The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme (FORS) offers a clear route to demonstrating operational excellence, and achieving FORS accreditation signals a commitment to high standards, improved efficiency, and a stronger position in the marketplace.
What is FORS?
Originally developed to improve freight safety and emissions, FORS is now a UK-wide voluntary scheme structured around three levels of accreditation:
- Bronze: Focused on legal compliance and basic operational policies.
- Silver: Builds on bronze but with stricter safety equipment standards (e.g., vehicle cameras, sensors), robust driver training, and compliance with Work-Related Road Risk (WRRR) principles.
- Gold: The highest standard, requiring operators to demonstrate measurable improvements over time, as well as a culture of continuous development.
The WP Group – gold status
With the WP Group celebrating achievement of FORS gold status, Fuel Oil News spoke with Donald Mackay, Head of Operations, to discuss what this means for the business.
“We have held the FORS bronze award for several years now,” Donald began. “And we were awarded the silver status in December last year. We are now delighted to say we have achieved gold status.
“It takes a lot of work to move through each level, but, at the WP Group, high standards, structure, process and procedure is in our DNA. That meant that we already do a lot of what each level requires. The work we needed to do was linking what we do to each level. That is where we spent our time.”
Business impact
Donald went on to explain what the gold status means in business terms for the WP Group.
“It differentiates us in the markets we service, showing existing and new prospective customers that we operate to the highest standards and are focused on continuous improvement.
“Achieving FORS Gold is a clear statement that the WP Group is a leader in safety and operational excellence, environmental sustainability, caring for and developing our people and has a dogged determination to continually improve.
“The impact is extremely positive and hugely rewarding for all of those involved. Our people are the beating heart of what we do, and it is the work that they do that has helped us on our journey to FORS Gold.
“As a business it shows investment in our operation and our service to our customers, which is why people come to work each day.”
FORS is not just accreditation – it’s a competitive edge.
For distributors of all sizes, it safeguards road safety, reduces costs, unlocks vital contracts, and raises environmental credentials.
FORS offers a proven framework to help distributors not only meet current expectations, but lead the way in safe, sustainable, and smart fleet management.
Whether you operate five tankers or fifty, FORS is more than a badge – it’s a business investment that can pay dividends in safety, efficiency, and trust.
Image credit: WP Group
