Intentions 112 EN

Intentions Y27_03 / 2016 periodical magazine of LeasePlan Belgium appears four times a year in January - March - June - September

Dossier connectivity

Autonomous driving a matter of time

Interview Johan Portier, Managing Director LeasePlan Belgium Trip tips Calling all day trippers!

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Intentions Edito 3

edito

The year began for me with a huge challenge, at the helm of LeasePlan Belgium. A challenge in a sector and a company that are both very close to my heart. It’s something I’m really excited about! With my new position come a lot of responsibilities, including writing this editorial. And reflecting my management style, open communication will be my aim here, too. I’ll do my best to gain the greatest possible support for the course we’re taking as a leading company in the vehicle leasing market. And an essential part of this is clear communication.

I try to convey the same message to everyone, to our employees and customers, and to our drivers: this is our goal and we’re going to do everything we can to achieve that goal.

But, of course, this isn’t a one-way street. I also enjoy the interaction with both employees and customers: it generates new ideas and ultimately new projects and innovation.

So you can rest assured that we’ll be doing our utmost to make it as easy and enjoyable for you as possible. We aim to prove that in practice ‘It’s easier to leaseplan’ is no empty promise.

One of the things that you as a driver will be able to benefit from is the optimisation of our My LeasePlan platform. You’ll always be able to contact us if and when you need us, but we’ll ensure that – thanks in part to this platform – this will hardly be necessary. After all, your time is precious to us.

If, in the meantime, you’d like to enjoy some downtime out and about, you’re sure to find some great ideas in this issue of Intentions. It’s a nice blend between our new and redesigned products and lifestyle topics that can serve as inspiration to help you make the most of your free time.

We hope you enjoy reading it!

Johan Portier Managing Director LeasePlan Belgium

Follow us on social networks! facebook.com / LeasePlanBelgium @LeasePlanBE linkedin.com / company / leaseplan-belgium

4 Intentions Contents

contents LeasePlan News

06

Everything you want to know about…

08 Survey LeasePlan CarCost Index: driving a car is most expensive in the Netherlands and cheapest in the Czech Republic 09 Event Successful Xpert Day kicks off Brussels Motor Show 10 Interview Johan Portier, Managing Director LeasePlan Belgium 12

Dossier connectivity > Turning a smart home into the smartest home > Autonomous driving: a matter of time

16 Award LeasePlan Belgium now among ‘Top Employers 2016’ CONTACT LEASEPLAN INTENTIONS Excelsiorlaan 8 - 1930 Zaventem - 02-722 62 11 leaseplan@leaseplan.be - leaseplan.be © LeasePlan 2016 PUBLISHER JOHAN PORTIER

CREATION ACTIVE - 02-467 61 50 activeonline.be ADVERTISING PATRICK QUATENNENS - 02-467 61 68

The Act on the protection of privacy in relation to the processing of personal data: personal data will be transmitted to and recorded in a file in the possession of LeasePlan Fleet Management nv with its registered office located at Excelsiorlaan 8, 1930 Zaventem, which is responsible for processing. Personal data will be used by LeasePlan with a view to (i) managing pre-contractual and contractual relations, (ii) preventing misuse and irregularities, (iii) compiling statistics and testing, (iv) providing assistance and information to drivers and (v) conducting satisfaction surveys among drivers. Personal data may be disclosed to third parties in a contractual relationship with LeasePlan, including suppliers and subcontractors of LeasePlan. You have the right to request access to and correction of your personal data by writing to LeasePlan at the above address and / or the e-mail address privacy@leaseplan.be.

18 Escape Spring has arrived and so has the sun!

22

20

Trip tips

Calling all day trippers!

22 Lunch@ The best places for lunch in Liège

3,9 - 5,5 L/100 KM •102 - 144 G CO2/KM

Informations environnementales AR 19/3/2014 www.mercedes-benz.be – Donnons priorité à la sécurité.

La nouvelle Classe E. Un chef-d’œuvre fiscal.

Avec un taux d’émission de CO2 de 102 g/km, la nouvelle Classe E est déductible fiscalement à 90 %. D’emblée, elle devient la référence dans son segment.

Non contente d’être un chef d’œuvre fiscal, elle est aussi un concentré de technologie.

Ouverture, démarrage et Parking Pilot avec votre smartphone, conduite autonome et communication car-to-X : tout est déjà possible avec la nouvelle Classe E. Découvrez-la, ainsi que notre offre complète de Business Solutions, sur www.mercedes-fleet.be.

6 Intentions News

My LeasePlan booking tool: book via the appointment planner and receive a Kinepolis cinema ticket!

