A £250k contract to revamp the 34-vehicle Northern fleet of energy services business Energy Assets Utilities has been snapped up by vehicle fit-out and safety specialist SM UK. The contract will see the company fit out Energy Asset Utilities’ existing Northern fleet with updated storage systems with the aim of increasing fuel efficiency as well as organisation.

“The high-tech new storage systems which we fit are currently in high demand as firms look to update vans across their fleets to increase vehicle efficiency and increase the payload which can be carried,” said SM UK managing director Steve MacDonald.

Leeds-based SM UK began in 2000 as a business run from founder Steve MacDonald’s garden shed, and now has an annual turnover of £5 million and a 10,000 sq ft van conversion centre.

“As an independent network provider we work on a range of sites across the country and travel with tools and materials in the back of the vans at all times,” commented Ben Holleyhead, of Energy Assets Utilities plant and fleet division.

“SM UK are installing the new high tech racking system into the back of our vans and they’ve been able to fit it to the bespoke design we wanted. We have had three vans completed so far and it has made a real difference to the safety of the vehicles because the tools and kit can be much better organised. The benefits for us as a business have been immediate and we are looking to roll out the new system across the whole Energy Assets Utilities fleet.”