Citroen has entered into a three-year partnership with the Big Issue Group that will see the organisation take on a fleet of all-electric Citroen e-Berlingo and e-Dispatch vans.
A total of 16 fully electric Citroen vans will join the BIG fleet to support the distribution of The Big Issue magazine
across the UK. The fleet needs to transport over two million magazines to 3,300 vendors each year, covering over 350,000 miles annually across the UK.
The e-Berlingo and e-Dispatch vans will initially be used in towns and cities including Bournemouth, Bristol, Bath, Norwich and Newcastle, with more vans to be added to the fleet over the next three years.
The partnership comes as many cities across the UK introduce low-emission zones, making the use of fully electric vans even more beneficial for all types of fleets and businesses, while also helping to make the group’s delivery process more sustainable and reduce its carbon emissions.
“Citroen’s market-leading approach to innovation and affordability of electric vehicles is the exact reason why they are the ideal partner to work with Big Issue Group,” explained Russell Blackman, Big Issue Group managing director of commercial. “Our partnership will allow us to make even greater strides in the support and services we provide for the most marginalised across the country. In cities and remote, rural locations, we will be able to respond quickly when our vendors need us the most. At Big Issue Group we are excited for the next three years working alongside Citroen to drive change for good.”
Eurig Druce, Citroen UK’s managing director, added: “We are thrilled to partner with Big Issue Group in their important work ‘changing lives through enterprise’, and in particular to support their transition to electric vehicles so they can become more sustainable. BIG is a fantastic organisation that has been working to improve people’s lives for over 30 years by providing work opportunities – a hand up, not a handout is a philosophy we can definitely get behind. I can’t wait to see these vans out on the road, being used as sustainable electric workhorses in support of the Big Issue workforce.”
The Big Issue
Big Issue Group is a social enterprise that aims to benefit the individuals, communities and organisations it works with. The Group consists of several different entities, including Big Issue Media, which publishes The Big Issue magazine – an award-winning weekly entertainment and current affairs magazine that supports homeless and vulnerably housed people across the UK.
Vendors buy the magazines for £1.50 each and sell them to the public for £3, keeping the difference. In this way, the magazine provides individuals with the means to earn a legitimate income.
A special edition of The Big Issue magazine – covering the Citroen and Big Issue Group partnership – is out now and can be bought from your local vendor.
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