BVRLA News Autumn 2019

Autumn 2019

The quarterly newsletter of the British Vehicle Rental & Leasing Association

BVRLA launches manifesto

The BVRLA is calling for the next Government to back the fleet sector by confirming the long-term status of its plug-in vehicle grants.

cleanest and most flexible fleets on UK roads, the vehicle rental, leasing and car club industry is perfectly placed to help deliver these goals.

2019: Delivering sustainable road transport highlights the vital role BVRLA members can play in moving towards greener, cleaner transportation.

There is a broad political consensus about the need to transition to a net-zero emission economy and encourage more sustainable modes of travel. As the operators of the newest,

Focusing on three main areas – accelerating the road to zero, driving transport behaviour change, and tackling air quality and emissions today – the association’s Manifesto

Amongst the policy ideas submitted by the BVRLA is a call for the future of the Plug-In Grant for vans and cars to be confirmed. There are currently no concrete plans to continue this grant beyond next year, feeding anxiety within the market that the fund could be pulled at short notice.

Until price parity is achieved with internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, the grant provides a vital affordability boost for those purchasing an electric car or van.

The BVRLA’s seven-point plan for the next Government’s first 100 days in office: 1. Extend the Plug-in Grant for pure electric vehicles until 2025.

2. Re-introduce the Plug-in Grant for hybrid vehicles as a short-term measure while supply constraints for pure EVs continue.

3. Target additional funding for the fleet sector to help with the costs of installing EV charging infrastructure.

4. Adjust CO2-related taxes to create a more stable environment to encourage investment in greener company cars.

5. Extend Future Mobility Zone funding for another year.

6. Create a Mobility Innovation Fund to help local authorities to develop new, integrated mobility services.

7. Establish a new ‘Targeted Clean Freight Scrappage Fund’ to help upgrade vans and trucks operating within the Clean Air Zones.

Read the BVRLA Manifesto 2019 in full on the BVRLA website.

Manifesto 2019 Delivering sustainable road transport

The BVRLA is urging the next Government to give a long-term Plug-in Grant commitment until 2025, gradually phasing out this support as progress is made towards parity with ICE vehicles. u

YOUR ASSOCIATION Welcome to the BVRLA family 4 Making the most of your Forums 6 Help find an Industry Hero 6 Industry Outlook Conference is near 7 Annual Dinner 2020 comic revealed 7 In the Spotlight 14 Become a Brand Partner 15 RESEARCH & INSIGHT Members have cleanest fleet

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BREXIT Our Brexit message

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SECURITY Government seeks BVRLA support 9 RISC Database thwarts fraud 10 REGULATION & COMPLIANCE Ask Adam 10 Regulators’ Round-up… FOS & FCA 11 PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT New SM&CR e-learning modules 12 Members celebrate development 13

drive your business With over 30 years in business, Safo Group, together with its European subsidiaries, is the chosen partner of many national and international Top Players. Safo has developed bespoke and unique software, providing services to a combined fleet of over 1,000,000 vehicles.

Corporate fleets hold an important role in companies which need to be managed. Contracts, traffic fines, courtesy vehicles, fuel cards, maintenance: There are so many activities to handle and the clients need effective solutions in line with their internal operating processes.

Safo Group has been working in this way within the European market for more than 30 years, supporting clients with both small and large corporate fleets.

A cost-effective management process gives many economical benefits and allows our clients to keep their fleet under control.

Gerry’s note: The upcoming General Election has been labelled as one of the most unpredictable in recent memory. Whichever party emerges victorious, we must all hope that our new Government has a workable majority, a business-friendly approach to Brexit and a real plan for tackling the UK’s road transport challenges.

The BVRLA has spent the past few months talking to members and distilling a clear industry perspective on these vital topics. Our 2019 Manifesto and Brexit policy asks are already being discussed with the main political parties.

We hope that you can also share them if you have any interaction with your local candidates.

Transport continues to rise up the political agenda, which means that the vehicle rental and leasing sector has to fight harder than ever to get its voice heard. Our latest sustainability credentials demonstrate our industry’s vital role in tackling air quality and reducing carbon emissions. The Government’s recent

decision to partner with the BVRLA in tackling the threat of vehicle-as-a-weapon terrorism also demonstrates the increased profile your association has with policymakers.

Our voice continues to grow as we welcome a chorus of new members, including Royal Mail, Centrica and British Telecom’s Openreach, which recently joined our new Fleet Operator category of membership. This has taken the BVRLA membership past 1,000 – a major milestone which is just part of an exciting journey that will continue next year and beyond.

