One of the things that always strikes me is how some individuals in our industry are always prepared to go the extra mile, without seeking grace or favour. They are truly the unsung heroes.
Why do I raise this? Well, recently the 18th annual national members’ conference of the Institute of Car Fleet Management was held at Peugeot UK’s headquarters in Coventry. It’s a venue we’ve used before, as it is centrally located, making it easier for ICFM members to attend.
As always the conference was well attended and I believe enjoyed by all who participated. The programme, as has been the case for the last two years, was a mix of keynote speakers and practical training workshops. This latest conference was focused on the real cost of driver behaviour.
Various speakers amply demonstrated the cost savings to be made in terms of improved fuel economy and fewer accident and incident costs. The latter could be halved while the former could on average be increased by a third. One customer was shown to have saved a £1m on fuel costs alone through micro-management.
Topping it all, we had a stimulating and motivational talk from Olympic Silver Medallist, Leon Taylor. You may have heard of Tom Daley but not necessarily Leon. That’s all to do with the media hype surrounding next year’s London Olympic Games.
Leon is Tom’s mentor, and the person who performed the world’s most complicated dive. If you need a motivational speaker, you couldn’t do better.
Capping the day, we recognised the achievements of our students from the past year – 25 of whom passed their introductory certificate in car fleet management and 19 their certificate in car fleet management.
All these individuals take working in the fleet sector seriously and have the drive to better themselves for the benefit of themselves and their employers. The seven individuals who achieved their diploma in car fleet management, six with distinction, embody this outlook most.
But the conference, and indeed the education and training provided by the ICFM would not be possible without the investment in time and energy by those nine members who make up the ICFM council. These individuals give freely of their time to further the aims of the ICFM while holding down full-time jobs.
All are unsung heroes but one in particular stands out, which is why I was delighted to present him with a scroll recognising him as only the second honorary fellow of the ICFM. Director and treasurer, Peter Eldridge has been an ICFM member since 1993 and a council member since 1997.
Since joining the council, Peter has worked tirelessly and selflessly for the good of the institute, performing various roles on council and being available 24/7. He truly epitomises the saying “eats, sleeps and breaths” the ICFM. It was a delight to recognise him in this way at the conference. We all owe him a big debt of gratitude for his endeavours on behalf of the Institute and its members.
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