Leading public services provider Amey announced today that Julie Davies, its Fleet and Plant Compliance Manager, was appointed Chair of the Freight Transport Association's Van Excellence Governance Committee on 3 August 2016.
Davies' two-year appointment underlines Amey's commitment to road and vehicle safety, as well as its position at the helm of the development of best practice within the sector. As a founding member of the group, Davies is uniquely positioned to ensure that the committee continues to enhance standards of van operator compliance, celebrate operators who demonstrate excellence and represent the interests of the van industry.
Reflecting on the announcement, Davies said: "I'm delighted to be taking over as Chair of the Governance Committee, and I’m particularly honoured to be the first woman to do so. The FTA's Van Excellence initiative is now in its fifth year and what it has done, as an industry-conceived and industry-led initiative, is to demonstrate that corporations of all sizes can work together to put safety first and to encourage, inspire and mandate higher standards for the public good.
"We need to keep encouraging, inspiring and mandating better compliance through our suppliers and our workforces – even through our personal contacts with specialist trades and contractors. Van Excellence is not just for blue-chip participants for the simple reason the law is not just for blue-chip participants. The law is a protection for us all and we must all do our best to ensure that it is followed and that the number of road-related fatalities in the UK is significantly reduced."
Tom Lawless, Amey's Fleet and Plant Director, added: "Julie’s appointment as the Chair of the Governance Committee for the FTA’s Van Excellence is direct reflection of Julie’s personal commitment to operational excellence in transport that has been developed across a 20+ year career in the industry. I am confident that the initiative will move forward under Julie’s stewardship and will ensure that Amey continues to strive to toward improving standards relating to the operation of vans.”
Van Excellence is an award-winning initiative developed by the Freight Transport Association (FTA) alongside some of the UK’s best van operators, drawn from all sectors of industry. The scheme has been developed primarily to raise standards within the industry, improve the perception of vans and light commercial vehicles and enhance the reputation of organisations operating van fleets.
Joining this scheme enables businesses to commit to safer, more efficient and sustainable van operations, promote the highest standards to their customers and reassure the public and Government that they are addressing the issues that concern them most.
For more information visit www.vanexcellence.co.uk/about/