Recall of Volkswagen Group vehicles gets under way If you drive a vehicle from the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen, Audi,

Does your LeasePlan vehicle require servicing in the near fu-

Seat and Škoda) that is equipped with software that makes it possible

ture? If so, be sure to try out the My LeasePlan booking tool at

to influence emissions of nitrogen oxides in test conditions, your

­leaseplan­.­be­/­myleaseplan. Your servicing appointment will be

vehicle will need a software update in the course of 2016. Drivers of

confirmed with just a few mouse clicks.

vehicles involved will already have been informed of this a while ago.

You’ll also have a chance of winning a free Kinepolis cinema ticket

Costs incurred for this intervention, which will usually take less than

if you book your servicing appointment through the My LeasePlan

an hour, will be covered by the Volkswagen Group. In addition, the

booking tool. We’re giving away a Kinepolis cinema ticket to the first

Volkswagen Group guarantees that this will affect neither the techni-

50 bookings per month*. So there’s twice the benefit!

cal safety of your vehicle nor its reliability. The recall will be planned on the basis of engine version and vehicle model.

Why use the My LeasePlan booking tool?

–– 2.0 engines from March 2016

Every authorised dealer of every car make can be found in the

–– 1.2 engines from May 2016

appointment planner. But what makes it so much easier is that

–– 1.6 engines from October 2016

LeasePlan proposes the specific garage that scores best in terms of quality of maintenance, level of service and pricing. You’re therefore

Drivers of a LeasePlan vehicle don’t need to book an appointment for

not only sure your car will be perfectly serviced, but you’ll also be

this planned software update. The software update for all LeasePlan

pampered with a collection and return service, a Wi-Fi connection

vehicles will take place during the usual servicing schedule. This

and coffee corner or a nicely cleaned vehicle. And all this without it

means that you won’t have to face any additional inconvenience.

costing a single euro more, neither for you nor for your employer.

You can continue to visit the website www.customercare.dieteren.be

Are you just like so many other drivers who put off making a servicing

for additional information and to find out whether or not your vehicle

appointment until the very last moment? Not to worry: via the

is involved.

appointment planner you’ll always find a garage that can do the job quickly, on top of providing additional services (a collection and return service, a Wi-Fi connection and coffee corner or a nicely cleaned vehicle).

WIN A KINEPOLIS CINEMA TICKET Every month we are giving away a free ticket to a screening of

If you still don’t have access to My LeasePlan,

your choice at Kinepolis to the first 50 users of the My LeasePlan

please contact us at drivercare@leaseplan.be

booking tool*.

or on 078 150 600.

*

The offer is valid subject to availability and only for confirmed servicing bookings via the My LeasePlan booking tool.

news

Intentions News 7

The latest

by LeasePlan

Let us know!

Do you have any suggestions or feel that LeasePlan can improve in any area?

If so, please send an e-mail to info@leaseplan.be

LeasePlan Mobility Card: tested and approved In recent months, we’ve been extensively testing our mobility solu-

means a saving of 5,500 kilometres in the rush hour, or 110 hours

tion in our own organisation and at a number of other companies.

less congestion per year. As a commuting mother of a six-year-old, I

With twenty test individuals, we took to the road with our Mobility

never seemed to get around to reading any more, even though I’m a

Card. The card was readily accepted for travel by public transport

passionate reader. Now I can sit in the train with my head in a book

(train, tram, bus and metro). Paying for the ticket is very flexible: on

every week, enjoying some personal time,’ explains Isabelle Van

the platform, at the counter or on the website of the transport com-

Bellegem, Product Manager at LeasePlan. ‘And at the same time, I’m

pany. You don't need to make a reservation or register in advance.

also doing my little bit for the environment.’

The same applies to using taxis, Vélo and Villo. The only difference we encountered was when taking the bus in Flanders (De Lijn) and

Are you interested in the LeasePlan Mobility Card? Discuss the possi-

using the BlueBike, where you’ll need to register once in advance.

bilities with your fleet manager.

But once that has happened, everything works fine. Although our mobility solution gives you the option of choosing alternative modes of transport, it isn’t intended as a complete replacement for the car, but rather as a supplement to it. In practice, we found that the test individuals decided to use an alternative form of transport to get to work three times a month on average. ‘I travel from Wetteren to Zaventem every day: 58 kilometres one way. I try to leave the car at home one day a week and use the Mobility Card to get to work. That

8 Intentions Survey

LeasePlan CarCost Index is most expensive in the Netherlands and cheapest in the Czech Republic

Driving a car

The Netherlands is the most expensive country in Europe to drive a car. On average, Dutch motorists spend between €600 and €800 on their car every month, depending on the fuel they use. In Germany and the Czech Republic, monthly costs are considerably lower, especially for diesel cars. The cost of driving a diesel car can vary as much as €350 a month across Europe. These are just a few of the findings of the LeasePlan CarCost Index, a recent study on the costs of car ownership and usage in eleven European countries.

