Speedy welcomes Chancellor to innovation centre
10 June 2022
Speedy welcomed the chancellor Rishi Sunak to its net carbon-zero innovation centre in Milton Keynes yesterday, meeting with the hirer’s chief executive Russell Down, before touring the 100,000 sq ft site and holding a Q&A session with Speedy employees.
The visit followed the firm’s donation of almost 300 generators to the war effort in Ukraine. As reported recently on the blog, Speedy has supplied generators for use in Eastern Ukraine to help keep essential services running, from relief centres and hospitals to phone masts and water pumping stations.
Following his visit, Rishi Sunak, said: “I know that many people have felt anxious in recent months about rising costs and it was great to hear some of the questions from Speedy staff here in Milton Keynes.
“It was also fantastic to hear about the work Speedy is doing to support people in Ukraine – people all across the UK are doing their part as we stand against Putin’s illegal invasion.”
The innovation centre in Milton Keynes (which was featured on the blog on its official opening), represents the sector’s first net carbon-zero hire centre and employs more than 50 people. It is supporting contractors building the first phase of HS2 from London to Birmingham, providing low-emission equipment to help meet the project’s sustainability goals, from electric lighting towers to track laying machinery.
The business recently announced that its ‘ECO’ range of low carbon and carbon-zero tools and equipment accounts for 30 per cent of its itemised hire fleet, with the aim for such products to account for the majority of its itemised fleet by 2027.
Russell Down, said: “We are humbled that our position as a leading UK tools and equipment provider enabled us to react promptly and assist the UK government in supporting the Ukrainian people.
“The Chancellor’s visit reflects the importance of the work we are doing in creating carbon savings for major infrastructure projects, such as HS2, and in providing the industry with a blueprint for minimising the environmental impact of supply chain networks across the UK.
“Customers across construction will increasingly need to interrogate the sustainability of their supply chains if we are to achieve carbon-zero. We recognise our role and responsibility as a key intermediary for the sector, which is why we are making significant commitments to invest in the equipment and ways of working that will support our customers as they deliver more sustainable projects.”
The innovation centre showcases the latest electric, solar and hydrogen-powered tools and equipment from manufacturers such as Hilti, Generac and the MX Fuel range from Milwaukee which is exclusively available for hire from Speedy.
All commercial vehicles operating out of the site are either fully electric or fuelled by hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which emits up to 90 pre cent less CO2e when compared to red diesel, minimising the environmental impact of deliveries.
Powered by 670 solar panels, the centre uses energy efficient lighting and climate control technology and is home to a well-being and wildflower garden, an 18m ‘living wall’ showing the Speedy logo, and beehives made from repurposed hard hats.