We hope to welcome many of you as we take another step forward at our BVRLA Industry Outlook Conference in Nottingham on 5 December. u

Gerry Keaney, BVRLA Chief Executive

BVRLA, River Lodge, Badminton Court, Amersham, Buckinghamshire HP7 0DD Tel 01494 434747 Email info@bvrla.co.uk Web www.bvrla.co.uk

© COPYRIGHT BVRLA 2019

THE BVRLA TEAM • THE BVRLA TEAM • THE BVRLA TEAM • THE BVRLA TEAM

Chief Executive: Gerry Keaney Secretary to the Chief Executive: Kate McLaren Management Accountant: Bharti Ladwa Sales Ledger Administrator: Wilma Bowles Director of Communications & External Relations: Toby Poston Public Affairs Manager: Rachael Hewish Research & Insight Manager: Phil Garthside Communications Manager: Andrea Davies Senior Communications Officer: Helen Lawrence Events Manager: Fran Hampson Director of Member Services: Nora Leggett Training & Development Administrator: Tessa Warn Membership Manager: Greg Theaker Membership Support Officer: Joshua Saunders Compliance & Governance Manager: Jeremy Barfour-Awuah Senior Compliance Officer: Adam Holt Compliance Officer: Hayleigh Clayton CRM Data Manager: Robert Burford Senior Policy Advisor: Catherine Bowen Government Affairs Manager: Paul Thompson Head of Operations: Amanda Brandon Member Services Executive: Laura Birdsey Conciliation Service Manager: Sallie Catchpole Conciliation Service Officers: Stephen Dix Amanpreet Kalu Sarah Philp Laura Pite

BVRLA News articles may be used copyright free by members provided that an acknowledgement is given.

Chairwoman Nina Bell Vice-Chair Nick Brownrigg Honorary Treasurer Brian Back | Autumn 2019

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YOUR ASSOCIATION

Welcome to the BVRLA family

New starter

Since the previous edition of BVRLA News was published, the association has welcomed 25 new members: 15 corporate members, five leasing broker members, three fleet operators and two associate members.

Jeremy Barfour-Awuah joins the BVRLA as Compliance & Governance Manager, a newly created role to further bolster the capabilities of the association’s compliance and governance team.

Corporate members Anker Van Hire Birmingham Bespoke Traffic and Highway Solutions Chorley BVR Vehicle Rentals Leeds Chiswick Van Hire London CMS Hire Wolverhampton Easy Lease (UK) Cannock Euronet Leasing Leicester Niche Vehicle Solutions Bolton Postmill Vehicle Hire Wymondham Redditch Vehicle Hire Redditch Senior Vehicle Rental Walsall Specialist Vehicle Solutions Tipton Splend London Stable Hire Rushden Wheels Van Hire Barnet

Leasing broker members Aptus Contracts Manchester Belmont Vehicle Leasing Oldham Car Lease Agent Greater Manchester Hot Car Leasing Telford Smarter Leasing Edgware

Fleet operators Centrica Staines Openreach London Royal Mail Fleet Chesterfield 4

Associate members Cars2buy www.carstobuy.co.uk Cars2buy is a price comparison website for outright purchase and leasing of new cars and LCVs, providing tools to enable consumers to get the best deal for them. Cars2buy prides itself on providing advertisers with high-quality, good-value leads and working closely with each one to ensure they are getting the best results possible.

GEFCO uk.gefco.net GEFCO provides end-to-end vehicle logistics solutions integrating the whole supply chain. Activities include: transportation; single car and bulk transport solutions; vehicle storage and inspection services; new vehicle preparation solutions; PDI; vehicle customisation from simple livery to complex LCV build; pool fleet and demonstration fleet management, including accident repair; refurbishment to any standard and remarketing integration.

Quotevine

BVRLA members Bedfordbuy nearly half quotevineapp.com of all new vehicles sold in the UK, Providing a suite of SaaS solutions with a digital-first support around 465,000 jobs and approach.

Innovation and digitisation sit at the heart of what they do. They work with the UK’s leading tech contribute nearly £49bn partners to ensure their solutions offer rich functionality to the economy each year and expertise, aligning with customers’ changing

An experienced senior compliance manager, Jeremy is a lawyer with a proven track record in risk management, regulatory reporting and stakeholder management.

Starting his career in the Civil Service, Jeremy moved to banking and from there to the insurance sector, where his project management skills led to several roles managing data privacy, financial crime initiatives and regulatory compliance risk.

His most recent position was Senior Conduct Risk and Compliance Manager with AXA Travel Insurance.

