THE Association of Fleet Professionals is the new name for the merged operations of ACFO and ICFM.
Launched today (March 18, 2020) the new organisation brings together industry campaigning and lobbying and fleet operator and fleet service provider training and education into a single organisation.
The new organisation will represent all those involved in fleet management, from existing fleet managers through to HR, finance and emerging functions such as mobility management.
The Association of Fleet Professionals’ board will comprise existing members of the respective organisations: Caroline Sandall, current ACFO chairman; Paul Hollick, current ICFM chairman; Stewart Lightbody, current ACFO deputy chairman; and Peter Eldridge, current sales and marketing director of ICFM.
With a tagline of ‘the organisation for fleet professionals’, the Association of Fleet Professionals will oversee fleet training through a newly established Fleet Academy with a number of committees launched to take responsibility for organising more webinars and seminars and an annual conference and other events as well as campaigning/lobbying. The organisation will also exhibit at other events organised across the fleet industry.
ACFO chairman Caroline Sandall said:
“We believe that both organisations are two-sides to the same coin and will deliver an increased fleet industry voice through their combined strength. Bringing both together creates a true fleet body for the industry – giving fleet operators a true voice via the lobbying of ACFO with the training and education of the ICFM. The combined Association of Fleet Professionals unites the two organisations in both structure and leadership teams.”
ICFM chairman Paul Hollick said:
“Both organisations have been in active dialogue for a few years on this topic and now is definitely the best time to join forces.
“As the fleet industry is going through significant challenges with changing legislation, tax regulations, new technologies and Clean Air Zones the merger seems to be a great time for the ACFO team to focus on the fleet manager’s voice within Westminster, Whitehall and UK cities while the ICFM team can then devote its time of being a true Fleet Academy to educate and develop the current and future leaders within fleet and those coming into fleet from other areas of business.
“Both organisations are well run and organised for a sustainable future. That said, a united Association brings more resilience and scale that can improve the lobbying and training needs of members of both organisations, now and in the future.”
How much does it cost to belong to the Association of Fleet Professionals?
Fleet operator membership of the Association of Fleet Professionals will cost £299 per annum.
There are three levels of corporate membership: Platinum costing £2,000 per annum and providing eight employee memberships; gold costing £1,000 per annum and providing four employee memberships; and silver costing £500 per annum and providing two employee memberships.
There is a new website – www.theafp.co.uk – featuring white papers on key issues and informative blogs; an online members’ forum; and thought leadership and guidance on major taxation and legislative changes.
The Association of Fleet Professionals’ board will oversee the continuation of the work of both ACFO and ICFM, whose respective boards will continue in situ, while also managing subscriptions and sponsorship.
The merger between ACFO and ICFM is expected to be complete within nine to 12 months with a predicted membership of 1000 for the new Association of Fleet Professionals, which “will strengthen how we act in the marketplace,” added Hollick.
The new association said it was open to members of any shape and any size, from small SME fleets to large corporates.