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Teesside University partners with Tadea to help North East SMEs combat fuel costs

To ensure North East SMEs benefit from cutting fuel costs within their business, Teesside University has partnered with Tadea to offer a fully funded half day driver training package, to SMEs based in the North East.

The training will cover three EAL accredited units in hazard perception, fuel efficiency and tired driving. Drivers will learn techniques to minimise fuel consumption, and the risks of potential and developing hazards on the road. So, this training will not only improve safety to employees, but will save businesses money for years into the future.

Tadea’s Effective Transport Solutions is the first centre of its kind in the UK and hosts an impressive simulator suite which can mimic situations including weather conditions such as ice, snow, rain, high winds and thick fog. Previous research has shown that simulator-based driver training can reduce fuel costs by over 10%.

This offer is available thanks to Teesside University’s REPS (Resource Efficiency Pathways to Sustainable Growth) programme. The University will gather data prior to, during and after the training and analyse the cost benefits of fuel efficient driver training to the businesses involved.

Clement Gonnet from Renoovo Design, benefitted from Tadea’s fully funded driver training: “I’ve done my comparison before and after the fully funded training and the difference is staggering.

“My mpg went from 35 on my way to the training to 72 on my way back. On top of doubling my fuel efficiency I also saved two minutes on my journey home!”

Gordon Pattie, Manager at Effective Transport Solutions, said: “This is a great opportunity for SMEs across the region. Effective fuel efficiency training has been shown to cut fleet fuel costs by up to 10 per cent. And these packages are being offered for free.

“Not only that, but the data which will be generated as a result of this programme will help to further our understanding of fuel efficient motoring and the part effective training can play in driver education. That will help to protect not just the region’s businesses, but also the environment too. It’s win-win”.