I’m Nick Darlow, your vehicle consultant, and I’m based on the border of Leicestershire and Northamptonshire in Market Harborough. My role is to help and advise clients, on either a business or personal level, on anything automotive.
I have over 10 years’ experience of initially funding, sourcing, supplying and then selling vehicles on behalf of my customers, as well as advising and overseeing fleets for small businesses.
This wide-ranging experience was organically gained whilst running my previous business, Angelus Automobiles, until spring 2021, and then more recently working for Britishvolt until spring 2023, see Power by Britishvolt biography below.
My unique approach and hands-on experience enable me to effectively work and advise independently whilst always keeping my customers’ best interests at heart.
If you want to know more about me and how I can help you, please scroll through my website for added insight, then fill in the contact form and I will call you back at your convenience. You can also follow me on Facebook or LinkedIn.
What is my aim as a fleet vehicle consultant?
Help you procure your fleet at a reduced cost and explore the best funding options for your vehicles.
Advise on setting out a structured company fleet policy, if one isn’t already in place.
Consult on how to Improve driver compliance using a Driving at Work Policy.
Assess fleet maintenance and procedures to advise on costs and improvements.
Negotiate with fleet insurers and brokers on your behalf to reduce renewal costs.
Assist with fleet vehicle disposal at end of life.
If you think I can help you, please fill in the contact form below and I will give you a call at your convenience.
Exactly what is fleet compliance
Being compliant means managing your fleet business across four key areas:
Your vehicles must be fit for purpose and outfitted with safety provisions
Your drivers must be licensed, trained and fit to drive
Your journeys must be planned purposefully and realistically scheduled, with consideration given to driver breaks and adverse weather
Your management must clearly explain company policies and staff responsibilities, along with training in relevant systems and ongoing evaluation of each of the above.
Covering all of these bases ensures your operation meets fleet safety compliance standards, keeping your people as safe as possible – whether they’re on the road, or in your workplace.
Why is fleet safety important?
Up to a third of all road traffic accidents involve someone working at the time. That accounts for more than 20 deaths and 250 serious injuries every week. If one of your drivers is the cause, that could lead to them being prosecuted. Or, it could lead to you, as their employer, being prosecuted instead.
There are many reasons this could happen, from inadequate training to substandard vehicle maintenance, unreasonable journey demands, or poorly communicated safety directives. Fleet safety compliance means giving your employees the best chance of avoiding accidents, while also protecting your company from anything unexpected that may happen on the road.
Compliance for greener fleets
However, compliance isn’t just about avoiding accidents and liability if they happen. The UK government has committed to a zero-fossil-fuel future from 2030 and net zero emissions by 2050, and outlined its Road To Zero strategy for cleaner road transport. Fleet businesses will have a key role to play in achieving this.
As part of this move towards greener driving, most of Greater London is already classed a Low Emission Zone (LEZ) designed to encourage heavy diesel vehicles to become cleaner. Central London, meanwhile, is designated an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). The LEZ operates 24/7-365, while the ULEZ operates every day except Christmas Day. HGVs, vans, buses and minibuses that operate within these zones and don’t meet Euro 4 (for petrol) or Euro 6 (for diesel) standards will have to pay a penalty charge.
As a result, if you operate in or near the Capital, complying with these regulations could save your business a considerable sum. Even if your fleet operates elsewhere, however, you should be mindful of complying with UK heavy-duty vehicle CO2 emissions standards.
In short, whether you’re concerned with fleet safety management, moving to a greener future, or simply managing the day-to-day of renewing licenses and keeping on top of legal requirements, using the right fleet compliance solution can help you stay on top of the ins and outs, alongside the other demands of your busy role as a business owner.”
Fleet News - article published 5/4/22
Regular Driving Licence Checks
Safety Checks
Understanding Your Responsibility
How you should structure fleet management
"SAVE 10% - 20% ON VEHICLE DISPOSAL AND PROCUREMENT"
"SAVE 10% - 20% ON VEHICLE DISPOSAL AND PROCUREMENT"
If there is a car policy and process in place with correct fleet management then all business fleet insurance companies are more inclined to offer better packages and that’s where I can really help companies, especially smaller businesses, make a big saving at renewal!
More recently, I spent over 2 years as European Fleet Manager for Britishvolt, creating a fleet from nothing, and then personally managing that fleet of over 100 vehicles.
Initially, I implemented a company fleet policy, along with the HR team, to create a structure for me, as fleet manager, to follow and implement.
Once that had been signed off, I began negotiating directly with manufacturers to obtain direct discounts for vehicle supply of anything up to 25%. When that cost had been agreed upon, I set up credit lines to purchase the vehicles. After fleet numbers had been set, I negotiated with various fleet insurers to create suitable fleet vehicle cover for the company’s needs, which often led to a 10% discount.
I followed that by Implementing a “driving at work” policy for all fleet drivers, to give them insight and guidance on company expectations. This policy was created by working closely with HR, Legal and H&S departments to ensure continued compliance as the business and fleet grew.
To maintain good working relationships with fleet drivers, I would personally liaise with them to regularly check their driving licences and vehicles then, if needed, implement personal driver training, oversee vehicle servicing, and organise maintenance to keep safety levels high.
To support that, I worked with the IT department to create a digital dashboard, which enabled me to run the whole fleet, as an alternative to a spreadsheet.
As the company’s need for cars grew faster than the ordered vehicles could be delivered, I found solutions for the fleet shortfall with either daily rentals or short-term monthly leases to bridge the gap.
Once the fleet was established, I had to oversee insurance claims on a weekly basis to ensure the process went smoothly, and to establish whether our fleet drivers could benefit, if at fault, from further training.
Nigel Harper - Navitas Project Solutions
“ Having experienced many car suppliers and brokers for my business, I have to say that the service from Nick over the years from start to finish has always been excellent.
I would expect to pay additional costs for this type of service, which, yet again, felt more like how I would be expected to be treated when searching for a niche premium vehicle rather than a company car for my small business.”
Steve Thomas - Raunds, Northants
“From start to finish Nick offers an outstanding service.
My family and I have used Nick several times over these last years to advise and procure our vehicles through personal and lease funding and we have always been delighted with the services received.
Nick offers friendly, professional and great communication throughout the process which has led to both customer experience and savings in costs.
We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Nick to anyone who required his services.”
Nick Weldon - Rushden Jazz School
“Great experience - Nick Darlow is incredibly knowledgeable about cars and the car market, is scrupulous on detail, and always seems to manage to create a happy experience for all parties! - 5 Stars!”