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    -Brief Business Travel Insights

    31 Oct 2023
    Article

    Service in style: Benefits of hiring a chauffeur

    Contrary to popular belief, chauffeur services aren’t solely for celebrities.

    They cater to a wide and varied clientele, meaning more people than you realise benefiting from using them.

    This article explains exactly what a chauffeur is, what they do, who typically uses their services and the advantages of doing so.

    What is the definition of a chauffeur?

    So, what is a chauffeur?

    A chauffeur is a person with professional training to drive a private or commercial luxury car for paying customers.

    And what is chauffeuring? Chauffeuring is simply the act of a person (usually a chauffeur) driving a vehicle for someone else as a paid job. Chauffeurs specialise in luxury transportation, and the demands of their role go far beyond that of your average taxi driver.

    They provide transportation with finesse, and are often used by distinguished clientele, including VIPs.

    Chauffeurs are usually experienced drivers. They are impeccably presented in formal attire and are trained to be punctual, polite, courteous, and discrete. Their comprehensive preparation includes advanced driving skills, car etiquette, customer safety, security awareness, and knowledge of the local area.

    The scope of a chauffeur’s duties extends beyond driving.

    They perform various additional functions, including meet and greet, luggage assistance, and security services. They may also provide specialist services, including chauffeuring for business meetings, corporate events, diplomatic services, as-directed hire, and financial roadshows.

    When you hire a chauffeur, you can expect a luxury vehicle where comfort and safety are a priority.

    Who needs a chauffeur?

    Chauffeur services can be used by anyone who needs stylish and professional transportation from point A to B.

    While VIPs use these services, most chauffeur clients are ordinary people who value comfort, punctuality, professionalism, and security when travelling.

    Let’s look at the diverse range of people to whom chauffeur services like Driven Worldwide often cater.

    Special occasion guests – Need to travel to a special occasion in style? Whether you’re getting hitched or attending a funeral, christening, or any other event or party, hiring a chauffeur takes the stress out of travel arrangements and ensures you arrive in style and feeling relaxed.

    Tourists – Arranging transport and transfers when abroad can be daunting, especially if you’re travelling alone or don’t speak the local language. Using a chauffeur service makes travelling in another country simple and stress-free, so you can sit back and enjoy the adventure.

    Business professionals – This one’s a biggy. Business travellers are probably the most significant clientele for chauffeur services. There are numerous reasons why people may need to travel for business, including business meetings, conferences and events, and financial roadshows. Using chauffeur services helps business travellers arrive punctually, convey a professional image, and travel comfortably, perhaps even making business calls or catching up on emails during the journey.

    VIPs – High-profile figures like diplomats, politicians, government officials, royalty, and celebrities all value the punctuality, professionalism, and heightened security of chauffeur services.

    Individuals with mobility problems – Individuals with mobility limitations, including some older adults, appreciate the extra assistance chauffeurs provide. From carrying luggage to aiding with vehicle entry and exit, the presence of a chauffeur can provide an element of reassurance. They may use a chauffeur in their daily lives to help them get to medical appointments punctually or run everyday errands.

    Top 10 reasons to hire a chauffeur

    Whether you’re travelling for business or pleasure, hiring a chauffeur service could help ensure your journey runs smoothly.

    Here are our top 10 reasons to consider using a chauffeur service for your next trip.

    Punctual – When punctuality is a priority, you can rest assured that a chauffeur will get you to your destination promptly. Chauffeurs have extensive knowledge of the areas they work in, including traffic patterns and the fastest routes, enabling them to navigate swiftly and avoid delays. Never again will you need to worry about being late due to unreliable transportation.

    Secure – Chauffeur services prioritise your safety. Chauffeurs are trained to handle all kinds of driving situations, and many are trained in advanced driving techniques, including defensive driving, to ensure the safety of their passengers. Additionally, vehicles are regularly serviced and maintained to the highest standards. You could consider hiring a high-security chauffeur if security is a key concern. High-security chauffeurs are highly trained to provide safe and secure transportation, even in high-risk locations or circumstances.

    Stylish – No matter the event, arriving in style is a breeze when you travel with a chauffeur service. With their immaculately presented modern vehicles and professional and courteous drivers, you’ll always look the part when you hire a chauffeur to transport you.

    Consistent – When you hire a taxi, you can never be too sure what kind of service or driver you will receive. However, all chauffeurs are highly trained and professional drivers, so you can rest assured that you will receive a reliable and consistent standard of service, whether you require a short transfer or are going on a long trip.

    Comfortable – Chauffeurs drive new, state-of-the-art vehicles that prioritise passenger comfort. The vehicles are spacious, quiet, and clean, allowing you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride.

    Reliable – Chauffeurs are dependable; their professionalism, experience, and knowledge of the local area mean they know the best routes to avoid traffic to arrive at their destination punctually. This reliability takes the stress out of travel.

    Assistance – Chauffeur services go above and beyond driving. They help with luggage, provide local recommendations, offer accessibility assistance, and can adapt your journey as your plan unfolds. This extra assistance helps to make travel easy, convenient, and stress-free.

    Time-saving – When you travel with a chauffeur service, you can use your travel time more productively. Rather than focusing on driving, or journey details, you can catch up on emails, make important calls, or enjoy some downtime.

    Flexible – Chauffeur services are incredibly flexible. Need to make last-minute changes to your journey, make multiple stops, or have a complex itinerary? No problem. All of your journey’s details are handled with professionalism and efficiency. The flexibility of a chauffeur service ensures that your unique travel needs are always met.

