![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fors-online.org.uk\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Ian-Henderson-300x200.jpg\")
FORS Concession Director, Ian Henderson, was first to present at the FORS Annual Conference<\/p>\nFORS Concession Director, Ian Henderson, was first to present at the FORS Annual Conference<\/p>\n
FORS \u2013 the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme \u2013 enjoyed an enthusiastic response from delegates at the first FORS Annual Conference under its new FORS Concession managed by Sopra Steria, and the first event in two years following the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n
Initial feedback from delegates sees the new FORS management team receive enthusiastic praise for its collaborative attitude, along with its willingness to engage with a diverse range of transport industry stakeholders, including industry bodies, regional authorities and enforcement agencies.<\/p>\n
The FORS Annual Conference, delivered under the rubric \u2018Working together towards a safe and sustainable future\u2019, was staged this year at the Manchester Central Convention Complex. Delegates were presented with a range of keynote presentations, including an interactive Q&A platform allowing Conference Chair (and former Commercial Motor magazine Editor), Andy Salter, to pose questions directly from the floor in real-time to panellists throughout the conference.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fors-online.org.uk\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Conference-room-300x200.jpg\")
The FORS Annual Conference moved this year to the Manchester Central Convention Complex<\/p>\n
Keynote presentations came from Andy Rhodes from HS2, Wayne Allen from Galaxy Insulations & Dry Lining Ltd. (a FORS Gold accredited operator), plus updates from the FORS senior management team including FORS Concession Director, Ian Henderson, FORS Head of Quality Assurance, Graham Holder, and GSAG Chair, Steve Agg. Special guest, ex-MP Steve Norris, provided an entertaining look back at his career in politics and transport, along with some thought-provoking comments on the future of the industry.<\/p>\n
Delegates also benefited from an adjoining exhibition hall comprising 35 FORS Affinity Partners and FORS Associates showcasing their products and services. Chief among them was the conference\u2019s headline Sponsor, Drivetech \u2013 the specialist risk management and driver training company \u2013 with Managing Director, Charlie Norman, presenting to delegates. For the first time, the exhibition also included organisations not directly associated with FORS including Logistics UK and the safety charity, Brake.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fors-online.org.uk\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Charlie-Norman-300x200.jpg\")
Charlie Norman, Managing Director at Drivetech, the conference\u2019s head sponsor<\/p>\n
The FORS team went on to outline key updates contained with the new version 6 of the FORS Standard \u2013 plus a brief glimpse at version 7 \u2013 while Sopra Steria\u2019s Head of Transport, Mark Oldfield, spent time describing how FORS is in the ideal position to act as a \u2018business enabler\u2019 and as a means for vehicle operators to facilitate new business wins.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.fors-online.org.uk\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/Affinity-Partners-300x200.jpg\")
The conference exhibition, featuring FORS Affinity Partners and FORS Associates, also provided an excellent opportunity for networking<\/p>\n