McLaren Automotive, the world-renowned British sports and supercar maker, is the latest organisation to join the Driving for Better Business (DfBB) campaign as a Business Champion.
Main picture: Mike Flewitt, the Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive is presented with the Driving for Better Business Champion Certificate, signed by HRH Prince Michael of Kent. The certificate was presented by Mike Wilson of Highways England during a Director’s Briefing event run by the Institute of Directors and Driving for Better Business, held at the McLaren Technology Centre in Woking on 30th October 2017. From L-R, Simon Turner, Campaign Director for Driving for Better Business; Mike Wilson, Chief Highways Engineer and Highways England’s Executive Director for Safety, Engineering and Standards; Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer at McLaren Automotive, Hannah Gregory, Driver and Road Safety Manager at McLaren Automotive; Louise Gulliver, Managing Director at the Institute of Directors.
McLaren Automotive is also the first new Business Champion since Highways England took on the campaign to form the core of its new business outreach programme earlier this year.
The success with which McLaren Automotive has managed its Driving at Work activities has seen the company achieve a more then 50% reduction in fleet insurance claims and a 22% reduction in fleet insurance premium in just three years.
When driving a vehicle as recognisable as a McLaren, it is essential to maintain the highest standards to protect the company’s reputation.
Mike Flewitt, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Automotive said: “I have a vision of excellence in driving standards that reflects us as a brand and that is equally important whether employees are driving a McLaren car or any other car on company business. All our driving should be done in a ‘McLaren’ way, to a standard of excellence admired by onlookers.”
Mr Flewitt continued: “I am extremely proud that the Driving for Better Business campaign has recognised the work we have done. It reflects well on all those within McLaren who drive as part of their role, or are involved in the management of our drivers and vehicles.”
Hannah Gregory, Driving and Road Safety Manager for McLaren Automotive, was appointed to oversee the company’s improvements in this area and to develop new policies and procedures.
One of the company’s biggest challenges was to fully understand the full range of at-work driving activities, and the risks present in each. They include:
- On-road and on-track development of pre-production models
- On-road pre-delivery routines for customers’ cars
- On-road use connected with aftersales and servicing of customers’ cars
- Staff using their own cars for business journeys
- On-track events and motorsport for customers.
She set up and ran a series of workshops to give business drivers the opportunity to shape the ‘Driving at Work’ policy and explain what their driving duties entail, how they view the risks and suggest practical solutions.
Ms Gregory points to two significant factors in the success of the programme. “First of all, we had full support from the senior management team. This support, and the fact that we consulted fully with all our drivers, made them feel valued and engaged. The resulting Driving at Work policy has been welcomed by our drivers as reasonable and workable, and which is evidenced by the strong rise in standards.”
The company’s achievement in joining the ranks of Britain’s best managed vehicle operators also coincides with it hosting a Driving at Work seminar in conjunction with the Institute of Directors (IoD). Driving for Better Business promoted good management of those who drive for work, and the associated business benefits, to a specially selected audience of IoD members, together with a more detailed look at McLaren’s own case study, which has been published at www.drivingforbetterbusiness.com/case-studies
Louise Gulliver, Managing Director at the Institute of Directors, said “The presentation on Driving for Better Business was a real eye opener and this is clearly an issue of great relevance to all directors. Most businesses have at least some staff who drive for work and the financial benefits achieved by some of the campaign’s Business Champions are quite extraordinary. Ambitious employers have a clear opportunity to improve their operational excellence, business reputations and overall profitability.”
Delegates were also treated to an overview of the challenges in designing a modern supercar from McLaren’s Design Director Rob Melville, responsible for the company’s latest model, the 720S, followed by a tour of the McLaren Production Centre.
DFBB campaign director Simon Turner said: “Our Business Champions are exceptional organisations that have recognised how good management of those who drive for work can bring huge benefits in staff welfare and safety, improved service delivery, reduced operational costs and enhanced reputation. We are delighted that McLaren Automotive’s safety strategy for Driving at Work has delivered such impressive results and thank them for the opportunity to share their inspiring story with other businesses.”
Mike Wilson, Chief Highways Engineer and Highways England’s Executive Director for Safety, Engineering and Standards, said: “Safety is at the heart of everything we do at Highways England. The Driving for Better Business Campaign forms the core of Highways England’s drive to raise awareness and improve standards amongst organisations whose staff drive for work. We’re delighted to recognise McLaren Automotive for the fantastic work they have done in this area and to award them the status of Business Champion”
