Ecogreen Plant Hire

A Message from Lord Pickles and Lord Blunkett, followed by Ecogreen Plant Hire's best practice article

The ability to listen and learn from one another has always been vital in parliament, in business and in most aspects of daily life. But at this particular moment in time, as national and global events continue to reiterate, it is uncommonly crucial that we forge new channels of communication and reinforce existing ones. The following article from Ecogreen Plant Hire is an attempt to do just that. We would welcome your thoughts on this or any other Parliamentary Review article.

Blunkett signature Rt Hon The Lord David Blunkett
Pickles signature Rt Hon The Lord Eric Pickles

www.ecogreenplanthire.co.uk

BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
32 | GRANT PALMER
fleet improvement. These British-built
buses have been followed with two
more each year in 2017 and 2018.
This year we will receive our first of
the latest Euro 6 MMC model, and
an investment of £140,000. These
new buses have all served to increase
capacity and improve reliability,
and helped cope with the increased
demand for transport, which saw a
20 per cent rise in passengers over
the years prior. The number of buses
owned by Grant Palmer Ltd has now
expanded to 35, with 60 drivers
supported by six engineers.
Investment has not just been in
buses, with a dashcam system called
Lytx introduced to improve safety,
multicamera CCTV installed on all
buses to protect our staff, customers
and vehicles, investment in computer-
assisted scheduling, and also in
marketing, branding and customer
information. It can be very easy to
forget the basics, and we work very
hard not to.
Political headwinds
We are very optimistic about the
future, and the opportunities that will
present themselves, despite structural
concerns in the bus industry. The last
few years have seen many smaller
businesses cease trading for one
reason or another, but we are in a
good place, financially strong and with
excellent people.
The situation in local government
has been challenging, with pressure
exerted on budgets and public policy.
Our approach, however, has been
positive, working closely with our local
authority partners to support them
as we can, and making the best of
the funding and opportunities that
are available, not least from new
housing development. This partnership
approach has meant we have been
able to deliver a stable network and
still achieve passenger growth during a
difficult decade for local government.
Bright future
Once the current national political
challenges are out of the way, there is
a great opportunity for government to
get a grip on transport policy.
Buses have the ability to play
a very important part in that,
improving connectivity, helping with
social inclusion, and supporting
development. We are very proud that
for the communities of Bedfordshire,
we are playing such an important role
in this already.
We are very
proud that
forthe
communities
of Bedfordshire
we are playing
such an
important
role
“
“
Our brand-new 2019
model vehicles from
Alexander Dennis
33ECOGREEN PLANT HIRE |
AUTOMOTIVE
Director of Sales David Crick
A simple but effective
solution
Sales Director David Crick tells
The Parliamentary Review
that Ecogreen is a true “microbusiness”. Founded in 2013,
the firm, David says, offers a simple product – waterless
wheel cleaning for the construction, quarrying and landfill
industries. The Ecogreen product – the DriveOn V-Tech system –
can be both bought and hired. David explains how the DriveOn
system functions and discusses the challenges he and his team
have faced with getting it to market.
The rain that makes ours a green and pleasant land also has the unfortunate effect
of turning construction sites into difficult and unpleasant bogs.
To stay within the law, construction firms must take steps to ensure mud created
by their operations isn’t carried off-site and onto surrounding roads – local
authorities have the power to shut down sites if they consider roads surrounding
site exits to be too dirty and, as such, hazardous. At the very least, constructors are
increasingly mindful of their social and environmental responsibilities to limit the
negative impacts of their operations.
There are several ways sites can deal with carry-off. The most common method is
hiring road sweepers. However, this uses excessive water and fuel, emits pollution,
causes congestion, and can often smear the mess around, making it worse.
Some sites use a “man-with-a-lance” approach – effectively a site operative jet-
washing vehicles. This is an expensive option and potentially dangerous, and the
additional water creates yet more mud.
FACTS ABOUT
ECOGREEN PLANT HIRE
»Director of Sales: David Crick
»Established in 2013
»Based in Northwich, Cheshire
»Services: Waterless wheel
cleaning for the construction,
quarrying and landfill industries
»www.ecogreenplanthire.co.uk
Ecogreen Plant Hire
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
34 | ECOGREEN PLANT HIRE
Another option is wheel washes, which
vary in sophistication from simple
drive-through baths to wash, spray
or bath systems. Issues with these
vary but include excessive water use,
breakdowns, potential contamination
of water courses and, ultimately, the
creation of more mud. Wheel washes
also create a wet smear going out of
site, so road sweepers are still needed.
The more sophisticated types also
use power, which requires fuel and
createsemissions.
So how can we tackle the issue of mud
without any of these shortcomings?
There are devices available called
rumble strips – raised grids for vehicles
to drive over – which are similar to a
long cattle grid and have angle iron
bars that use vibration, tyre flex and
centrifugal force to dislodge mud and
contaminants. However, rumble strips
can clog easily because of the way
they’re designed, and when they clog,
vehicle wheels just pick up more mud
and carry it off-site.
A revolutionary solution
Our DriveOn V-Tech system is also a
