Airparks plans to expand parking services

Airport parking company reports healthy business

Off-airport car park provider Airparks has unveiled plans for expansion after experiencing a busy year. Over the past 12 months, Airparks reports that it has witnessed a significant increase in the number of customers utilising its car parks.

In the fiscal year 2022/23, approximately 700,000 individuals used the established Airparks sites at Luton and Birmingham. A new site in Scotland is also doing good business. Last summer, Airparks opened a parking facility at Aberdeen Airport that is just a 5-minute walk from the terminal. Since its opening, over 30,000 passengers have used the site. A further 187 spaces were added at Aberdeen in June to meet increasing demand.

Looking ahead, Airparks has devised a investment strategy for 2023 that will see the company allocate £1m towards enhancing its sites, focussing on car park surfacing, customer areas and roadways.

Airparks will also be reopening of its ShortRun site serving Birmingham Airport customers. This revitalised location will feature refreshed branding and improved roadways.

To further improve operational efficiency and environmental sustainability, Airparks intends to introduce new buses to its fleet, with potential plans to invest in electric vehicles.

Airparks will also implement

Hanshaw takes NSL leadership role

Keith Hanshaw has become managing director of NSL, Marston Holdings’ frontline civil parking enforcement.

NSL is a civil parking enforcement contractor providing front line, back office and customer support services.

Hanshaw remains Marstons’ client services director for transportation, a role he has held for over six years and which sees him oversee the group’s work in the transportation and environment sector.

This role includes civil parking enforcement, business process and outsourcing, checking, Traffic Management Act debt, ANPR enforcement, air quality enforcement and the environment, as well as business development and strategic accounts.

Prior to this group role, Hanshaw was managing director of Marstons’ Project Centre transport and urban design consultancy for eight years.

Previously Keith worked in local government for over 25 years, including being director of public realm at the London Borough of Waltham Forest and being head of traffic at Medway Council.

Hanshaw chaired the Six Olympic Host Borough Multi-area agreement, driving the group to securing £180m over three years for the Olympic fringe.

automated number plate recognition (ANPR) barriers at all its sites to provide a seamless parking experience. This technological upgrade will streamline the check-in and check-out process for customers.

Airparks is harnessing mobile technology to enhance customer convenience. New mobile app- based services include a ‘Where’s my bus’ feature through which customers will receive real-time updates on the location of the shuttle buses.

Meanwhile, a new ‘check-in’ feature will enable customers to check-in directly from their vehicles upon arrival, saving them time and enhancing the company’s efficiency.

Howard Dove, Airparks’ managing director, said: “Airparks is poised for an exceptional year of growth, with its dedication to customer satisfaction and relentless pursuit of excellence at the forefront of its expansion plans. The company remains committed to offering industryleading services, investing in cutting-edge technology, and providing exceptional customer experiences to all passengers.”

Building careers for veterans

Veterans in Parking UK, an initiative launched by the British Parking Association (BPA), and the United Statesbased Veterans in Parking, will be forming a strategic partnership alliance (SPA).

The alliance’s mission is to raise awareness and promote opportunities for military veterans, enabling them to enter into meaningful and rewarding careers in the respective parking and transportation sectors in the UK and the US.

The BPA formed Veterans in Parking UK in recognition that there are many ex-service people working within the sector who have previously served their country and who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and skills to their respective organisations.

The association has already welcomed over 100 ex- servicemen and women to its LinkedIn group,

Dave Smith, BPA head of communications, said: “We are delighted to form this alliance with Veterans in Parking. A key theme of our association’s new strategic plan will be to promote an inclusive and professional sector, and Veterans in Parking provides an opportunity for us to champion our sector as an inclusive place for Veterans to work, and to help them navigate recruitment challenges with tangible support and guidance as part of our dedicated community.” By working together, Veterans in Parking and Veterans in Parking UK will enjoy a larger geographical footprint, enhanced visibility, and the opportunity to combine resources to further their common mission.