Marking another big step forward towards achieving its ambitious environmental objectives, SMT GB takes an industry lead by swapping its entire company car fleet from diesel and hybrid to fully electric cars.
As part of the plan, SMT GB is also providing financial support to enable home charging points to be installed for all company car users, and is currently installing charging points across their entire Customer Support Centre network. All electricity provided to the business is already generated entirely from renewable sources.
To quantify the importance of this new initiative, in 2019 alone, SMT GB’s company car fleet generated 527 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). In order to offset the impact of this, the company would have to plant 7,900 trees per year.
With a keen interest in spreading the benefits of this new environmental initiative as far as possible, SMT GB have opened up access to all staff members to order their own electric vehicle via a salary sacrifice scheme.
Commenting on the new initiative, SMT GB Environmental Manager Paul Burr states: “As Environmental Manager, owning an electric car was always a dream of mine, but I’d previously found them to be unaffordable. Through the scheme I now have an electric car, and It’s a fantastic benefit not just to me, but to the wider environment. I am proud to work for a company that has taken this bold step forward.”
With the company working towards achieving carbon neutrality, the switch to a fully electric car fleet has greatly assisted the likelihood of attaining this goal. It is also hoped that the implementation and universal inclusion of this initiative will empower SMT GB staff members to consider their own impact on the environment, and make changes for the better.
This new initiative also makes it clear to the entire industry that SMT GB is committed to its strong values, and is an organisation that welcomes likeminded forward-thinkers. Adding to this sentiment, Head of HR Jess Payne states: “Simply put, by moving to a full EV fleet, we are living our values. We care about the environment, and the world we live in. We want our employees to feel good about working for SMT GB, and our scheme helps employees and their families make a greener choice by providing an all-electric car. This is a progressive and exciting development, which makes a strong statement about our commitment to the environment and sustainability – it certainly helps make us an attractive employer to talent with aligned values.”
So far, the new initiative has been warmly welcomed by the staff members already running their new electric vehicles. Commenting on his new company car, CSA & Parts Operations Manager John Green adds: “On the surface, they may come across as a bit expensive but, when you crunch the numbers, getting one quickly becomes a no-brainer. My previous vehicle would cost me 24p per mile to run, whereas my new car costs me 2p. The service intervals are also far longer than a standard internal combustion engine car, and there are no oils or filters to change, which just adds to the cost saving and convenience of running it! Finding charging points when out and about has not been a challenge for me either. It’s great to know that my travel now generates zero emissions, and we can’t turn our back on the future.”
When asked about the new initiative, SMT GB CEO Nick Allen concludes: “At SMT, we are fully committed to our sustainability goals. As early adopters to a fully electric fleet we are setting the benchmark, not just within our industry, but for any business looking to improve their impact on the environment. We are committed to our bold environmental objectives and are excited to be leading the way towards a brighter future for all.”