This is the first time that all cost elements of a car have been mapped

have relatively little influence on the overall cost. Depreciation is the

out in such a detailed way at an international level using this index

biggest fixed cost (36%).

methodology. For the CarCost Index, LeasePlan drew on its knowledge and experience of its own multi-branded fleet. The study shows that a

Sven-Torsten Huster, Chief Operating Officer at LeasePlan: ‘It’s often

petrol car in the Netherlands costs €660 per month on average, and

said that certain European countries are more expensive for motorists

a diesel car €805. In Germany, the monthly average is between €418

than others. However, research that could confirm these suspicions

(petrol) and €454 (diesel). This is comparable to a country like the

has until now been unavailable. In order to compare European mar-

Czech Republic: €406 (petrol) and €455 (diesel). Moreover, driving a

kets with each other, you need to have a good understanding of them

car is a lot more expensive in the United Kingdom (€600 (petrol) and

and insight into such things as regulatory differences. Differentiating

€630 (diesel)) and in Sweden (€582 (petrol) and €576 (diesel)). The

between total costs goes beyond simply comparing the purchase

average monthly cost in Belgium lies in between, and compared with

price and the tax rate. That’s why we always advise motorists to

other countries a diesel car is actually cheaper: €584 for a petrol car

consider the bigger picture when buying or leasing a car, whether

and €549 for a diesel car.

second-hand or new.’

Total cost elements of a car The annual LeasePlan CarCost Index provides an overview of the total cost elements of a car in the C segment (20,000 km/year, on the basis of three years). The analysis took into account such factors as purchase price, depreciation, insurance, costs for repairs and maintenance, taxes and fuel costs. Fixed costs, such as maintenance and taxes, represent 70% of the total cost – indicating that motorists

Xpert Day

Intentions Event 9

Successful

kicks off Brussels Motor Show

Good habits should be continued. And that also applies to LeasePlan’s Xpert Day. On the eve of the Brussels Motor Show, LeasePlan organised the 10th edition of the annual Xpert Day, with major customers and partners being treated to a nice cup of coffee or tea before the professional conference got under way. Following the conference, participants could also enjoy lunch, because as always it’s of great important for LeasePlan to cater to everyone’s needs.

As usual, LeasePlan’s outgoing Managing Director, Michel Van den Broeck, introduced the morning session. He happily got the ball rolling with the figures of LeasePlan as a global market leader with a fleet of more than 1.5 million vehicles. The past year also witnessed a healthy growth for LeasePlan in Belgium, thanks in part to the acquisition of Excelease, which saw more than 3,000 vehicles added to its portfolio at a single stroke. The steps taken towards the B2C market, with the Private Lease campaigns, also proved to be a positive move.

But, of course, without the customers there isn’t any leadership. It therefore remains extremely important for LeasePlan to aspire to

customers, the booking tool has been completely optimised. A ser-

customers who are not only satisfied but above all are also eager to

vicing appointment can be made in only three ‘mouse clicks’. It could

collaborate with LeasePlan. On the one hand, LeasePlan seeks to

hardly be simpler.

achieve this through Driver Mobility.

Nowadays, people experience mobility quite differently from, say, a LeasePlan no longer focuses solely on the company car. Driver

decade ago. And in another ten years, mobility policy will undoubt-

Mobility is a vehicle, a card, an app and integrated reporting capabil-

edly look quite different from now. To elaborate on the subject,

ities, collectively. The LeasePlan mobility card enables you to decide

LeasePlan invited Andreas Tirez and Didier Stevens to the Xpert Day.

for yourself how to get from A to B efficiently. And the major added value that LeasePlan can provide is its advisory support. Consultancy

One thing is clear: in order to play a lasting role of any significance in

Services help customers seek the best solution for every driver.

the world, LeasePlan must continue to look at new markets. It is currently doing so through such initiatives as the white-label agreements

On the other hand, LeasePlan continues to put considerable

with Toyota Business Lease and Lexus Business Lease and its Private

effort into its My LeasePlan platform, under the motto ‘It’s easier

Lease activities. But these initiatives are only a fraction of what

to l­ easeplan’. Based on the feedback obtained from drivers and

LeasePlan has in store in the future.

10 Intentions Interview

Johan Portier:

‘We find ourselves at a crossroads’ Since the beginning of this year, Johan Portier has been at the head of LeasePlan Belgium. Armed with a list of questions, Intentions sat down with him over coffee and came away with some fascinating answers. A new CEO often means a new management style. Which direction do you want to take in the coming months and years?