Please join us in welcoming Jeremy to the BVRLA family. u

BVRLA members operate a combined fleet of over 5 million cars, vans and trucks

expectations in the digital age.

Autumn 2019 |

RESEARCH & INSIGHT

BVRLA members have cleanest fleet on the road The association has published new data on BVRLA members’ green credentials, showing that vehicle rental and leasing operators are leading the UK’s transition to cleaner transport.

The latest Fleet Sustainability Credentials data shows that 100% of BVRLA members’ car rental fleet and

96% of leased cars are already Clean Air Zone-compliant. These compliance figures are well ahead of the average for all UK cars, just 62% of which meet CAZ emission requirements.

The results are even starker for the commercial vehicle sector – which is the largest target for most local authority CAZs. Only 21% of the UK van fleet is

currently CAZ-compliant, compared to 67% of all leased vans and 88% of the rental van fleet.

Only 44% of the total UK HGV fleet is currently Euro VI-compliant, but this rises to more than 80% for rented and leased trucks. u

Fleet Sustainability Credentials can be downloaded at bvrla.co.uk.

New Leasing Outlook Report A new Quarterly Leasing Outlook Report has been published, combining market data with insight from senior leasing executives.

| Autumn 2019

The report provides an unrivalled look at the current market and its development, as well as a unique ‘Risk Register’ of issues that could impact on fleet procurement and operations.

Analysis also covers the expected future performance of key industry sectors, including business contract hire, personal contract hire, and changing demand for different fuel types.

This latest report, which looks at trends emerging from Q2 2019 data, concludes that although leasing companies face an increasingly complex operating environment, customer relationships are becoming closer than ever as they help clients respond to the rapid pace of change in the fleet market.

This insight is enhanced with in-depth analysis of residual value performance of the UK car market from automotive experts at cap hpi. u Quarterly Leasing Outlook Report can be downloaded at bvrla.co.uk.

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YOUR ASSOCIATION

Making the most of your BVRLA Forums BVRLA Forums provide the perfect opportunity for members to network with industry colleagues and hear first-hand expert commentary on a range of specialist subjects.

The BVRLA holds three Technical and Operational Management Forums and three Residual Value and Remarketing Forums each year, all hosted by a range of partners across the UK.

The BVRLA Technical and Operational Management Forum

The TOM Forum is designed to encourage discussion and debate issues surrounding whole-life costs of vehicles on members’ fleets. Topics addressed include electric vehicles; service, maintenance and repair; accident management; vehicle ordering; licensing; recalls; driver behaviour; and road safety.

Dates for 2020 Technical and Operational Management Forums: 6 February, 4 June, 5 November 2020 (All half-day events)

The BVRLA Residual Value and Remarketing Forum

The RVR Forum embraces the many aspects of determining residual value risk, including pre-procurement, best practice in vehicle collection, and vehicle resale. Delegates attending will hear the latest news and insights into market conditions, macroeconomic developments and vehicle supply and demand.

Dates for 2020 Residual Value and Remarketing Forums: 13 February, 18 June, 19 November 2020 (All half-day events)

Get involved! Interested in attending a Forum? Email events@bvrla.co.uk.

Did you know?

Jaguar Land Rover, PSA Group, Thatcham, Copart, BCA and Aston Barclay have all hosted a BVRLA Forum in 2019. If you would like to find out more about hosting a BVRLA Forum contact brandpartnerships@bvrla.co.uk.

Last year’s Industry Heroes (left to right): Stephen Best, Jennifer Wilson, Ashlee Lanchbery and Mark Gallagher

Do you have a hero in your midst?

Nominations are now open for the BVRLA Industry Hero Awards, to be presented at the association’s Annual Dinner at the London Hilton in March 2020.

The awards’ provide the perfect opportunity to recognise the heroes of the industry and celebrate their achievements in front of industry colleagues.

Our towns and cities need a The BVRLA is looking for people who have gone ‘above and more beyond’ the call of duty, making aintelligent, contribution towards improving the business during 2019. sustainable use of Nominations can be submitted by a manager or a colleague the car. Promoting and must outline the nominee’s main achievements and detail what makesthe them stand useout. ofEntries carare open to all BVRLA members. Winners will be invited to receive their award at the BVRLA Annual Dinner, expensesand paid rental, carallclubs (excluding travel). u other flexible types If you have a nominee in mind, who deserves recognition of car use can make for their efforts or accomplishments, contact Events Manager Fran Hampson for an entry form: fran@bvrla.co.uk. that happen.