raised grid, 20 metres long and three
metres wide, but it has approximately
60 per cent less surface area than
typical rumble strips. The transverse
bars are three centimetres wide and
20 centimetres apart, and they create
more vibration and more tyre flexing
than a conventional rumble strip.
As such, more mud is removed, falling
through into the void below and
preventing the system from clogging.
Wheels aren’t recontaminated, and
much less mud is carried off-site.
We can cite many examples of road
sweepers being made redundant
and sites being allowed to continue
operating because of the deployment
of our system.
Success and growth
The business has been very successful
– one recent three-year period saw
400 per cent growth in turnover, and
we have had to consistently grow our
inventory to keep pace with demand.
In 2013 we had a stock of 20 units;
today, we have 42 units.
We believe, of course, that we have
the best wheel-cleaning solution
available, and we are certain that it
ticks all of the right boxes for our
customers from an environmental
viewpoint. Customers like the simplicity
and effectiveness of the product and
the subsequent savings compared with
their “traditional” wheel-wash or road-
sweeper route.
Overcoming barriers
The main challenge we’ve had is
convincing people to listen to us when
we tell them that our system works.
Management teams have many things
to think about and plan for – much
more complex issues than wheel
cleaning – so we’re not normally high
on their agenda.
This mess would have
been on the road
We’ve had to
consistently
grow our
inventory to
keep pace
with demand
“
“
BEST PRACTICE SPONSOR 2020
THE PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW
Highlighting best practice
34 | ECOGREEN PLANT HIRE
Another option is wheel washes, which
vary in sophistication from simple
drive-through baths to wash, spray
or bath systems. Issues with these
vary but include excessive water use,
breakdowns, potential contamination
of water courses and, ultimately, the
creation of more mud. Wheel washes
also create a wet smear going out of
site, so road sweepers are still needed.
The more sophisticated types also
use power, which requires fuel and
createsemissions.
So how can we tackle the issue of mud
without any of these shortcomings?
There are devices available called
rumble strips – raised grids for vehicles
to drive over – which are similar to a
long cattle grid and have angle iron
bars that use vibration, tyre flex and
centrifugal force to dislodge mud and
contaminants. However, rumble strips
can clog easily because of the way
they’re designed, and when they clog,
vehicle wheels just pick up more mud
and carry it off-site.
A revolutionary solution
Our DriveOn V-Tech system is also a
raised grid, 20 metres long and three
metres wide, but it has approximately
60 per cent less surface area than
typical rumble strips. The transverse
bars are three centimetres wide and
20 centimetres apart, and they create
more vibration and more tyre flexing
than a conventional rumble strip.
As such, more mud is removed, falling
through into the void below and
preventing the system from clogging.
Wheels aren’t recontaminated, and
much less mud is carried off-site.
We can cite many examples of road
sweepers being made redundant
and sites being allowed to continue
operating because of the deployment
of our system.
Success and growth
The business has been very successful
– one recent three-year period saw
400 per cent growth in turnover, and
we have had to consistently grow our
inventory to keep pace with demand.
In 2013 we had a stock of 20 units;
today, we have 42 units.
We believe, of course, that we have
the best wheel-cleaning solution
available, and we are certain that it
ticks all of the right boxes for our
customers from an environmental
viewpoint. Customers like the simplicity
and effectiveness of the product and
the subsequent savings compared with
their “traditional” wheel-wash or road-
sweeper route.
Overcoming barriers
The main challenge we’ve had is
convincing people to listen to us when
we tell them that our system works.
Management teams have many things
to think about and plan for – much
more complex issues than wheel
cleaning – so we’re not normally high
on their agenda.
This mess would have
been on the road
We’ve had to
consistently
grow our
inventory to
keep pace
with demand
“
“
35ECOGREEN PLANT HIRE |
AUTOMOTIVE
Secondly, firms tend to be very
conservative, and “this is the way we’ve
always done it” is often the prevailing
mantra. Coupled with that, if they’ve
had previous experience of rumble
strips, we often get bundled into the
same mistrusted and dislikeddrawer.
Our major challenge has been to dispel
that mistrust and show them that we
really do have something different and
that we really can help them.
As a lean-running microbusiness, we’ve
also had challenges with red tape.
Within construction there have been
many legislative developments within
health and safety, modern slavery,
inclusion, and bribery. To comply
with the law, our larger customers in
particular have requested standards
and assurances of our compliance.
Many of the standards don’t apply
to businesses of our size, but even
when that is the case, dealing with
the documentation to establish that
with our customers has been very
timeconsuming.
We do factor certain functions out
to ease pressure, including external
hauliers, a solicitor and an accountant.
There are currently no plans to change
anything that we do, as it’s such a
successful formula. We are asked
regularly if we offer any other products
– maybe the name gives the impression
we do – but we like being a one-trick
pony and see no need to expand into
anything else currently.
One potential change may be
increased staff numbers, particularly on
the sales and operations side, thanks
to our ongoing success.
We really do
have
something
different and
we really can
help
“
“
The system is delivered
and installed by Hiab in
under an hour
Vehicles simply drive
across the grid and exit
the site