My management style won’t change from when I was Commercial

of the new business cases in the innovation pipeline. If we continue

Director. I favour an open communication style, always aiming for

to do today what we did yesterday, tomorrow we’ll get what we had

the greatest possible support for the course we’re embarking on. An

the day before. And that isn’t a model I believe in. We have to ensure

essential part of this is clear, open communication: explaining why

that we remain relevant for our customers. It’s a continuous process

we do what we do. The goal is ‘this’ and ‘that’ is what we’re going

in which you have to make economic, commercial, HR-related and

to do to achieve that goal. It’s a message I want to convey to both

technological choices.

our employees and our customers. And, of course, it isn’t a one-way

But above all I want our focus to remain firmly on our customers.

street. I enjoy that interaction with both employees and customers:

Nothing should be taken for granted nowadays. We have to earn our

it generates new ideas and ultimately new projects and innovation.

position every single day. And the quality and added value of our

Concerning the organisation, I’m someone who clearly outlines the

service is central to this.

framework and then provides people with a lot of autonomy to fill in the details themselves. But it isn’t optional: there has to be clear

You worked 15 years for SDWorx, a completely different sector from

progress. If we put in an effort, there has to be a result at the end of

leasing. Is there anything you can take from there that can be applied

the day. It’s something I believe our customers expect from us, just

today?

like our shareholders.

I did consultancy at SDWorx for twelve years, both at home and abroad, which gives you a broad view on a number of issues that

What are your specific priorities for the coming months?

That’s an easy question to answer. The majority of our priorities

businesses face. I was involved in developing solutions and that’s the kind of experience you can always fall back on. There are a number of

revolve around the specific implementation of innovation projects in

conventions that apply to most sectors and it’s useful to be able to

the market, both with our customers and with our prospects. That, in

draw on such experience as a CEO, where a broad perspective is really

addition to making choices and determining the priorities in terms

essential.

Intentions Interview 11

The days of simply putting metal onto the roads are well and truly gone. We have to think about the models of the future, which is actually tomorrow.

should also not be afraid of pointing out to our customers that running a fleet of company cars completely on diesel fuel is perhaps no longer environmentally sustainable. No less than 98 per cent of our fleet today runs on diesel, not because it’s something we want but because that’s what the market demands. For years we’ve been placing the residual value of petrol and diesel vehicles on an equal footing, simply What is your view of the leasing world today? On the one hand, a

to encourage more of a balance. Personally, I’ve just ordered a hybrid

mature market and, on the other, the company car is increasingly

vehicle. If you want to convey a message, nothing beats setting a good

called into question. What does the future hold?

example. But it’s not something you can do on your own. Everyone

We find ourselves at a crossroads and the leasing world needs to

has to do their part and more tax incentives need to be introduced to

reinvent itself. The days of simply putting metal onto the roads are well

give alternative power sources a chance in the market. The challenge

and truly gone. We have to think about the models of the future, which

for LeasePlan is to realise a profitable ‘multimodal mobility business

is actually tomorrow. This means taking action now to be innovative

model’ within a completely new revenue model. But at the same time

and bring new solutions to the market. We’re not really active in the

it should be a workable model, enabling the customer to say with

most popular of sectors and there are certain reasons for that. And we

ease: I’m making the switch to a mix of types of fuel and forms of

need to be honest about this. Pollution and traffic congestion: nobody

multimodal mobility. The key message remains innovation; otherwise

can deny that cars in general – and by extension company cars too –

we’re doomed as a sector.

are part of the problem. Even though a company car is less polluting and is safer than the average car, due to the fact that it is newer and fitted with the latest technology. But it also remains essentially useful

What other specific projects are there?

This year, for example, we’ll continue to work on Telematics. We

and as far as I’m concerned it will always be the cornerstone of our

want to better understand vehicle usage and then convey this data

mobility. Nevertheless, we also need to have a broader view when it

to our customers. This will enable them to work with LeasePlan to

comes to mobility and dare to be innovative.

optimise the efficiency and performance of their fleet. Let me give you an example: many vehicles are only used between three and seven

How does this innovation manifest itself at LeasePlan?

We’re very happy with our Mobility Services: a management tool

per cent of the time within a 24-hour period, which is not much. I challenge you to find another asset within a company that is utilised

for your mobility budget, via both your computer and your mobile,

as little as this. This opens the way for pragmatic solutions such as

and a method of payment for multimodal mobility. The mobility card

car sharing. With tangible figures, you can show that this is definitely

has now been introduced and companies can apply for one. But we

worth considering for companies.

12 Intentions Dossier connectivity

Turning a smart home into the smartest home

Intentions Dossier connectivity 13

The Internet of Things: according to some, the trend of the next decade. The Internet of Things, or IoT, is just as the name suggests, although it could easily be mistaken for the title of a novel.

Connection and control Above all, the connected devices can interact well with each other.

The washing machine, for example, can automatically turn on when energy consumption in the house is at its lowest and can choose to run on the smart solar panels placed on the roof.

