FOR utility companies, their engineers’ vans are often the most prominent manifestation of the brand – what the consumer sees parked outside their homes, delivering an essential service. When these companies re-brand, updating their fleet is one of the biggest challenges they face. It presents a moving target and is much more of a test than swapping out static brochures, stationery and premises signage.

In-service livery re-brands are quite a different project to new fleet builds. Your fleet is spread throughout the country, in daily use by your engineers. VOR time is the enemy of all fleets, choosing to take all your vehicles off the road to apply new branding risks a serious impact on work schedules. By partnering with the right livery supplier, you can avoid these risks.

Stewart Signs makes and manages livery for the UK’s biggest fleets and has seen some of them through several reincarnations of their brand. They can help you with a fleet audit, an essential part of agreeing a detailed scope of works to avoid any surprises at the end of the project. They will engage your key stakeholders early on, agreeing responsibilities and budgets to achieve what are often pressing deadlines. Finding a company with both the manufacturing and installation capacity to deliver on your timescales is essential.

Removal and installation of your new branding can be carried out at your premises, or leave it to Stewart Signs to organise national fitting centres. Vans can be re-branded out of hours or temporary vehicles provided to ensure no impact on service levels. You may not want to fully re-livery your oldest vehicles if they are near the end of their life; Stewart Signs will work with your fleet and brand teams to develop interim graphics which will convey your new look without excessive cost.

Progress will be conveyed through your online client portal, which will offer reporting from whole fleet level down to individual vehicle status. Livery services won’t end when your final vehicle is re-branded. Spare parts are essential to keep your vehicles running, Stewart Signs has a range of aftercare options to ensure brand continuity and minimal downtime.