Gerry BVRLA Closing date for entries is 31Keaney, January 2020.Chief Executive

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Autumn 2019 |

YOUR ASSOCIATION

Headline Sponsor

Supporting Sponsors

Industry Outlook Conference

BVRLA Annual Dinner 2020

Driving your business into 2020 5 December 2019

East Midlands Conference Centre Nottingham

Times are changing, and fast. The vehicle rental and leasing sector is at the centre of a revolution in transport technology and new mobility solutions. Meanwhile, the industry and December 2019 its customers are charting a course through an ever-changing regulatory, economic ast Midlands Conference and political environment. The future has never looked so exciting, or uncertain.

entre, The Nottingham BVRLA’s Industry Outlook conference

will provide a unique environment in which

mes are changing, fast.an The vehicle rental leasing sector to hearand from exciting rangeand of thought at the centre of a revolution in transport technology and new leaders, forecasters and analysts, giving you obility solutions.

Meanwhile, the industry and its customers the information you need to plan for the are harting a course yearthrough ahead.an ever-changing regulatory, economic nd political environment. The future has never looked so exciting, uncertain.

You will also get the opportunity to debate

he BVRLA’s Industry Outlook conference willmore provide an unique and share these ideas with than 150 of nvironment your wherepeers you can hearacross from anthe exciting range of thought from vehicle rental and aders, forecasters analysts, u giving you the information you leasingand sector. eed to plan for the year ahead. You will also get the opportunity debate and share these ideas with more than 150 of your peers | Autumn om across the vehicle rental and leasing2019 sector.

The BVRLA is delighted to announce that comedian and movie actor Omid Djalili will be entertaining BVRLA members and guests at the association’s next Annual Dinner.

The industry’s most illustrious event is always a sell out so members are encouraged to book before Christmas to avoid disappointment.

KEY TOPICS

For full details, see the BVRLA website: bvrla.co.uk Research & Insight

Brexit

Future Mobility

Motor Finance

Taxation

Vehicle & Road Safety

Economy

Air Quality & Emissions

The London Hilton on Park Lane will again play host to the event, which takes place on 5 March 2020.

Ticket prices are £290+VAT per person and £2,900+VAT for a table of 10. u Book or find out more on the BVRLA website.

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BREXIT

Voice of influence…

Our message to policymakers BVRLA Brexit Asks | No Deal Brexit and the

It is vital that the UK fleet sector maintains affordable and reliable access to the parts and vehicles it needs to keep the country moving.

As the owners and operators of more than five million cars, vans and trucks, BVRLA members spend more than £30bn on new vehicles each year as well as billions more on the parts to keep them roadworthy.

Most of these vehicles and parts arrive from Europe and it is essential that the UK Government preserves the frictionless trade and free movement of goods with the EU. Tariffs and customs queues are not the only threat. Policymakers must also retain the regulatory convergence that underpins automotive trade. u Members are encouraged to share the BVRLA’s No Deal Brexit Policy Asks (right) when meeting with policymakers.

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fleet sector

No Deal Brexit and

the fleet sector

Fleet operators make a massive contribution to the UK automotive sector through the millio ns of vehicles they purch ase and their activity in dealerships, ga rages and the used vehic le market.

As the owners and operator s of more than five

million cars, vans and truc £30 billion on new vehicles ks, BVRLA members spen each year as well as billio d more than ns more on the parts to vehicles and parts arrive keep them roadworthy. from Europe and it is esse Most of these ntial that the UK Governm free movement of goods ent preserves the frictionle with the EU. Tariffs and cust ss trade and oms queues are not the retain the regulatory conv only thre ergence that underpins at. Policymakers must also automotive trade.

It is vital that the UK fleet sector maintains affordabl e and reliable access to the keep the country moving. parts and vehicles it need In the event of No Deal the s to association calls on the Gov of specific measures to ensu ernment to introduce a re the vehicle rental and package leasing sector continues contribution to accelerati to thrive and maintain its ng transport decarbonizati critical on.

KEY ISSUES FOR THE FLEE T SECTOR • Vehicle Tariffs. Tempora ry tariffs could cause an average price rise of £1,5 00-£1,800 for cars or £15,000 for the average truck. Zero-emission vehicles are more expensive than their petrol and diesel counterparts and would be disproportionately hit by any tariff, striking a significant blow to the UK’s Net Zero ambitions.

• Delayed Repairs. Any delay to complex ‘Just in time’ automotive supply chains could cause massive disruption to parts availabili ty, delaying vehicle servicing or repairs. The resulting increase in vehi cle downtime will damage the UK economy.

• Economic disruption.

BVRLA members and their customers would be nega tively impacted by any broader national economic disturbance which could significantly disincentivise the purchase of cleaner vehicles at the scale and pace required to meet current EV targets.

