The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Car leasing made simple™ is proud to support The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - making a difference to over 275,000 young people across the UK every year.

In the UK today over a million young people are unemployed and are not receiving any form of education or training. Many thousands more are failing to achieve their potential, held back by lack of opportunity, disability, exclusion, low expectations or a lack of confidence.

Youth charity The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award supports over 275,000 people aged 14-25 every year. The DofE inspires, guides and supports young people in their self-development and recognises their achievements. The DofE aims to create a world where young people can reach their full potential, whatever their circumstances.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award works with like-minded individuals and businesses to make their vision a reality. Supporters join together under the banner of the Charter, which sets out the charity’s values and aims. Car leasing made simple™ is proud to be a Member of this Charter and has committed to helping this important charity achieve their mission. A list of Charter Members can be found here.

The DofE needs over £100,000 per week to support over 275,000 young people, including 30,000 excluded and vulnerable young people throughout the UK. If you would like to get involved or are able to help please contact jacqui.larcombe@dofe.org or see www.dofe.org

Case study

Tyrone grew up on a Council Estate in Peckham. By the time he was 14 many of his contemporaries were involved in drugs and crime.

For Tyrone things were different, largely because of his involvement in his local youth club where he was encouraged to take up The DofE. Learning new skills to achieve Bronze was a particular challenge when his youth club was initially an escape from studying.

More challenges arose with his Silver and Gold programmes, when he volunteered as a leader in the youth club. Where in the previous year he had been a member on outings, now he was responsible for the well-being, behaviour and presence of his charges.

Tyrone has also become aware that he is a role model for younger club members and neighbours. He and his younger brother are likely to be the first members from Westminster House Youth Club to achieve their Gold Awards.

Tyrone is in the final year of a business and computing degree at the University of Greenwich.

“They look up to me as a leader, so I have to behave responsibly in the Club and outside” - Tyrone

Jaguar news

Industry experts predict that the Jaguar XF will be worth more than any of its competitors in the years to come.

EurotaxGlass’s, publisher of Glass’s Guide, predict that a Jaguar XF will be worth 18% more than the equivalent Audi in 12 months time and 9% more in three years time.

Jason King, head of market intelligence for EurotaxGlass’s, said: ‘The XF has made a very impressive entry into the segment and has shaken up the established German players. A striking new look, luxurious and modern interiors and much improved build quality have all helped to make the XF one of last year’s best sellers - and this all has a positive impact on
the value predicted for used models on garage forecourts.

‘With the introduction of the excellent new 3.0 litre diesel engine, we predict that residual values will become an even stronger proposition.’

Research carried out by EurotaxGlass’s suggests that the new 3.0 litre diesel Jaguar XF, available in the UK available from £33,900, will retain 80% of its purchase price after 12 months/14,000 miles, which makes it best in class, and 45% of its value after three years/60,000 miles.

King, added: ‘These values make the Jaguar XF the best in its class and this is testament to this new era of Jaguar models. The XF is proving to be very desirable and prices have been buoyed up by strong new and used car sales since its launch last year.

‘The good news for Jaguar doesn’t stop there - values achieved for used examples of the outgoing 2.7 diesel model have achieved an impressive 77% of the original list price.’

Source: Jaguar, June 4 2009

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Smart news

A fleet of eight diesel Smart cars is destined to prove ‘the business’ for Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, which has just taken delivery of one of the UK’s first corporate orders for the new Smart fortwo cdi model.

The cars will be used by the Sheffield Chamber’s Business Development Executives to visit the 2,700 member companies in the city and across South Yorkshire who call upon its advice, support and representation.

Smart of Sheffield supplied the coupé models after winning a competitive tender, which attracted bids from 20 local motor retailers - all Chamber members. The vehicles will be run on two-year leases and will replace the previous fleet of Toyota Yaris.

The Smart fortwo cdi’s economical and environmental performance was a key factor in the Chamber’s purchasing decision. As the world’s most efficient production car, the model returns 85.6 mpg on the combined cycle with carbon dioxide emissions of 88 g/km.

Stephen Mitchell, Sheffield Chamber corporate partnerships director said: ‘It was a priority that the cars we chose displayed outstanding environmental credentials but were cheap to run.’

Source: Smart, June 4 2009

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Volvo news

The Volvo S40 1.6D DRIVe featuring the new Start/Stop technology has scooped the top honour and been named Green Car of the Year at the prestigious 2009 What Car? Green Car Awards.

The Volvo S40 DRIVe beat the BMW 118d and the Renault Megane to the top spot in the Small Family category and then stormed ahead to achieve victory over all the other category winners, including the Audi A8 and MINI Cooper S, to be awarded the prestigious overall What Car? Green Car of the Year title.

Offering exceptionally low CO2 emissions of just 104g/km and returning up to 72.4 mpg on the combined cycle, What Car?'s judges praised the S40 DRIVe's unique combination of low emissions, practicality, safety and driver enjoyment as key reasons for the win.

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Kia news

Kia has appointed Michael Cole as its new UK managing director. He takes over the position in August when current managing director Paul Philpott becomes chief operating officer of Kia Motors Europe.

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Electric Cars

The UK Government has announced a £250 million support package for electric cars, due to commence in 2011. £5,000 grants will be made available to the purchasers of new electric cars and £20 million will be allocated to providing recharging points in UK cities.

The choice of electric vehicles has puzzled many commentators as environmental transports specialists have concluded that electric cars are no better environmentally than clean petrol and diesel vehicles. This analysis is based on the fact that the majority of UK electricity is produced by burning fossil fuels. Electric cars have, on average, a range of 50-60 miles and take 8 hours to recharge. The Government is hoping that a new generation of Lithium-ion batteries will provide greater range.

Plug in hybrids, which provide a back up petrol engine to batteries, look far more promising in terms of acceptance by consumers. This initiative seems to have its rationale in a desperate attempt to get electric cars manufactured in the UK and to cut CO2 emissions from transport, as the UK struggles to meet its 20% reduction target by 2020. There are now 100 recharging stations on the streets of London.

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