    Cost-effective – Contrary to popular belief, chauffeur services are not as expensive as they seem. Considering the level of service, comfort, and convenience they offer, they provide excellent value for money.

    Driven Worldwide’s chauffeur services

    If you’re looking for a chauffeur service in a class of its own, look no further than Driven Worldwide. We combine global coverage with industry-leading technology and impeccable service standards. Let’s look at the key reasons why so many people worldwide choose our chauffeur services.

    Global coverage – We operate in more than 1,500 locations globally. Our dedicated global operations team is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, ensuring we’re always there when you need us. Every booking comes with a personal account manager, offering a single point of contact for your convenience.

    Executive-level vehicles – We take pride in our fleet of comfortable, executive-level vehicles that are always impeccably maintained. We don’t use vehicles older than three years, ensuring your journey is always smooth and luxurious.

    Professional and experienced drivers – We value professionalism and excellence, and our drivers reflect our ethos. Always well-presented, courteous, and highly experienced, our chauffeurs also possess extensive local knowledge, including parking, traffic conditions, and local services and attractions. Our chauffeurs are always willing to go the extra mile to ensure your journey goes smoothly.

    Advanced communication technology – We use advanced technology to make it simple and convenient for our clients to communicate with our team. These include an online portal, booking app, tracking app, and our ChaffeurCall system. Our industry-leading ChaffeurCall system is designed to ensure a seamless and enhanced communication experience. With ChauffeurCall, you will never be redirected to voicemail. Instead, if your chauffeur cannot answer your call, you will be transferred to your local Driven Worldwide office, where a member of our team will assist you with information or handle your query. We also give our clients their chauffeur details at least 48 hours before the journey.

    The global specialist roadshow provider – We are proud to be global specialists in roadshow services, setting exceptional standards in a unique niche. We cater to various types of global roadshows, including deal, non-deal, analyst, fixed income, investor, and field trip roadshows. Our network spans 1,200 locations across the globe, ensuring we can meet your needs wherever you might be. We collaborate with a trusted network of global affiliates to double-check and ensure the highest quality for every aspect of your booking. We successfully deliver over 12,000 roadshows each year and manage over 30,000 reservations.

    Want to learn more about our chauffeur services or request a free quote on a journey? Book a car or request a quote on our website today.

    -Brief Business Travel Insights

    20 Oct 2023
    Article

    Do private drivers need to have a DBS check?

    Private drivers and chauffeurs are responsible for transporting a wide variety of different passengers, including children and vulnerable adults.

    This puts private hire drivers in a position of trust, making it more important than ever that they are properly vetted and found suitable for the role.

    To ensure public safety, strict regulations govern the licensing of private hire drivers. Among these protective measures is the requirement for all individuals applying to become a private hire driver to have an enhanced DBS check.

    In this article, we will learn more about DBS checks for private hire drivers, whether they’re mandatory, and their important role in the private hire sector.

    What is a DBS check?

    In the UK, it is common for employers to carry out background checks on individuals before employing them. One common type of background check is the DBS check.

    DBS stands for Disclosure and Barring Service. The DBS conducts DBS checks to check whether an individual has any convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings on their criminal record.

    Carrying out a DBS check is particularly important when employing a person to work in a role with children or vulnerable adults.

    There are three different levels of DBS check:

    Basic DBS check – Only returns details of any unspent convictions.

    Standard DBS check – Returns details of both spent and unspent convictions, warnings, cautions, and reprimands.

    Enhanced DBS check – Reveals the same details as the standard DBS check plus any relevant police notes stored on file. An enhanced DBS check can also check if the person appears on the list of people permanently barred from working with children or vulnerable adults.

    A DBS check’s results can help employers make informed and safe recruitment decisions.

    In the UK, the Department for Transport’s statutory guidance states that all taxi and private hire drivers must have an enhanced DBS check.

    You cannot legally work as a private hire or taxi driver without obtaining the relevant licence from your local authority. These licensing authorities cannot issue a licence to individuals who do not have an enhanced DBS certificate.

    Why are DBS checks important for private drivers and chauffeurs?

    The primary reason why it is so important for private drivers and chauffeurs to complete an enhanced DBS check is public safety.

    Private hire drivers are responsible for safely transporting people from point A to B. They transport different passenger types, including potentially vulnerable individuals like children, older adults, and people with disabilities. The close and unsupervised nature of private driving and chauffeuring puts drivers in a position of trust. Passengers put their trust in the integrity and professionalism of these drivers, and the requirement for private drivers to undergo an enhanced DBS check ensures that the driver has no criminal convictions and helps to mitigate risk.

    A DBS for private hire driver also reassures customers and the general public that drivers have been vetted and deemed appropriate for the role. This helps to build trust and protect the private hire company’s reputation.

    How often do private drivers require a DBS check?

    Government guidance was recently updated to make it mandatory for private drivers and chauffeurs to sign up for the DBS Update Service. This online subscription service helps keep enhanced DBS certificates up-to-date and allows employers to check your certificate online, with your consent. Signing up for the DBS Update Service costs just £13 per year.

    Driven Worldwide DBs private hire driver

    Here at Driven Worldwide, all of our chauffeurs and DBS private hire drivers are meticulously vetted and DBS-checked to give you peace of mind that you are in the hands of a trusted professional.

    Whether you require a private driver for a roadshow, managed project, client services, conference or event, we’ve got you covered.

    Operating in over 1,500 locations globally, our private hire and chauffeur services are trusted by some of the largest companies in the world.

    Contact our team today to get a quote on a journey or book a car.