www.ecogreenplanthire.co.uk

This article was sponsored by Ecogreen Plant Hire. The Parliamentary Review is wholly funded by the representatives who write for it. The publication in which this article originally appeared contained the following foreword from Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss.

Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss's Foreword For The Parliamentary Review

By Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss

Even by the standards of the day –this has been one of the most exciting and unpredictable years in British politics.

The leadership election we’ve just seen marks a huge moment in our country’s history. This government is taking a decisive new direction, embracing the opportunities of Brexit and preparing our country to flourish outside the EU.

As international trade secretary, I’ll be driving forward work on the free trade agreements that are going to be a priority for the government. Free trade isn’t just an abstract concept bandied around by technocrats. It is crucial for a strong economy and for the ability of families to make ends meet. Free trade benefits people in every part of our country, as British firms export to new markets and people doing the weekly shop have access to a wider choice of goods at lower prices.

The essence of free trade is in the title: freedom. It’s about giving people the power to exchange their goods without heavy government taxation or interference. Commerce and free exchange are the engine room of prosperity and social mobility. I’m determined to tackle the forces who want to hold that back.

One of my priorities is agreeing an exciting new free trade deal with the US, building on the great relationship between our two countries and the Prime Minister and US President. But I’ll also be talking to other partners including New Zealand, Australia and fast-growing Asian markets.

And with the EU too, we want a friendly and constructive relationship, as constitutional equals, and as friends and partners in facing the challenges that lie ahead – a relationship based on a deep free trade agreement. Our country produces some of the world’s most successful exports, and the opportunity to bring these to the rest of the world should make us all excited about the future. It is this excitement, optimism and ambition which I believe will come to define this government.

For too long now, we have been told Britain isn’t big or important enough to survive outside the EU – that we have to accept a deal that reflects our reduced circumstances. I say that’s rubbish. With the right policies in place, we can be the most competitive, free-thinking, prosperous nation on Earth exporting to the world and leading in new developments like AI. To do that, we’ll give the brilliant next generation of entrepreneurs the tools they need to succeed. Since 2015, there has been a staggering 85 per cent rise in the number of businesses set up by 18 to 24 year olds – twice the level set up by the same age group in France and Germany. We’ll help them flourish by championing enterprise, cutting taxes and making regulation flexible and responsive to their needs.

As we do that, we’ll level up and unite all parts of the UK with great transport links, fibre broadband in every home and proper school funding, so everyone shares in our country’s success.

2019 has been the year of brewing economic and political revolution. 2020 will be the year when a revitalised Conservative government turbo charges the economy, boosts prospects for people across the country, and catapults Britain back to the forefront of the world stage.



Rt Hon Elizabeth Truss
Secretary of State for International Development