raised approximately £40,0000 for charity which is no mean feat!! Brit European had (I think) 3 runners competing in the Mud Run and here are two of them at the finish line. Tom and Martin both work on the Top Yard at Rocester. Well done to you two!

MORE PICCIES OF BARTON UNITED LIONS FC

BARTON UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB

Brit European is proud to sponsor the Barton United Lions Under 10's Junior Football Team and we are glad that we do because they have won a trophy in their first season of sponsorship!

Managed very ably by Jamie Shipstone, the team play extremely attractive football and entertain the crowds wherever they go!

This is the team:

Goalkeeper - Jak 'Rock Solid' Eden

Defender - Callum 'The Thunderbolt' Telfer
Defender - Oliver 'They will not pass' Turner
Defender - Andy 'Slide tackle' Jamieson
Defender/Midfield - Joe 'The Tornado' Potter
Midfield - Joshua 'The Silent Assassin' Softley
Midfield - Alfie 'The Terminator' Shipstone
Striker - Jake 'The Real Suarez' Birkitt
Striker - George 'The Hot Shot' Wells 

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW 2013

Well that's the Commercial Vehicle Show over for another 12 months! According to the Show organizers visitor numbers were up by 12% on the previous year. For our part we had a very busy Tuesday and Wednesday with lots of visitors to both the Hall 4 stand and to our Outside Display Area. My thanks go to Rob Wardle and Alan Slattery for their invaluable assistance in getting the vehicles in place and to Richard Dutton for his tireless devotion to duty and all the unsung hero's who made sure we got there on time!!

Please see below for a range of photos taken of our stand and visitors. Here's to the next years show!

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW 2013

Six days to go and we are nearly there!! Events are hotting up to the point where we don't know if we are coming or going!! Vehicles to be collected, vehicles to be delivered, time slots to be adhered to, more photo's to be taken.......it's all in a game!!

Watch this space for the next installment.

 

DUAL FUEL FLEET

We have recently taken delivery of the first batch of dual fuel tractor units which will be working on the JCB contract. I have taken some photographs of these first 3 units and these are shown below. Let me know what you think. My thanks, as usual, goes to Rob Wardle, Alan Slattery and some other guy who I have never seen before!

Between us we managed to get approximately 300 shots some of which will be used on our stand at the Commercial Vehicle Show whilst some will be in various publications throughout the remainder of the year.

 

MICROLISE TRANSPORT CONFERENCE

The Microlise Transport Conference is here again and our Managing Director, Graham Lackey is one of the keynote speakers.

The conference is a great opportunity to:

• Stay informed of industry developments and gauge the opinions of governing bodies
• Find out how other fleet operators reduce their operating costs and improve their service levels
• Hear about companies that have improved health and safety, reduced accident rates and reduced their impact on the environment

Click on the link shown below for a more detailed insight into one of the regions best known conferences.

http://microliseconference.com

DAVE WARDLE

It is with a great deal of sadness and a heavy heart that I write to announce the passing of one of our dear colleagues, Dave Wardle.

Dave had been suffering from cancer for a few months and although he battled on bravely he sadly passed away on Sunday 10th February 2013 aged 57 years.

Dave was well known within Brit European for his sharp and sometimes cutting sense of humor.  'A great bloke' was how he was always being described and he always seemed to have the time to offer his worldly advice.

He was a much loved Husband, Dad, Stepdad, Grandad, Brother, Brother-in-Law, Uncle and Work Colleague. He will be sorely missed by all at Brit European.

MOVING UP THE LADDER OF SUCCESS!!

Here is a little story to show how you can progress within Brit European provide you have the willingness to adapt.

Peter Oxley (pictured) joined Brit European as a Trade Plate for our Driver Services division Brit Drive in April 2012. Paul Melia, Team Leader for Brit Drive, immediately noticed how good Peter was at his job and was pleased when Peter asked if and how he could progress within the Brit European Group.
The immediate progression was of course to make the jump from Trade Plates to Transporters so in June 2012 Peter took and passed his Class One driving licence. Upon doing so and much to Paul Melia's disappointment Peter was transferred from Brit Drive to Brit European and now works as an LGV driver moving vans on the RRV (Rapid Response Vehicle - also known as a puddle jumper!)

