Colchester-based
Towmate Trailers, a leading UK manufacturer of trailers for the utilities and infrastructure industries, has been awarded the Achilles Utilities Vendor Database (UVDB) Silver Plus accreditation, with an overall score of 98%.
For five years, Towmate Trailers has been at the forefront of designing and manufacturing modular, high-quality trailers, serving public utilities, civil engineering, plant rental, and landscaping industries, with Severn Trent Water and Cadent Gas Ltd among its customers. This latest accreditation, which comes after the launch of the company’s LaySafe innovation — a coil pipe trailer, and the first of its kind to safely serve the utilities sector — underlines the company’s ongoing commitment to delivering exceptional products and services to its customers in the market.
A critical requirement for suppliers in the utilities sector, and recognised by all major utilities companies, Achilles’ UVDB auditing process evaluates businesses on several criteria, from environment, sustainability and health and safety, to corporate social responsibility (CSR) and quality. Its rigorous audit process comprises a thorough evaluation of management systems and on-site assessments to ensure utilities suppliers not only have the necessary policies and procedures in place, but also effectively implement them in their operations.
Along with top scores for environment, quality and sustainability, a notable highlight from Towmate Trailers’ audit was the recognition of its carbon neutral certification system. While not a mandatory requirement for the accreditation, this certification reflects the company’s proactive approach to environmental stewardship and sustainability — an increasingly critical focus for the utilities industry as companies seek to build ‘greener’, more resilient supply chains.
As the manufacturing industry looks to reduce its carbon footprint and improve efficiency, suppliers are expected to demonstrate tangible commitment to sustainability. Towmate Trailers integrates sustainability into its operations through modular trailer designs, which reduce material waste and extend product lifecycles. As well as this, its innovative solutions, like the LaySafe trailer, promote more effective and sustainable on-site management by minimising the manpower and vehicle power required to tow plant machinery.
Steve Bradshaw, managing director of Towmate Trailers, said: “Earning the Achilles UVDB Silver Plus accreditation is true testament to our team’s dedication to upholding the highest standards across all aspects of the business. Our collective commitment to safety, quality and sustainability is concrete, and this is clearly recognised in the high scores we achieved across all disciplines.
“With utilities companies typically looking for suppliers with an audit score of 83% or higher, this achievement not only meets but far exceeds industry expectations, with an overall score of 98% reinforcing our reputation for excellence. I am immensely proud of the work we have produced over the past five years, establishing Towmate Trailers as a trusted and reliable partner for the utilities, civil engineering, and plant hire industries, and I look forward to seeing what the next five years have in store.”