Fleet Evolution Backs National Apprenticeship Week after Apprentice Success Story
A leading salary sacrifice and fleet management specialist is backing National Apprenticeship Week after revealing that 75% of its staff and four of its current six-strong leadership team started out their working lives as apprentices.
Tamworth-based Fleet Evolution, which specialises in EV salary sacrifice schemes for businesses of all sizes, has followed a strong apprentice-based approach since its formation 12 years ago.
Appointing apprentices wherever possible in a successful bid to encourage young people to join the fleet industry, the company now has an average age in the mid-to-late 20s. It achieved recognition last year when it won a Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce award for people development linked to its apprenticeship programme.
National Apprenticeship Week this year is from February 5th to February 13th.
It is the 17th annual celebration of the event which is intended to shine a light on the positive impact that apprenticeships make on individuals, businesses and the wider economy, with a theme this year of ‘Skills for Life’.
Right: Andrew Leech and former apprentice, now sales manager, Jordan Hastelow with the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce award for people development.
“We took on our first apprentice in 2012 as our first member of staff. Eleven years later, that apprentice, Charlotte Brooks, is still with us. She has just been appointed as our general manager too,” said Fleet Evolution founder and managing director, Andrew Leech.
“We are delighted that so many of our staff started with us as apprentices and are still with us. Many went on to play a leading part in our leadership team and the successful running of the business. As a consequence, we are a very young and energetic company with a positive can-do attitude,” he said.
“We were also thrilled to receive recognition for our apprenticeship scheme from Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, part of an award scheme which is intended to recognise and celebrate individuals who are current apprentices or have completed apprenticeships, as well as those who support apprenticeships,” he added.
Apprentices have played a major part in the development of Fleet Evolution.
The workforce has grown by 100% in the last three years and is forecast to increase by a further 100% over the next three.
All Fleet Evolution apprentices undergo higher training to level 4, which is the equivalent of the first year of a degree or Higher National Certificate (HNC). They also offer level 5 apprenticeships, which is the equivalent of a foundation degree or Higher National Diploma (HND). In addition, the company is currently in consultation with Aston University to develop a degree-level apprenticeship programme.
Thanks to its young and dynamic workforce, Fleet Evolution has become one of the UK’s leading salary sacrifice specialists. They offer schemes that focus on battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
Its schemes offer a whole array of cost-saving benefits for employees who wish to go down an electric route, including all servicing and repair costs, road fund licence, fully comprehensive insurance, corporate discounts and no deposit.
The benefits also include a 30-day no-quibble clause through which an employer can hand back a car when an employee leaves for whatever reason and provide further protection for when employees fall below the minimum wage, normally as a result of maternity or sickness.
Fleet Evolution founder and managing director, Andrew Leech.
Meet Some of the Apprentices
Just before we sign off, for this National Apprenticeship Week, we want to give a toast to the dreamers, the doers, and the unstoppable learners. And that includes our great team! Let’s meet just a couple of the people helping you through the electric revolution and see how far they’ve come.
Georgia
Georgia joined Fleet Evolution in February 2023 as an Accounts Apprentice. After discovering her skillset lies elsewhere, she now spends her time counting carbon! Georgia enjoys shopping, and her favourite electric car is a Mercedes EQA.
Emily
Emily was recruited as a Business Administration Apprentice in 2020, just 3 weeks before COVID hit. After finding her skillset, she moved on complete a CIPD Level 3 qualification and is now HR/Office Manager. Emily enjoys spending time with her new baby, and her favourite electric car is the KIA EV6.
Charlotte
Charlotte started with Fleet Evolution in 2013 as an Office Junior. 11 years later, and after spending time in every department, Charlotte is now the leader of our Operations team. Charlotte is into all things F1, and her favourite electric car is a BMW i4 M50.