This story only goes to show that with a little willingness, some hard work and an aptitude to want to get on what you can achieve!!! Well done to Peter!  

ANOTHER AWARD WINNER.....zzzzzzzzzz

Here is Andrezj Koniesczy receiving his Driver of the Year Award 2012 from Tony Phillips and Adam Brooks. What a great bunch of drivers we have here at Brit European....they all seem to win awards for one thing or another! Anyway...congratulations to Andrezj.

NEED I SAY IT? YET ANOTHER AWARD

Wow....this is becoming par for the course these day's. We have yet another award winner in the Driver of the Year category.

Dave Button, who drives in our High & Heavy division, is shown being presented with his trophy by Tony Phillips, Head of Operations and Adam Brooks, High and Heavy Operator.

Well done to Dave and keep up the good work.

YET ANOTHER AWARD WINNER!!!

Not sure if this is the last award winner but........here is Simon Grindey from the High & Heavy Division receiving his award from Head of Operations, Tony Phillips accompanied by Operator of the Year, Adam Brooks.

MORE AWARDS WINNERS!!!

I am pleased to post yet even more Awards 2012 winners. The 2 who are being presented with their award is being done by Driver Services Team Leader and Operator Extraodinaire....Paul Melia

DARREN BAILEY GETS PROMOTION

Darren Bailey has now “officially” taken over responsibility for the running of the Car Division as Senior Operator.  So, not only did Darren win Operator of the Year 2012 he has now won promotion. Shows what hard work can do for you!!!
Well done Darren.

INNOVATION, CO², THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW AND THE FINISHED VEHICLE LOGISTICS ARENA

The 2013 CV show for Brit European will mark the unveiling of its ground breaking environmental initiatives applied to the distribution and delivery of heavy commercial vehicles, vans, construction/agricultural equipment and cars. 2013 will see the implementation of a fleet of dual fuel Mercedes Benz Actros tractor units and draw-bars will result in CO² savings in excess of 15% versus standard technology. Utilising both diesel and natural gas as fuel the first vehicles will be on the road from 1^st March 2013.

Brit European Managing Director, Graham Lackey, outlined the government funding which has assisted in getting the initiatives and ideas to reality. “The Technology Strategy Board launched its low carbon commercial vehicle initiatives at an ideal time for us and we are pleased to have been awarded (as a consortium) over one million pounds to deliver our environmental efficiency project. As well as dual fuel vehicles with our consortium partners (CNG services and Microlise), we will be installing a new gas re-fueling facility and developing the on board telematics system to measure accurately dual fuel usage and CO² outputs”.

Other initiatives shown at the CV show will include a range of new trailer designs and enhancements to improve efficiency, reduce aerodynamic drag and reduce the risk of damage to loaded product. “Every new investment must improve our commercial and environmental efficiency”, commented Andy Brookes, Operations Director. “Two new trailer designs were introduced at the end of 2012 and results so far are very encouraging”, he continued, “and we have a new draw bar prototype on the road for final trials in March 2013. In addition, we are looking at other initiatives and technologies to make loading/unloading cycles more efficient and further reduce our environmental impact. We will be sharing all of these initiatives with our customers in Birmingham at the beginning of April”. Brit European will be on Stand 4G50 and also in the outside display area where equipment/loads and hospitality trailer will be positioned.

MORE AWARDS WINNERS!!!!

Here are the latest awards Winners who have received their trophies this week. More to follow!

THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SHOW 2013

Great News! Brit European will be exhibiting again at the Commercial Vehicle Show being held at the NEC, Birmingham.

As you probably know last year's show was a tremendous success and our stand was unofficially voted as the 'best in class' (got to admit it really was a fantastic stand!) and hopefully this year will be no different.

We are situated in Hall 4 and our stand number is G50. Invites are currently being compiled for our customer and supplier bases and we expect the three day's to be very, very busy. I am now finalizing the stand design and as soon as I finish this I will post some photo's for you all to see. We are also again having an outside display area where we shall be exhibiting some of our new fleet, trucks and trailers. Again, watch this space for photos!

The 2013 CV Show for Brit European will also mark the unveiling of its ground breaking environmental initiatives applied to the distribution and delivery of heavy commercial vehicles, vans, construction/agricultural equipment and cars. Other initiatives shown at the CV Show will include a range of new trailer design and enhancements to improve efficiency. reduce aerodynamic drag and reduce the risk of damage to loaded product.

