Recognition
For the winners and runners-up, the awards provide well-deserved recognition from the industry that can also be used for promotional purposes.
Ken Cronin, UKIFDA CEO, comments: “Winning or even being nominated for an EXPO Award brings validation from industry experts, building trust in your brand, products and services.
“Recognising the wider industry, the Green and Innovation awards are open to entries from both UKIFDA members and non-members. To be eligible, a non-member must be nominated by a UKIFDA member – we’re looking forward to seeing what this year’s entrants will bring to the 2024 event.”
Driver of the Year Award
One of the most popular UKIFDA EXPO awards, the Driver of the Year Award recognises and rewards the very best of the industry’s tanker driving talent. Sponsored by OAMPS, the entry deadline is 29 February 2024.
Karl Jones, Account Director of OAMPS Hazardous Industries, the specialist adviser to the hazardous fuels and environmental sectors and sponsor of the prestigious Driver of the Year Award, said: “The search is on! It’s time to find the industry’s best tanker drivers across the UK and Ireland whose inspirational stories motivate the entire industry to keep pushing for the highest standards in safety, efficiency and customer care.
“This is our 23rd consecutive year of sponsoring this award, and we’re proud to do so. By recognising the drivers who deliver at every level, over and above the fuel deliveries they make day in and day out, we are rewarding their all-important wider contribution. Drivers’ positive actions and behaviour help reduce the number of spillages, prevent pollution incidents and increase awareness among customers of environmentally beneficial initiatives, such as alternative green fuels. As a specialist fuel distribution insurer, we are looking forward to learning more about all the great drivers nominated, while we support the industry and applaud its successes.”
Green and Innovation Awards
Five awards have a deadline of 7 March 2024.
These include the Green and Innovation Awards, which recognise the progress in the sector and are open to both members and non-members. There is also the highly esteemed Young Person of the Year Award, which acknowledges the rising stars. The Customer Service Award, introduced in 2023, will celebrate excellence across the UKIFDA membership, as well as the highly respected Depot of the Year Award.
The Green Award recognises sustainability in the liquid fuel industry and provides businesses with the opportunity to promote their environmental programmes, products and services.
For the sixth year, Oilshield, which provides insurance and risk management solutions for fuel oil distributors, is sponsoring the Green Award.
Tom Ower, Development & Marketing Lead, said: “The sector is certainly moving forward year-on-year to reach a greener future, and it’s great to be involved with events like UKIFDA’s EXPO, where we get to pool knowledge and network.
“Last year’s entries were inspirational, and deciding on the winner was tough. We know there’s been lots more happening since. This year’s award will represent companies making significant changes in the Fuel Distribution industry and we look forward to learning more about the entrants’ latest green achievements and milestones.”
Innovation Award
The Innovation Award 2024, which is sponsored by fuel Oil News, acknowledges businesses introducing new ideas, technologies and ways of working.
Publishing Director, Margaret Major, stated: “As the communication hub of the community, it’s our role to share industry developments, and the Innovation Award is an excellent opportunity to uncover the latest sector innovations. This is the third year we have sponsored this relatively new addition to the UKIFDA Awards and, each year, we have been extremely impressed with the innovations submitted. We are very much looking forward to seeing 2024’s entries.
“As a sector in transition, recognising and rewarding the companies in our community that are innovating, be that on the pathway to net zero or to deliver liquid fuels to sectors in a new way, is crucial. It is also a vital factor in motivating others in the industry to overcome the challenges the sector is facing right now.”
Customer Service Award
This is the second year Worldpay from FIS has sponsored the Customer Service Award, as Alison Sweeney, Corporate Sales Director, International Fuel Oil Energy and Agriculture, explains: “This year’s EXPO theme ‘Working Together in Changing Times’ is more important than ever, especially when it comes to customer service. It’s evident that the Fuel Distribution industry is committed to delivering excellent service and this award provides the opportunity to recognise the customer service champions making a difference in their organisation and for their customers.
“As a global payments leader, we partner with our customers to help them modernise their systems and ease technology burdens so businesses can deliver great customer and partner experiences. It was great to get involved last year, and we’re delighted to be sponsoring the award again.”
Young Person of the Year Award
The always popular Young Person of the Year 2024 award, sponsored by Just Tankers, highlights the industry’s rising stars and the contribution that young people make to this evolving sector.
Depot of the Year
Sponsored by Pen Underwriting, Depot of the Year will be selected by UKIFDA Technical Manager Tony Brown following his review and inspection of the membership’s depots.
The prestigious awards ceremony will be hosted by UKIFDA President Rory Clarke at the EXPO Dinner, sponsored by Mabanaft, which will take place at the end of day one of EXPO 2024 (10-11 April).