• Common regulatory standards. The supply of electric vehicles in the UK is already a cause for concern. Any regulatory divergence, particularly as the EU introduces its own new CO2 emissions targets, could severely restr ict vital imports of the latest battery electric vehi cles.

• Attracting the best tale nt. The sector’s competitiveness and abili ty to provide services to consumers and business es would be undermined if recruitment of the necessary skills was not protected.

HOW POLICYMAKERS CAN HELP: • Secure a tariff deal.

The UK Government mus t secure an early and perm anent arrangement with the EU that reduces tarif fs on all vehicles and part s to zero.

• Customs arrangements . Any alternative customs arrangements need to repli cate exactly the seamless trading relationship that UK automotive currently enjoys with the EU. • Cut corporation tax.

Cutting business tax will help sustain vital investme nt in the latest low emission vehicles.

• Reduce fuel duty. Driv ers and fleet operators, particularly hauliers, will need help to bear the wider economic impact of a No Deal.

• Cut VAT on cleaner vehi cles and parts. A shortterm VAT exemption or redu ction for zero emission vehicles will maintain the UK’s position as an attractive market for EV exports.

• Flexible immigration system. As the UK ends freedom of movement and implements its new immigration controls it mus t provide security to EU citizens living and working in the EU and attract the right mix of talent from the rest of the world.

• Maintain regulatory convergence. It is vital that UK automotive regulatio n is aligned with that of the EU, securing access to the latest clean vehicle technology.

Brexit: Getting prepared Guidance has been published on the BVRLA website to help members with preparations for EU exit.

This includes vital information on employees’ rights, insurance, vehicle supply and which documents customers will need to take their vehicle abroad post-Brexit. The BVRLA Chief Executive, Gerry Keaney, has also written to members to highlight the resources available.

The BVRLA has also produced a series of asks for the Government to protect the vehicle rental and leasing industry in the event of a no deal. These asks cover a wide variety of areas including vehicle tariffs, repair delays, economic disruption, common regulatory standards, and recruitment from outside the UK. u Members can read more about the Brexit advice on the guidance section of the BVRLA website.

Autumn 2019 |

SECURITY

Government enlists the BVRLA to strengthen its Rental Vehicle Security Scheme The Government has signed an agreement with the BVRLA to act as an approved partner to monitor and assess compliance against its Rental Vehicle Security Scheme. This will see all 455 of the BVRLA’s rental and commercial vehicle member organisations automatically signed-up to the scheme as part of their membership.

The voluntary scheme was introduced by the Department for Transport in December 2018 to help mitigate the risk of vehicle terrorism following a spate of attacks in 2017 in which vehicles were used as weapons.

In its 2018 National Counter-Terrorism Strategy, the UK Government outlined its commitment to working with the vehicle rental sector on measures to improve counter-terrorism security, and, during the past two years, the BVRLA has led the sector’s response.

Monitoring compliance with the scheme will form part of the association’s existing governance programme as of 1 January 2020. BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “The BVRLA and its members have always taken security matters seriously and we do not take lightly the trust that the

| Autumn 2019

Government is placing upon the BVRLA by agreeing for us to act as an approved partner to help implement their Rental Vehicle Security Scheme.

“By making this part of our mandatory Code of Conduct, we are taking an industry-led approach, and although it will not be a complete panacea, the scheme will go some way towards further strengthening a culture of security vigilance across the sector and our members support that. We will continue to work with government and law enforcement to explore more opportunities to further counter the threat of terrorism.” u The BVRLA will be publishing guidance in November to help members comply with the scheme. Read more about the Rental Vehicle Security Scheme on gov.uk.

“It is critical that businesses across the UK are vigilant when it comes to matters of security, and this vital scheme plays an important part. By making sure rental firms do proper checks on customers, we can reduce the risk of vehicles being used to cause harm. I’d like to thank the sector for everything they are doing.”

Baroness Vere Transport Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

“Our business partners, including the BVRLA who have been a key partner within the vehicle rental industry… have worked with Counter Terrorism Policing to embed good security practices within their industry.

This latest agreement will help support the oversight of this important piece of work.”

Lucy D’Orsi Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Counter Terrorism Policing

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SECURITY

REGULATION & COMPLIANCE

Ask Adam Send your questions about the BVRLA inspection programme to Senior Compliance Officer Adam Holt at adam@bvrla.co.uk.

RISC Database protects members from fraud The value of the BVRLA RISC database was demonstrated recently when its alert system highlighted a potential fraud, resulting in a member cancelling a hire for several vehicles just before they were released to the fraudsters.

