News
How van retailers are supporting communities during lockdown
We shine a light on some of the great community work our van retailers are doing during the UK lockdown.
Words by: Andrew Woodhouse
Published on 5 May 2020 | 0 min read
We wanted to highlight some of the great work our van retailers have been doing in their local community during the coronavirus outbreak and UK lockdown.
From helping to vulnerable to supporting key workers, there’s been some great community stories and we wanted to share a couple with you.
From helping to vulnerable to supporting key workers, there’s been some great community stories and we wanted to share a couple with you.
Firbank Van Sales
Firbank Van Sales have been working with Open Kitchen MCR to collect and deliver food to the most vulnerable at this time.
Open Kitchen MCR are a waste food catering social enterprise in Manchester, who continue to deliver hundreds of meals to those most in need at this difficult time. During the lockdown and coronavirus breakout, they’ve been helping people who are having to self-isolate, children who would normally receive a free school meal, those in food poverty and those who become ill with a limited network of support around them. Firbank loaned them an Isuzu D-Max Utility Double Cab to help collect food from donors and to deliver food for those most in need. Jonathan Miller, company director at Firbank Isuzu explained why they’re doing this, “While our showroom is closed, we want to put our demonstrator trucks to practical use and help people in our local community, like Open Kitchen MCR, who are carrying out fantastic work.” Isuzu UK are also helping the keyworkers who provide critical services, keeping workshops open for essential services and loaning their vehicles to businesses and services that need to get food or medicine to those most in need. Incredible service.
Open Kitchen MCR are a waste food catering social enterprise in Manchester, who continue to deliver hundreds of meals to those most in need at this difficult time. During the lockdown and coronavirus breakout, they’ve been helping people who are having to self-isolate, children who would normally receive a free school meal, those in food poverty and those who become ill with a limited network of support around them. Firbank loaned them an Isuzu D-Max Utility Double Cab to help collect food from donors and to deliver food for those most in need. Jonathan Miller, company director at Firbank Isuzu explained why they’re doing this, “While our showroom is closed, we want to put our demonstrator trucks to practical use and help people in our local community, like Open Kitchen MCR, who are carrying out fantastic work.” Isuzu UK are also helping the keyworkers who provide critical services, keeping workshops open for essential services and loaning their vehicles to businesses and services that need to get food or medicine to those most in need. Incredible service.
Intercounty Truck and Van
Intercounty Truck and Van have also kept their workshops clean, safe and open to support keyworker customers and keep key vehicles on the road.
In addition to this vital service, Intercounty have been working with pharmaceutical company INEOS to help deliver hand sanitiser to the UK’s Nightingale hospitals. They sent one of their Sprinter demos out on the road and helped to deliver an amazing 12,000 litres in the first week. Intercounty Truck and Van’s Kimberley Horsman explained, “We were approached before Easter by a pharmaceutical company INEOS, one of Mercedes F1 sponsors, to help them with delivering hand sanitiser across the UKs new Nightingale hospitals. In a very quick turnaround, we were able to help buy giving them FOC, one of our sprinters from our demo fleet. “12,000 litres of sanitiser were delivered by them in the first week to the new hospitals. These hand sanitisers will play a key part in the fight against COVID-19 and we feel privileged to have been able to help such a good cause. “Our 6 sites cover a large area across the Home Counties and Lincolnshire and we’re immensely proud to be keeping Emergency Services and Key Workers on the road, whilst still supplying vehicles and doing what we can to help our local communities.”
In addition to this vital service, Intercounty have been working with pharmaceutical company INEOS to help deliver hand sanitiser to the UK’s Nightingale hospitals. They sent one of their Sprinter demos out on the road and helped to deliver an amazing 12,000 litres in the first week. Intercounty Truck and Van’s Kimberley Horsman explained, “We were approached before Easter by a pharmaceutical company INEOS, one of Mercedes F1 sponsors, to help them with delivering hand sanitiser across the UKs new Nightingale hospitals. In a very quick turnaround, we were able to help buy giving them FOC, one of our sprinters from our demo fleet. “12,000 litres of sanitiser were delivered by them in the first week to the new hospitals. These hand sanitisers will play a key part in the fight against COVID-19 and we feel privileged to have been able to help such a good cause. “Our 6 sites cover a large area across the Home Counties and Lincolnshire and we’re immensely proud to be keeping Emergency Services and Key Workers on the road, whilst still supplying vehicles and doing what we can to help our local communities.”
Rygor
Next up is Rygor, the largest dedicated dealer group for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in the UK.
They’ve been working with Hope for Tomorrow to help the NHS bring cancer care closer to patients’ homes, by helping move their Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU) to a new location, and in doing so help reduce the pressure on the NHS. Ian Smart, from Rygor’s service team, said, “It is always our aim to get vehicles on the road as soon as possible, but with such an important vehicle which provides a critical and life-changing service, together, our team made it their mission to get the MCCU up to its new location as soon as possible.” But not only did they collect and move the unit, they also completed a thorough inspection, cleaned it, and delivered it to the new partner in just five days.
They’ve been working with Hope for Tomorrow to help the NHS bring cancer care closer to patients’ homes, by helping move their Mobile Cancer Care Unit (MCCU) to a new location, and in doing so help reduce the pressure on the NHS. Ian Smart, from Rygor’s service team, said, “It is always our aim to get vehicles on the road as soon as possible, but with such an important vehicle which provides a critical and life-changing service, together, our team made it their mission to get the MCCU up to its new location as soon as possible.” But not only did they collect and move the unit, they also completed a thorough inspection, cleaned it, and delivered it to the new partner in just five days.
Services for keyworkers
Many of our van retailers are still able to support key workers if they need to make a purchase or arrange essential repairs at this time.
Check their Auto Trader profiles for details on what they’re offering and how best to contact them at this time. And remember that details are likely to change as lockdown lifts, we’ll keep you posted on all our main channels as this happens. Even if you’ve had to put your purchase on hold, you can still talk to retailers using online chat, email or phone – just don’t arrange to visit a forecourt for the time being as they’ll be closed. And now is a great time to research your next van. Auto Trader host expert reviews, in-depth guides and more. Take a look here.
Check their Auto Trader profiles for details on what they’re offering and how best to contact them at this time. And remember that details are likely to change as lockdown lifts, we’ll keep you posted on all our main channels as this happens. Even if you’ve had to put your purchase on hold, you can still talk to retailers using online chat, email or phone – just don’t arrange to visit a forecourt for the time being as they’ll be closed. And now is a great time to research your next van. Auto Trader host expert reviews, in-depth guides and more. Take a look here.