Wikipedia refers to IoT as the network of physical objects – devices,

To get all these appliances to work optimally with each other, you

vehicles, buildings and other items embedded with electronics, soft-

either need to have the brain of an engineer or a device that can do

ware, sensors, and network connectivity – that enables these objects

this for you. And this is where we’re currently in a transitional phase.

to collect and exchange data. As a result, everyday objects will be

Various manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung and Google are

able to communicate with other objects and people and therefore

involved in developing convenient apps that are reducing the man-

make autonomous decisions. Does that sound a bit nerdy? Just wait

agement of your smart home to a few simple finger movements. Talk

until you discover the applications below!

about turning a smart home into the smartest home…

A safe haven

Lighting and heating 2.0

In the near future, a physical key will be a thing of the past and will

The following example clearly shows that lights in the future will be

be replaced by a smart lock. This lock can be opened by pressing a

more than just a light source. They can also start to flicker as a warn-

key combination, but also remotely via an app on your smartphone.

ing light in the event of potential dangers such as carbon monoxide

This means, for example, that you can let in the cleaner standing at

poisoning or fire, through the sensor in a smart smoke detector. They

the door without having to trust him or her with a key or combination

can also be programmed to respond to time and therefore serve as an

code.

alarm clock or create an atmosphere by changing colour.

Your smart home can also be fitted with all sorts of sensors that can

A smart thermostat fits perfectly in this list. The fact that it can be set

warn of danger or potential problems. Sensors placed on ceilings

to specific time periods is no longer ground-breaking news. But these

upstairs, for example, can be programmed with a simple if/then code

days it can also be connected to your smartphone, enabling it to

to activate when the sensor detects moisture. You’ll then receive a

detect your distance from home and ensure you arrive back to a nicely

message, enabling you to take action in the event of a leaking roof.

warmed house. Practical and simple!

14 Intentions Dossier connectivity

Autonomous driving a matter of time

No, you’re not the best driver in the world. That’s your car. After a drawn-out start-up period, car manufacturers and technology companies have all jumped on the bandwagon of autonomous driving. Is the future of our mobility and safety in the hands of the driverless car?

Intentions Dossier connectivity 15

We’ve been dreaming about being chauffeured around for centuries.

The history of driverless vehicles goes back to the 1920s when the US company Houdina Radio Control piloted its Linrrican Wonder through the streets of New York via remote control. Fast forward to 2016, because today the pioneers of autonomous driving bear far less obscure names. Nearly all leading car manufacturers, but also technology giants like Apple and Google, are spending astronomical amounts on R&D in an attempt to be the first to market a fully autonomous car.

Autonomous driving is therefore much more than just a passing fad. New sensors, radars and cameras have really speeded up the technological evolution, bringing the realisation of the very first autonomously thinking and driving car closer than ever before. Experts predict that this will be in 2020.

Vehicle-to-vehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication are just two examples of systems that will be utilised to connect our vehicles in a single integrated traffic network.

How? Make no mistake: even today’s cars already have all the technol-

These are the vehicles we could possibly see popping up on our roads

ogy on board needed to drive completely independently. Who, for

within a few years. And yet mobility experts claim that fully autono-

example, could have dreamed just a decade ago that it would now be

mous driving is the road we will need to go down in the future. The

possible to park a car completely autonomously? Or that they could

reason is simple: people make mistakes. Nine out of ten traffic acci-

save lives without any human intervention by applying the brakes?

dents are a consequence of human error. So to reduce the number of road-accident victims, we have to switch to a totally new mobility

A driverless car actually goes a step further by essentially taking

system. Moreover, driverless vehicles contribute to a smoother

over all of the driver’s tasks. And this means that the car must be

traffic flow and help reduce CO2 emissions of freight and passenger

constantly aware of the situation, make decisions and take necessary

transport. Such a turnaround, however, would require a huge mental

actions in order to deliver passengers safely to their destination. It's

shift. Not only for mobile consumers, who are often strongly attached

therefore important that a car, just like us, is able to anticipate things.

to their trusty steed, but also for our policy-makers.

Although current technology is unable to match the human brain’s capacity to make judgements, it should be possible in the short term to enable autonomous vehicles to interact with vulnerable road users and other moving obstacles, as well as with each other. Vehicle-tovehicle communication and vehicle-to-infrastructure communication

No legal framework

are just two examples of systems that will be utilised to connect our

To pave the way for the driverless car, a number of serious obsta-

vehicles in a single integrated traffic network. A nightmare for the real

cles need to be ironed out in our outdated traffic laws. The 1968

car enthusiast, a dream for those who want to get from A to B safely

Vienna Convention stipulates that ‘a driver must be in control of

and efficiently.

his vehicle at all times’. An apparently simple phrase that never-

Why?

theless places car manufacturers and insurance companies in a rather awkward position.

