Hull holiday home manufacturer powers ahead in sustainability drive

As part of Bdaily’s coverage of Green Energy Week, we look to holiday homes manufacturer Willerby, who is reinforcing its commitment to sustainability by installing additional electric vehicle (EV) charging points as part of a range of green measures across the business.

Hull based Willerby was an early adopter of EV charging points, installing the first for use by staff with electric and hybrid vehicles as long ago as 2014. The company is now investing in a further 10 charging stations this year, bringing the total to 14.

Willerby is currently considering the best locations and types of charging points, as well as investigating smart card technology, to allow for the widest possible use and ensure staff gain maximum benefit. The manufacturer’s ultimate ambition is to have 50 EV charging points across Willerby’s two sites in Hull.

Willerby has also changed its policy to encourage switching to electric and hybrid cars and vans, by financially incentivising company vehicle users to upgrade to more environmentally-friendly models. The moves are part of Willerby’s ongoing drive to reduce carbon emissions and put sustainability at the heart of its operations.

Willerby’s technical director Simon Tempest, the company’s board champion for sustainability, who drives an all-electric VW 1D.3, said: “We recognise our responsibility to promote sustainability and reduce the carbon footprint of our operations.

“We also want to do all we can to support the efforts of our employees to reduce their own impact. Installing EV charging points across our sites is one of the ways we can make a difference as a business and also support our employees to play their part as individuals.”

Willerby development engineer Benn Little uses his Mercedes C-Class plug-in hybrid for the 20-mile round trip to work from his home in Holderness. He said: “It will be fantastic to have access to EV charging points at Willerby and initiatives like this are one of the reasons I’m proud to work for the company.

“I charge my vehicle at home but it would be great to top it up at Willerby if it needs it. Driving an electric or hybrid car makes a difference to the environment and the positive impact increases with every driver who makes the switch.”