Yorkshire Housing is celebrating becoming one of the 120 operators with Freight Transport Association’s gold standard Van Excellence accreditation.

The business carries out repairs and maintenance to 18,000 homes across Yorkshire, with 124 vans covering over 1.6 million miles each year.

Yorkshire Housing’s fleet manager Andy Lillywhite said: “It would not be possible without the support of all our drivers.

"Their driving behaviour confirms we operate our fleet above and beyond current transport and government requirements.

“The award shows we’re committed to safer, more efficient and sustainable use of our vans, and we’re a responsible and safe vehicle fleet operator.”

FTA’s scheme aims to raise compliance levels across the sector and moving away from the traditional ‘white van man’ image.

FTA’s head of vans Mark Cartwright said: “The scheme is an extremely robust and complete measure of an organisation’s approach towards the compliant, safe and efficient running of its fleet.

"This achievement demonstrates that Yorkshire Housing takes its corporate responsibilities very seriously.”