It’s human nature to want to be in control, to be master of the situation. So it would appear rather contradictory that we should want to

Although some manufacturers have already indicated that they

hand over that intrinsic symbol of liberty, the steering wheel. And that

are prepared to take on any legal liability, they are still faced with

also seems to be confirmed by public opinion, which continues to be

a huge ethical dilemma. Because how should a driverless car

rather sceptical about autonomous driving. A European survey con-

respond if a child suddenly darts out into the road? Should the

ducted among 2,564 students in 2015 showed that only 10 per cent of

vehicle swerve and endanger the life of its own ‘driver’ (i.e. the

the young people had confidence in autonomous-driving technology.

customer)? Is it indeed possible and justifiable to program such

This scepticism is reduced dramatically when we talk about semi-au-

ethical decisions in advance in all kinds of logarithms? And then

tonomous vehicles with an automatic-pilot mode, enabling the driver

there is that final, irresolvable question: do we actually want to

to overrule the vehicle in complicated traffic situations.

relinquish the pleasure and art of driving a car for good? What’s clear is that the final word on the subject of the autonomous car

Left: Google’s Driverless Car is one of the most advanced autonomous driving projects today.

has yet to be spoken...

16 Intentions Award

LeasePlan Belgium now among

‘Top Employers 2016’ Since the beginning of February, LeasePlan Belgium has been able to call itself one of the ‘Top Employers 2016’. A praiseworthy title for a praiseworthy HR policy. HR Director Renee Agneessens explains what this certificate represents.

What is the procedure for gaining the ‘Top Employers Belgium’ title?

You decide whether or not to put yourself forward for the award.

learning and development, performance management, leadership development, career and succession management, compensations

I decided to do so, although initially my team was completely in the

and benefits, and – last but not least – corporate culture. Each of these

dark. The reason I wanted to participate is because it has always

components is assessed to see whether it incorporates an HR strategy

been my ambition to achieve this certificate for LeasePlan Belgium, a

or vision and whether this vision is supported in the organisation. So it

company that fits in perfectly with this scenario. However, in this first

isn’t simply a question of written policy documents, but processes that

year, I wanted to take part behind the scenes to see which processes

are an integral part of the organisation. You also need to demonstrate

still needed to be worked on. Nevertheless, the ‘Top Employers’ audit

your working method and the way in which the results are measured,

involved extensive preparation, so I decided to call in my team. This

as well as what happens with them. Let’s just say that it was a pretty

means that it really was a joint team effort, with a successful outcome.

intensive audit. Once it was over, we just had to wait for that phone call to hear whether we had actually been awarded the certificate or

What exactly was expected of you?

A number of core aspects of HR policy are discussed. These include HR strategy, talent strategy, workforce planning, on-boarding,

not. The original intention behind our participation was to identify our weak points, but we also secretly harboured the hope of gaining the certificate. And then finally we received the good news. It’s really the crowning achievement to the work of my entire team.

Why has LeasePlan Belgium been awarded this certificate?

LeasePlan’s HR policy is all to do with people, throughout the whole workforce. Everything revolves around employee development and strengthening the corporate culture. We know we’re doing the right things in the right way, but to hear this from a more formal source is really gratifying. It has taken a huge effort to attain this award and it’s nice to see that HR, a support department working behind the scenes, can now both literally and figuratively stand on the podium.

Ce n’est pas toujours dans une enveloppe qu’on trouve le meilleur bonus

LA NOUVELLE FORD MONDEO BUSINESS EDITION

Ce sont votre patron et vos collègues qui vont être heureux avec cette parfaite combinaison de technologie et d’efficacité. SYNC2 à commande vocale, capteurs de stationnement avant et arrière, régulateur de vitesse…

Vous allez aider votre entreprise à aller de l’avant. Surfez vite sur ford.be

FORD MONDEO BUSINESS EDITION 1.5 TDCi ATN net* à partir de

L/100 KM

CO2

64,14€

3,6

94

3,6-7,5 L/100 KM.

94-174 G/KM CO2.

Les chiffres de consommation et d’émission s’appliquent aux véhicules avec les pneus de série, comme décrit dans les équipements de série. Des pneus optionnels peuvent engendrer d’autres valeurs d’émission de CO2 et de consommation. Pour plus d’informations, renseignez-vous auprès de votre distributeur Ford et rendez-vous sur notre site www.fr.ford.be/FleetLeasing. *Basé sur la Ford Mondeo Business Edition 5P 1.5 TDCi – 120cv – Start/Stop – ECOnetic. Le calcul de l’Avantage net mensuel se fonde sur le taux maximal de précompte professionnel de 53,5%. Ces valeurs sont données à titre purement indicatif et n’engagent pas la responsabilité de Ford Motor Company SA en cas de différence entre l’Avantage indiqué et l’Avantage finalement obtenu. Spécifications du véhicule non représentatives. Donnons la priorité à la sécurité. Informations environnementales [A.R. 19/03/2004]: www.fr.ford.be/environnement.

18 Intentions Escape

Spring has arrived and so has the sun!

After a long winter, everyone is eager to be out and about again. And the start of spring is the ideal excuse to get away. Intentions and Sunjets have selected three destinations for you. For those of you with a romantic spirit, there’s the Champagne region in France. But if excitement is what you’re looking for, then indulge yourself in the Eifel region in Germany.

