Introducing Howden Motor Risk: Changing the face of fleet safety and sustainability

Motor Risk: An introduction

Effective management of motor risk is crucial for safe, successful, and sustainable fleet operations – whether that’s for lorries, vans, or company cars. As part of Howden’s commitment to supporting businesses, we’re pleased to introduce the updated “Motor Risk” proposition within Howden Risk Management – which replaces and enhances Occupational Road Risk. 

With this new name comes a fresh and innovative portfolio of packages designed to help motor fleet businesses. Amongst other solutions, it gives guidance on reducing the frequency of slow speed manoeuvres, just one of many common motor risk issues businesses are facing, that we can help you resolve.

Howden Risk Management comprises five pillars, which serve as the foundation for everything we do. Motor Risk is one of these five, designed to offer products, services, and insight for those using a vehicle for and as part of their work, making every mile and manoeuvre as safe as possible. From safeguarding drivers to ensuring appropriate business processes are in place, Howden Motor Risk gives both fleet managers and drivers, peace of mind.

Motor Risk packages from Howden Risk Management

In order to bolster and expand our Motor Risk offering, Howden Risk Management has put together three new packages, encompassing a range of services to support fleet management and reduce risks to motorists. So, whether you have fleets of vehicles, a forecourt full of company cars, or just a few scooters, you’ll find the services and support that’s right for you. 

Identify (£750 plus VAT): This basic package includes an audit meeting and assessment where an account executive will identify all risk areas, current procedures and safety training opportunities, as well as explain how and where improvements can be made to reduce those risks. We’ll get to the heart of your claims history and review your vehicle profiles, so you have a takeaway action plan and the benefit of knowing how to improve driver safety and compliance while reducing insurance costs. At the heart of the ‘Identify’ package is the motor risk audit. An audit which is completed by a Howden risk consultant. The audit is a one-off but can be repeated on request annually. The outcome is a report and action plan which will advise on:

• The organisation’s overall operational need for vehicles, their use, and ownership
• The management structure and responsibilities, including driver profiling
• Incident reporting, investigation, and claims processes
• The existing motor risk management systems
• The current motor risk management policy and procedures
• Driver, vehicle, and journey risk assessments, plus safe systems of work
• Driver and vehicle compliance systems and records
• Training requirements and records
• Vehicle requirements and suitability
• Journey planning and management
• Use of vehicle technology (telematics, cameras, safety systems etc) and its effectiveness
• Vehicle security

Minimise (£2,250 plus VAT): Moving up to the next tier, the enhanced “Minimise” package, includes the motor risk audit in the ‘Identify’ package but then concentrates on a specific focus area following a deep dive workshop review. This intense session allows us to identify strategies and actions then deliver a solution that reduces a particular fleet management pain point – for example slow speed manoeuvres. By putting your current and historic claims and collision data under the microscope, we can identify trends and suggest with confidence where and how more robust risk intervention is required. 

As well as including the motor risk audit from the ‘identify’ package, ‘Minimise’ also includes access to email and telephone support with the Motor Risk team, a pre-renewal update and a deep dive workshop, which will be on a topic most relevant for your business. Our deep dive workshops can be hugely beneficial for a number of reasons:

• Reducing claims frequency/slow speed manoeuvring
• Practical use of vehicle technology and telematics/camera data
• Improving communication with management and drivers
• Ensuring effective drivers via a training workshop
• Recruitment, induction and training
• Managing driver fatigue and distraction
• Identifying and managing grey fleet exposure

Prevent (£4,950 plus VAT): Our premium top-tier Motor Risk package offers additional and enhanced support, driver training and consultancy services. On top of all the benefits of the two other packages, you’ll have access to a virtual risk management service so your immediate motor risk issues can be addressed and solved quickly and efficiently. 

In addition, we’ll build a value-rich and personal relationship with you, offering insight, advice, and training for your team on crash avoidance strategies, better employee engagement, and claims management – thereby enriching and enhancing a workplace culture of continuous improvement and swift risk resolution. 
Deploying the “Prevent” package also leads to enhanced consultancy access which can cover a range of subjects including:

• Improving driver behaviour through safety cultures
• Effective use of telematics, cameras and technology
• Improving grey fleet management
• Driver health and wellbeing
• How to operate a safe fleet

In addition, we’ll advise on:

• Preparing for insurers or accreditation 
• Bespoke policy documentation/risk assessment/procedures
• Root cause analysis/incident investigation/claims defensibility
• Improved communication with management and drivers
• Raising the importance of motor risk management and management responsibilities
• Effective recruitment/induction/training, tailored to your requirements

Consultancy and partner add-ons

While each of the three packages has been comprehensively created to address and solve a plethora of age-old motor fleet risk issues, we can also offer the services of our Motor Risk consultancy on a case-by-case basis to those outside of the “Prevent” package. This suite of training and awareness programmes, that can be acquired for an additional fee, not only includes the above, but the opportunity to utilise specialist services and the insight of trusted partners, including:

• Lightfoot: Driver behaviour and fuel efficiency telematics
• Samsara: Driver and fleet management telematics, plus camera and reporting platform
• Continuum: Driver and vehicle compliance system and software
   

About Peter Milchard, Head of Motor Risk at Howden

In order to ensure our revitalised Howden Motor Risk offering really gained momentum, we needed someone who eats, sleeps, and of course drives risk management. Peter Milchard is therefore steering this whole venture forwards. With more than 30 years’ risk management experience in managing different types of fleets in a range of sizes, the knowledge and ‘boots on the ground’ experience he offers gives Howden a unique opportunity to harness this insight so we can fully understand our clients’ businesses and help develop and implement appropriate risk management programmes.

A further advantage of having Peter in the driving seat is how he can help the wider Risk Management team better influence our clients – not only on how to operate profitably, but also more safely. This means Howden remains the risk management partner of choice, authentically helping our clients improve their safe working environments in the motor risk sector and beyond. 

Understanding how and why driving has the potential to be one of the most dangerous work activities there is (as well as how much safer it can potentially be with the right training and management), Peter continues to provide solutions to road safety issues, ensuring all our clients have the ability to reduce exposure to collisions. 
Peter Milchard, Head of Motor Risk, said: “Its an exciting prospect to head the Motor Risk pillar and ‘drive’ home our new packages with our clients. Within your business driving is the most dangerous activity that most employees are asked to carry out. At Howden we want to help you introduce changes that not only improve your bottom line and reputation but create a safer environment for your people and those that are affected through the use of vehicles within the business.”

Get in touch

If this has left you wanting to know more about Motor Risk and anything else in the “risky business” world, stay informed and up to date by signing up for the latest news from Howden Risk Management and any upcoming events, webinars and podcasts by emailing us on riskmanagement@howdeninsurance.co.uk 

You can also contact Peter Milchard directly to learn more about the Howden Motor Risk products and services here: peter.milchard@howdeninsurance.co.uk