The fraudulent individuals, who claimed to be directors of a company in London, approached a BVRLA member wanting to set up a business account. Foreign credit cards were used for payment and a residential delivery address provided.

shared with other members of the association via its RISC database alerts.

Another member that had also been targeted by the same fraudulent individuals was due to deliver vehicles that day. Fortunately, it subscribed to the BVRLA RISC system and received the alert. It was then able to take swift action to cancel the delivery, so no vehicles were lost.

This immediately rang alarm bells with the member so further investigations took place into the individuals and their background and the member discovered that they had no connection to the company where they claimed to be directors.

Margaret Speirs, Operations Manager at Arnold Clark and Chairwoman of the BVRLA Rental Committee, said: “This case helps to demonstrate the value of the BVRLA RISC database. I would encourage all members to subscribe to this system and make sure they have multiple people checking to make sure that alerts are not missed.� u

The member cancelled the booking and alerted the BVRLA, enabling the details of the incident to be

Read more about the benefits of RISC and sign up on the BVRLA website: bvrla.co.uk.

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Q: How often do I need to perform Risk Register Monitoring?

A: This will be subject to your business requirements and the process in place for your authorised person(s) or compliance official. Depending on the volume of entries that are detailed on your register, this can vary but we would recommend every month for busier firms. Once a quarter is acceptable if you can justify it (eg very few risk entries added in that period of time).

Q: Where can I get an Insurance Indemnity Form?

A: The BVRLA can supply the forms, which protect members from uninsured losses, to all members, free of charge, for use with customers who wish to arrange their own insurance on rental vehicles.

Contact the BVRLA Compliance Team at compliance@bvrla.co.uk.

Q: Why do I need to do PAT testing on electrical equipment?

A: The testing of portable electrical appliances is necessary to ensure their safety. It is a legal requirement for employers and verifies that they are complying with the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998) and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations (1999).

For more information, visit pat.org.uk.

Autumn 2019 |

REGULATION & COMPLIANCE

Regulators’ Round-up…

Financial Ombudsman Service

Financial Conduct Authority

As part of the BVRLA’s regular engagement with the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS), the two bodies exchanged insights on emerging themes relating to complaints. Discussions focused on:

On the day the FCA announced it would consult on a ban of certain types of commission arrangements and provide clarity on commission disclosure rules, the BVRLA held a conference call with the regulator to discuss its plans. Discussions focused on:

1 Fair usage charges FOS highlighted: It is not always clear how lenders calculate their fair usage charges for when a vehicle is rejected, noting that contracts and documents do not make reference to the calculation.

FOS recommends: That businesses should consider having a set fee and be more transparent about how the fee is calculated.

2 Distress and Inconvenience FOS highlighted: It bases its compensation decisions on the extent of the impact upon the customer. It cited an example of a customer who had complained about faulty vehicle air conditioning.

The customer had a medical condition requiring her to have air conditioning, so the impact of it not working was serious.

FOS recommends: That the BVRLA dispute resolution service always seeks to understand the full context before making case decisions.

The BVRLA agreed this was very useful feedback and would

| Autumn 2019

be provided to its ADR team, highlighting the importance of obtaining wider context.

3 Voluntary termination and excess mileage FOS highlighted: That it is seeing a greater number of complaints about whether excess mileage can be charged on voluntary termination in relation to hire purchase contracts.

FOS recommends: That both the BVRLA and FOS should continue to keep an eye on this trend and report back findings.

4 Affordability FOS highlighted: That some funders are not carrying out enough affordability checks. In the cases where checks have been conducted, the evidence is not sufficiently detailed.

FOS recommends: That detailed evidence of affordability checks should be retained and the cost of vehicle servicing should also be considered when assessing affordability. u

1 The aims of the FCA’s plans The FCA reiterated that the purpose of its plans was to break the link between interest rate and broker commission. The regulator added that it was not seeking to restrict the ability for brokers to set the rate a customer pays but is looking to remove any financial incentive involved.

The FCA also clarified that it was not banning any kind of variable payments from lender to broker or from broker to broker. However, if any arrangement had any appearance of a discretionary nature, it would frown upon such arrangements.

With regard to the revised disclosure requirements, the FCA clarified that there was no new obligation to disclose the exact amount of commission, but it did expect the customer to be informed if a commission existed and the basis upon which it would be calculated.

2 Timescales for implementation The consultation will run for three months to 15 January 2020, following which the regulator will produce a policy statement and revised rules in Q2 2020 (likely to be May 2020).

The FCA intends for the ban to come into force three months after the publication of the policy statement.

