£4m boost for haulier to accelerate its environmental strategy

Brit European Transport, an international specialist logistics provider, has received £4m additional funding into its vehicle fleet to fuel growth and boost sustainability.

The Middlewich-based firm helps its broad client base, which includes the likes of JCB and Mercedes-Benz, to manage all the different stages of their production, from sourcing materials to delivering the finished product.

Serving a range of sectors, such as automotive, construction, agriculture and modular buildings, Brit European has operations spanning a number of countries, including the UK, Ireland, France, Holland, Belgium and Germany.

It now has the option to use the £4m asset finance package from Lloyds Bank to invest in its fleet, allowing purchases of new fuel-efficient tractor units to accelerate the company’s sustainability plans.

This is the latest in a series of investments Brit-European has made to bolster its sustainability credentials.

Its new headquarters, at the Vita Nova Centre which opened last year, features 80 on-site solar panels, and once its new wind turbine is installed early next year, the business estimates that almost all of its energy use will come from its own renewable energy sources. 

Brit European is also the first in the world to use methane gas recovered from slurry pits to help power the charging of its eight hybrid and electric vehicles at any one time.

The company estimates that its vehicles powered by methane gas travel up to 130,000 miles a year. With waste methane gas being a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, reusing it enables Brit European to further reduce its environmental impact.

CEO, Graham Lackey, said: “Using more innovative means and technologies will be crucial in making inroads to meet net zero. We know that our clients want to act quickly to become more sustainable.

“As key partners in their supply chain, it’s our responsibility to find ways to help them achieve this and support them on their journey.”

He added: “The new trucks and trailers are just another example of how we’re evolving. The scale of this investment represents our ambitions to make a change and remain as leaders within our sector.”

Kay Wareing, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Brit European shows what’s possible when there is a clear plan on target areas that will turn the dial on sustainability. We support businesses with sustainable growth ambitions and have the financial tools they need to make plans a reality.”

She added: “With Brit European we helped by reviewing their operations and spotted where they can make green gains, whether that’s investing in a more sustainable fleet of vehicles or looking at solutions like implementing new machinery or installing renewable energy sources.

“As we transition to net zero, all businesses will be looking at their operations and how much carbon they’re producing, and finding innovative ways to reduce it.”