Or for family trips, Dutch Zeeland would be a perfect choice.

UNIQUE OFFERS Specially for the readers of Intentions, Sunjets.be has special offers available for these destinations. For further details, check out leaseplan.be and sunjets.be / nl / leaseplan

Intentions Escape 19

The Eifel region

Germany (220 kilometres from Brussels)

extensive network of well-developed cycle paths. The cycle paths

If you like speed, you should definitely pay a visit to the Nürburgring.

along disused railway lines are highly recommended. These routes

This racetrack is a living legend and is nicknamed ‘The Green Hell’ by

traverse beautiful nature parks and cultural centres of interest and

fans. The motorsports complex is steeped in tradition and yet is one

offer a huge variety of landscapes. Mountain bikers can head to the

of the most innovative in the world today. You can even drive on the

VulkanBike Trailpark in the 500-square-kilometre Vulkaneifel region

Nordschleife – or ‘North Loop’ – with your own car, if you dare! Or ad-

with its network of 750 kilometres of cycling routes. As a pre-eminent

mire the true racing giants during a real race. The complex is actually

hiking region, the Eifel has a lot to offer. All of the hiking trails in the

open 365 days a year for you to sample the sensational experience of

Eifel are characterised by stunning views, seamless signposting,

the circuit.

various landscape forms and a wealth of friendly hosts.

For cyclists and walkers, the Eifel is a paradise. This region offers an

Champagne-Ardenne

Zeeland

Any trip to the French region of Champagne-Ardenne should definitely

Wide, accessible, clean sandy beaches. The Dutch region of Zeeland

include a visit to the champagne cellars and vineyards. The vineyards

is brimming with them and consists of no fewer than seven different

stretch out over more than 30,000 hectares, where thousands of

islands. While the region has something to offer everyone, it’s the

wine producers combine their talents. They range from large-scale

perfect base for a relaxing family weekend away. Discover the Neeltje

professional producers to the smaller players who work together in

Jans Delta Park with the whole family. The kids will just love the sea-

cooperatives. All of them will welcome you with open arms and let you

side town of Vlissingen, where they can also visit the pirate park Het

taste their version of the divine nectar.

Arsenaal and the reptile zoo!

Once the bubbles have finished refreshing your palate, you can pay

But you don’t have to travel far in Zeeland to get to the region’s main

a visit to one of the beautiful towns and cities found throughout the

attraction: the sea. Enjoy the fresh air, sunshine and waves, all of

region, such as Reims, Troyes and Langres. All of these places are

which are here in abundance on the beautiful beaches of Zeeland.

worth exploring and offer a pleasant mixture of culture, architecture

You can also go horse riding on the beach or have a go at extreme

and gastronomy. If you ask us, it’s the ideal region for a romantic

sports. The epicentre of water sports is undoubtedly Brouwersdam.

weekend!

Be sure to try out the water jump and experience the real feeling of

France (350 kilometres from Brussels)

the Netherlands (120 kilometres from Brussels)

flying over the water!

20 Intentions Trip tips

Calling all

day trippers!

High-tech treasure hunt!

The days of the old paper maps are behind us. Going on a treasure hunt nowadays can be done much more easily with a GPS receiver.

And anyone who hides a treasure trove can use the internet to inform everyone of the fact, wherever they may be. Geocaching is a great way to discover places you might otherwise never visit. And it’s also a sporting and relaxing family activity.

The concept is a simple one: someone hides a waterproof container holding a logbook and a number of small items at a particular location. The person then uses a GPS gadget to determine the exact coordinates of the location before publishing these on the internet, where other people can read them and go in search of the ‘cache’ or treasure. If they find the cache, they will then leave a message in the logbook and may take an object out of the container, but must replace it with something else. This means that the contents of the cache change all the time. geocaching.be

Intentions Trip tips 21

The spring holiday is almost upon us again. For some, it’s the ideal excuse to search out far-flung places with the family or to clip on the skis. For others, who prefer to remain in their own country, there are plenty of ideas for spending a day with the family. A visit to an indoor or outdoor adventure playground or the zoo is always a winner, but for those who like to do something different, Intentions has picked out a number of fun activities. Some are ideal for during those sudden April showers, while others are perfect for that first beautiful spring day.