The BVRLA has flagged to the regulator that some lenders might require a bit more time to make IT system changes. The FCA stressed that given the urgency to address consumer detriment, it would require very strong reasons why the three-month implementation period would not be sufficient. u Next steps…

The BVRLA will continue to work closely with the FCA on its proposals and the implementation of them. It will be responding to consultation on behalf of the industry and would welcome members’ feedback on changes.

Email policy@bvrla.co.uk.

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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

New SM&CR e-learning modules launched Sammy Leigh, Jenny Leigh and Nina Bell

Nina Bell recognised This year’s John Leigh Outstanding Achievement Award was presented to BVRLA Chairwoman Nina Bell at the FN50 Awards Dinner in November.

The award was presented by John Leigh’s wife Jenny and daughter Sammy, who joined Fleet News Editor Stephen Briers on the stage.

Proud to see the BVRLA Chairwoman receive this award, BVRLA Chief Executive Gerry Keaney said: “Nina has made a significant contribution to the vehicle rental sector. The international remit of her role as Managing Director for Avis Budget and Zipcar in both the UK and Scandinavia brings a diverse perspective, benefiting all those who work with her.

“At the BVRLA Nina has made a valued contribution since joining the board in 2015.

Having been appointed Vice-Chair in 2017 we were delighted to welcome Nina as BVRLA Chairwoman in May this year, making her the first-ever female Chair in the association’s 52-year history." u 12

The BVRLA e-Learning Platform has become a key feature in our training programme. It has enabled us to deliver training to all employees on important industry topics and to ensure they confidently understand the industry’s regulations and guidelines.

The platform is simple and easy to use, allowing learners to progress through modules at their own pace and we can easily monitor their progress.”

The BVRLA is continuing to invest in its e-Learning Platform, adding four new modules to support members with the transition to the Senior Managers & Certification Regime (SM&CR), which takes effect on 9 December 2019.

Three new modules have been added to the Managers and Compliance Package, replacing the previous Overview of SM&CR module.

The new versions, of which learners need to complete only one, are now tailored to the following three types of business: › Solo Limited Scope businesses. › Solo Enhanced businesses.

e-Learning Driving standards within the leasing broker community

› Solo Core businesses.

The new modules have been introduced free of charge to members who already have a subscription to the Managers and Compliance Package e-Learning Platform.

Developed to support your governance programme, compliance training and skills development. www.bvrla.co.uk/e-learning

e-Learning Packages MANAGERS AND COMPLIANCE

ESSENTIALS

ESSENTIALS PLUS

June - December 2019

BVRLA e-learning A4 12ppv3 10Aug19.indd

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In addition, a new Introduction to SM&CR module has also been added to the Essentials Package.

This module is for anybody that needs a basic understanding of what SM&CR is, who is affected, and what it means to them and their business.

09/08/2019 13:29

Katie Hawkins Gateway2lease

This is free of charge to those who have the BVRLA e-Learning Essentials Package.

The flexibility of the e-Learning Platform enables learners to undertake training at times to suit them using either a PC, Mac tablet or smartphone. u Access the e-learning brochure at bvrla.co.uk.

Autumn 2019 | For more information email training@bvrla.co.uk

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Members celebrate professional development All those in the BVRLA family are committed to delivering the highest standards of professionalism and industry best practice.

their day’s attendance on the BVRLA course NLP Skills for Effective Selling.

To support this, the BVRLA offers training courses, formal accreditations, e-learning modules, webinars, forums and industry conferences to help people across all levels and functions in the industry boost their knowledge and skills to benefit themselves, their employer and their customers.

Members from LCH celebrated successful completion of BVRLA Customer Service Training (pictured).

Marketing Manager Alexandra Osowski said: “At LCH, we support our staff so that they are fully equipped to support customers. That’s why we ensure we train our staff to the highest standards to enable them to go the extra mile every day! Many congratulations to our recent BVRLA Customer Service Training graduates in our CS, Finance and Sales teams.

A qualification well deserved.”

Members from SG Fleet were also keen to share their feedback following

| Autumn 2019

Claire Shenton of SG Fleet, said: “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you following on from the NLP sales course that Lee and Ben attended yesterday.

They immediately gave me feedback to say how informative the course was.

They gained an enormous amount of tips and great ideas from the day to help in their day jobs. So, the long and short of it is a huge THANK YOU.” u Full details of BVRLA training can be found on the BVRLA website: bvrla.co.uk.

We can tailor our courses so that the content is aligned to your business needs.

Or we can develop a fully bespoke programme to address any specific concerns you may have.

To find out more, email training@bvrla.co.uk.

Open and in-house cou

rses: For vehicle rental & leas ing professionals.

