Driver Hire on duty at COP26

A team of seven drivers supplied by Driver Hire Ayrshire played an important role in the running of the COP26 climate change conference held in Glasgow in November.

Prior to the Conference, Liz Logan, Sales Executive at Drive Hire Ayrshire, was approached by Electric Zoo, a leasing company that specialises in supplying electric vehicles to fleet operators on a Pay As You Go Electric Subscription and to companies via an EV Salary Sacrifice Scheme.

“In keeping with the environmental focus of COP26, Electric Zoo are helping companies across the UK make a smooth transition from combustion to electric,” says Liz. “They were looking for a team of drivers to chauffeur delegates in electric vehicles from Blair Estate, Dalry – where a number of them were staying – to the Conference in Glasgow.”

One of the team of drivers was Matthew McClymont, who is also a Driver Hire Ayrshire director. He absolutely loved the experience – even if it meant working some longer hours than usual.

Our main task was taking them to and from the Scottish Exhibition & Conference Centre and Glasgow Science Park, COP26’s main venues,” says Matthew. “We also did some trips to collect delegates from Glasgow Airport. We were working twelve hour shifts but the time just flew by.

Matthew was driving a VWID3 his first experience in an electric vehicle. “It was smooth and comfortable,” says Matthew. “I’d have no hesitation buying one. Although it did need recharging more often when the weather got a wee bit colder.”

Electric Zoo’s Jean Hay described the Driver Hire team as: “Fabulous. The drivers were professional, accommodating, friendly and a joy to work with. They managed the charging and range of the EVs very well over their 12 hr shifts. I’m very much looking forward to working with Driver Hire in the future.”

Pictured: Colin McLean, Jane McCulloch, Paul Marsh, Wilson Milligan, Colin Cruickshanks, Matthew McClymont and Gordon Jackson