All very exciting.....so watch this space!!!   

BRIT EUROPEAN and the ENVIRONMENTAL EFFICIENCY DRIVE

As part of the Technology Strategy Board Competition for reduced Carbon Technologies in commercial Vehicles, Brit European and its consortium partners (CNG Services and Microlise), have secured funding in excess of £1million from the government-backed Technology Strategy Board (TSB) as part of its Low Carbon Truck Demonstration Trial programme.

The project will involve the installation of a gas refuelling facility on the A50 corridor in Derbyshire and the operation of a fleet of Dual Fuel Mercedes Benz tractor units and drawbars focussed on supporting JCB operations in and around Uttoxeter. The consortium will also be developing the on board telematics software/hardware to monitor more accurately CO2 output and engine usage of dual fuels.

“We embarked on a search for an alternative to the diesel engine nearly two years ago with the full encouragement and support of JCB”, comments Graham Lackey, Brit European Managing Director. “As a business and a board we could see that diesel engine efficiency was probably only going to achieve marginal gains in the foreseeable future and that simply passing on fuel increases via fuel escalators to our customers was not the way forward. We could also see that we had to make a step change in our approach to reduce carbon emissions by a third, (in the next 5 years), to achieve our own corporate aspirations and those of our major and valued customers. Only dual fuel technology and the use of natural gas in conjunction with diesel fuel and the compression engine offered that opportunity. As it turns out, both the Department for Transport and the Technology Strategy Board share that same viewpoint.”

John Baldwin, Managing Director of CNG Services outlines the reasons why this is such an exciting project. “The Brit European project allows us to utilise further our current CNG (Compressed Natural Gas), re-fuelling facility at Crewe and to show the potential of CNG as a vehicle fuel to not only significantly reduce CO2 emissions but prove its commercial benefits also. It also showcases the ability to put in cost effective ‘mother-daughter’ refuelling facilities to develop dual fuel fleets around the country and finally it provides opportunities to utilise the developing sources of Bio gas to give even better CO2 reduction benefits for the future.”

“Having worked closely with Brit European on a previous project, when Graham invited us to join the project we were very excited,” said Chris Wallace, Microlise Sales Director. “Our plans will give the Microlise telematics system and software a unique ability in the market to monitor CO2 output and engine efficiency utilising more than one type of fuel.”

The Environmental Efficiency Project began officially on the 1^st November 2012 and the first dual fuel vehicles will be on the road from 1^st March 2013.

THE MANAGEMENT TEAM! (Well part of it!)

We never do things by half at Brit European and to prove it here is part of the Management Team doing an impromptu Christmas dance for the staff.

If you are not able to view the video can I suggest that you download Quicktime which should solve the problem. I have a put a link on here for Quicktime so just click on it and hey presto!

www.apple.com/quicktime/download/

WE ARE THE TOPS!!

Tony Phillips, Head of Operations on our High & Heavy Division, has just informed me that we are the Top of the Pops as far as GEFCO are concerned.
We have recently received their stats  for 2012 and we, Brit European, are the best carrier they have by far!

Well done to all the boys and girls for making this possible. Keep up the good work.

CHRISTMAS LUNCH / EMPLOYEE AWARDS

Blimey last year has gone and here we are in 2013!!!

I have just got around to recovering my camera so that I can show you all the photo's I took at our Christmas/Employee Awards lunch which was held at the Manor House Hotel on the 18th December.

This year we decided to make awards to various employees. The categories for the awards were:
Operator of the Year 2012 - Adam Brooks
Team Player of the Year - Darren Bailey

Management Award 2012 - Gavin Connor
Unsung Hero's 2012 - Brendon Antrobus and Claire Grocott (yes there are two of them!)

There was also a number of 'fun' awards' made under the headings 'Loudmouth of the Year' (Paul Bowker), 'Soap on a Rope' (Brendon Antrobus) and 'Office Chef' (Gavin Connor) 

As a sting in the tail there was also a surprise award made to our Managing Director, Graham Lackey, titled 'Boss of the Year 2012' 

And here are the photographs which I took on the day for all to see!!! Enjoy!