Compliance Rental operator skills

Fleet management

BVRLA Fair Wear & Tear

BVRLA Profession

TRAINING COURSES

FINANCE ESSENTIALS FOR THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY 20 November, Amersham INTRODUCTION TO THE DAILY RENTAL INDUSTRY 3 December, Amersham 18 March, Amersham

NLP SKILLS FOR EFFECTIVE SELLING 12 February, Amersham

Sales

INTRODUCTION TO THE VEHICLE FLEET INDUSTRY 3 March, Amersham

Customer service

BVRLA CUSTOMER SERVICE 11 March, Amersham

Sales

Industry Skills

FORUM

RESIDUAL VALUE AND REMARKETING 20 November, Birmingham

BVRLA FAIR WEAR & TEAR 15 January, Sutton Coldfield 5 February, Sutton Coldfield

Did you know?

Our courses can be delivered at your own offices – you choose the date and location. This option offers a cost-effective solution for eight delegates or more.

CONFERENCE

INDUSTRY OUTLOOK CONFERENCE 5 December, Nottingham

Finance

al Development: Developing capability, raising and promoting professional standards ism.

SELLING CONTRACT HIRE 24 & 25 March, Amersham For more information email email training@bvrla.co.uk training@bvrla.co.uk

YOUR ASSOCIATION

In the spotlight…

Press releases and byline articles published between August and November 2019: 1 BVRLA would like to see ‘Clean Freight Fund’ to support CV operators.

2 Fleet summit in Coventry to address air quality issues.

3 BVRLA welcomes Labour support for fleets to drive EV uptake.

4 Rental and leasing industry leads the way in addressing the air quality challenge.

5 Milestone reached at BVRLA as membership exceeds one thousand.

6 Leasing brokers are driving the shift to vehicle ‘usership’.

7 Government enlists the BVRLA to strengthen Rental Vehicle Security Scheme.

8 Delivering sustainable road transport – BVRLA launches 2019 Manifesto.

YOUR ASSOCIATION

Become a Brand Partner The BVRLA is introducing a wider, more flexible range of brand partnership opportunities to help businesses of all sizes to connect their brands to the key decision makers in the vehicle rental, leasing and fleet industry.

Brand Partnership Opportunities 2020

t leadership Digital advertising · Sponsorship · Though makers Connecting your brand to the key decision . vehicle rental, leasing and fleet industry

in the

With a selection of thought leadership, digital advertising and sponsorship brand partnership opportunities to choose from, options are available to suit all budgets, enabling even the smallest of businesses to become a brand partner.

By being a brand partner, you can: › Align yourself and your brand with a trusted and influential UK trade body. › Showcase your brand, product and services. › Raise your profile. › Network with key players and industry decision makers. › Join the conversation and share your views on industry hot topics.

| Autumn 2019

tnerships@bvrla.co.uk or call 01494

For more information contact: brandpar

545703

BVRLA Communications Manager Andrea Davies said: “This year we have launched a new website, a new blog channel and have introduced a new industry conference. This has given us the opportunity to introduce a broader, more flexible brand partnership offering which takes full advantage of all our communication platforms.

It’s a great opportunity for businesses to get more involved with the BVRLA and we look forward to welcoming new brand partners in the year ahead.” u All members qualify for a 30% discount and those who commit to multiple options can get further discounts of up to 40%.

The BVRLA Blog The BVRLA Blog shares the knowledge, expertise and views of specialists and industry experts.

Gary Smith, Managing Director at Europcar Mobility Group UK, recently joined the BVRLA blogging community to share his insights on Moving to electric: The challenges and way forward.

Other recent BVRLA bloggers include: Marc Woolfson, Public Affairs Director at WA Communications, who shares An insider’s view of the current political playground.

Jonathan Hampson, Former UK General Manager at Zipcar, who writes about Car sharing: A nudge towards more sustainable travel.

Clive Buhagiar, Head of Operational Services at Alphabet (GB), who has been Doing the maths on vehicle maintenance.

Full details can be found online at www.bvrla.co.uk/ brandpartnerships.

To discuss which options best meet your needs, speak to BVRLA Events Manager Fran Hampson: email brandpartnerships@ bvrla.co.uk.

15

Peter Harris, Director of Sustainability, Europe at UPS, who asks Can urban logistics be sustainable in the real world?

Wendy Williamson, Chief Executive of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation, writes about Championing the motorist’s right to choose. u All BVRLA Blogs are published on the BVRLA website.

To enquire about joining the BVRLA blogging community, contact brandpartnerships@bvrla.co.uk.