Discover the scientist in you If you’re one of those people who believe you never stop learning, then perhaps you should consider a trip to the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences in Brussels. The enormous dinosaur skeleton at the entrance to this museum will certainly get the kids in the right mood. The Institute offers numerous children’s activities during the spring break, including the ‘paleoLAB’, in which you will take on the role of a palaeontologist, a geologist or an anthropologist. You can take part in digs, discover fossils or uncover a skeleton. You can also piece together a life-size stegosaurus, make a casting or follow dinosaur tracks. And if you’re a fan of wild animals, you’ll certainly be interested in the ‘Wonders of Wildlife’ exhibition! natuurwetenschappen.be

Catching a film The activity of choice for a rainy day will always be watching a

Stimulating the senses through your feet

film together. There can be nothing cosier than stretching out with the whole family under a huge blanket. An ideal platform for

Our ancestors walked barefooted every day – something we do only

a profusion of recent (and less recent) films is Netflix. For only

rarely. Yet there are as many as 30,000 nerve endings in our feet that

nine euros a month, you can enjoy the whole range. You can even

give us the opportunity to stimulate our heart and our blood circu-

try it out for free for the first month. And if it’s not for you, simply

lation. The Bigfoot barefoot trail at The Outsider in Oudenaarde in

unsubscribe when the free trial is over. For all the latest releases,

the Flemish Ardennes region is strewn with pebbles, sand, tree bark,

you can always go along to Kinepolis. You’ll be a definite hit with

water and mud to provide you with an original and completely natural

the kids with tickets for ‘Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip’

foot massage. Laughter guaranteed!

or ‘Zootropolis’!

Tip: don’t forget to take a change of clothing. theoutsidervlaamseardennen.be

netflix.be kinepolis.be

Liège a local,

22 Intentions Lunch@

connected lunch For this issue of Intentions, we’ve selected three addresses in Liège where you can enjoy a fine lunch and still do some work if need be. The recurring theme: local products and a free Wi-Fi connection.

GRAND MAISON 37 QUAI DE LA GOFFE MON, WED, THUR AND FRI FROM 7:30 TO 17:30 BRUNCH ON SUNDAY BETWEEN 9:30 AND 16:00 CLOSED ON TUE & SAT

GET YOUR MUG 17 RUE DES CARMES MON TO SAT FROM 7:00 TO 17:00 CLOSED ON SUN

On the ground floor, you can follow the comings and goings of the customers. However, on the first floor you’ll find peace and quiet amid vintage

Let yourself be guided by the smile, the imagination and the advice of

furniture, and freelancers enjoying the free Wi-Fi in the pleasant

Maxime and his team. Here you’ll find delicious coffees, invigorating

surroundings. There are artists, bosom friends and elderly ladies.

cups of tea, fresh smoothies and beer – in particular the Curtius, a

The girls – Fanny and Céline – treat old and young to soup, salads,

local blond beer – accompanied by carrot cake and other specialities

bread rolls and fresh tart. We had the tasty salad with chickpeas

of the house. You can also savour a bagel, a small bread roll in the

served on hummus with orange and basil, followed by pear and nut

shape of a ring that is cut in half and garnished to taste: from salmon

cake, optionally topped with crème fraiche. A warm and tasteful

to chicken and from pesto to cream cheese. Enjoy one in the recently

setting with acceptable prices, where you can also enjoy a relaxing

renovated setting or order a mug outside at the counter to take with

brunch after the Sunday market or try out the outdoor seating area

you to brighten up your day!

on the banks of the Meuse.

MA FERME EN VILLE 34 RUE SOUVERAIN-PONT TUES TO SAT FROM 9:30 TO 18:30 BRUNCH ON SAT AND THE FIRST SUN OF THE MONTH And last but not least... a grocer’s shop in the middle of a charming street, just a short walk from Place Saint-Lambert, selling local products to take away or to be enjoyed on the spot. Ma Ferme en Ville also offers a small menu for those who find local seasonal produce more important than an organic label. You can find fresh cheese and cold meats, wine and ‘peket’ (a variety of local gin), jams and tapenade, and all kinds of coffee and tea. We hesitated between a salmon sandwich prepared in the traditional manner and a chicken burger, before deciding on the quiche of the day with beetroot, goat's cheese and apple. Exceptional!

LeasePlan Mobility Card

Tous les transports dans votre poche.

Une seule et même carte pour tous vos besoins de mobilité.

La LeasePlan Mobility Card vous rendra encore plus mobile.

Pour un montant mensuel fixe, vous pouvez utiliser tous les moyens de transport dont vous avez besoin. Le vélo ou la voiture partagé(e), le taxi, les transports en commun, le parking et même le train international. Tout est dès à présent possible avec la même carte.

Contactez LeasePlan pour une offre sur mesure. www.leaseplan.be

Carglass®, partenaire privilégié de LeasePlan Désormais, aussi pour les essuie-glaces

Rendez-vous vite dans un Centre de Services Carglass® près de chez vous. Notre spécialiste les examinera et, au besoin, les remplacera immédiatement pour que vous puissiez reprendre la route en toute sécurité (nous réglerons directement la facture avec LeasePlan).

Nulle part, servi aussi vite et aussi bien Carglass® aime surpasser les attentes de ses clients. Les conducteurs LeasePlan l’apprécient apparemment puisqu’ils sont presque 98 % à se déclarer satisfaits à très satisfaits de notre service.

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