NRG Riverside: 30 Years Strong. Built For What’s Next  

Thirty years in business is a milestone. At NRG Riverside, it marks not just longevity, but the scale, expertise, and ambition driving our next chapter of growth. 

Today, we operate as a specialist fleet hire and fleet management partner supporting customers in complex, operationally demanding sectors. With 17 depots across the UK, including the recent acquisitions of TruckCare and Commercial Motors (Wales) Ltd, we continue to expand our national service capability while maintaining the specialist expertise our customers rely on. 

Our approach continues to gain industry recognition. In 2025, we were named Contract Hire and Leasing Provider of the Year at the Motor Transport Awards, reflecting the strength of our customer partnerships and the quality of our operational delivery. 

But while the milestone matters, our focus remains firmly on the future. 

With more than 350 colleagues, a growing national depot network and one of the largest specialist municipal fleets in the UK, the next phase of growth is already underway. 

For Darren, the anniversary reflects not just longevity but clarity of purpose. 

“NRG Riverside has always been focused on specialist capability,” he explains. “We operate in sectors where reliability, safety and operational expertise really matter. That focus has allowed us to grow consistently and build long-term partnerships with organisations that rely on us every day.” 

The business has expanded significantly in recent years, supported by continued investment in fleet, engineering capability and digital infrastructure. 

That confidence is underpinned by significant financial backing. In 2025, we secured a £455 million refinancing, strengthening our capital platform and providing the capacity to continue investing in fleet, infrastructure and technology to support long-term growth. 

“Over the next three to five years, we see significant opportunity,” Darren adds. “Our strategy is about growing the fleet, strengthening our infrastructure and continuing to develop the expertise of our people so we can support customers as their operational needs evolve.” 

That focus on long-term value, rather than short-term expansion, has helped establish NRG Riverside as a trusted partner across both the public and commercial sectors. 

Supporting that vision is a culture built around people. 

“As we grow, our people remain central to our success,” Darren says. “Many of our colleagues have built long careers here, including 7 employees who recently celebrated 25 years of long service. We also recognise one colleague who has reached an incredible 50 years of service, a remarkable milestone, and we are equally proud of the new talent joining us through our apprenticeship and development programmes.” 

Jenny Cook, Chief People Officer, reinforces the importance of that investment in people. 

“Our culture is something we work hard to maintain as we grow,” she says. “We want NRG Riverside to be a place where people can build long-term careers, develop their skills and feel proud of the role they play in delivering essential services.”

For Amber Greenhalgh, Chief Revenue Officer, the next phase of growth is closely tied to changing customer expectations. 

“Our customers are operating in increasingly complex environments,” she explains. “They need fleet partners who understand those challenges and can offer flexible, insight-led solutions that help them operate more efficiently.” 

Improving the customer experience also means simplifying the processes behind fleet management. Over the past year, NRG Riverside has introduced digital rental agreements and enhanced on- and off-hire processes, making damage assessments more accurate and more transparent for our customers. These improvements ensure critical processes are handled quickly and transparently, allowing customers to focus on their own operations. 

NRG Riverside’s growth has been driven by long-standing partnerships and a deep understanding of the sectors it serves.

“Many of our customer relationships span decades,” Amber says. “That longevity comes from understanding their operations and working alongside them to solve problems, not simply providing vehicles.” 

Russell Markstein, Chief Commercial Officer, agrees that those long-term partnerships remain one of the business’s strongest differentiators. 

“There are several of our hire customers including the likes of Stockton Council, London Borough of Newham, Veolia and Biffa who have worked with us for well over 20 years,” he says. “It’s those long-term partnerships, built on trust and collaboration, that allow us to support them across the country. By working collaboratively with our customers, we have been able to grow our operations nationally while continuing to deliver reliable, consistent service wherever they operate.” 

Amber sees a clear growth opportunity ahead: 

“On fleet, we have circa 2,600 vehicles, and we plan to double that size within the next five years,” she explains. “Combined with the digital tools and insight we provide, this expansion will allow customers to operate more efficiently, adapt to regulatory and sustainability changes, and benefit from our scale without sacrificing the service and expertise they rely on.” 

She adds that technology and innovation are central to this growth. 

“We are investing heavily in digital capability, telematics, and data insights,” Amber says. “These tools allow customers to better understand fleet performance, improve utilisation, and plan for the future with confidence.” 

As regulatory change and sustainability targets reshape the fleet sector, that insight will become increasingly valuable. 

“Our role is to help customers navigate that complexity,” Amber concludes. “Whether it’s fleet transition, operational efficiency, or long-term planning, we want to be the partner they rely on, now and in the years ahead.” 

Sustained growth requires a strong financial foundation, something Fran Reed, Chief Financial Officer, sees as one of NRG Riverside’s key strengths. 

“Our financial resilience allows us to invest confidently in the future,” he explains. “We continue to expand our fleet, strengthen infrastructure, and invest in the technology that supports both our operations and our customers.” 

Recent milestones, including the £455 million refinancing in 2025, have strengthened that platform even further. These investments provide the flexibility to scale responsibly, pursue growth opportunities, and remain ready for the evolving demands of specialist fleet operations. 

Over the last five years, NRG Riverside has invested over £300m in new vehicles, maintaining one of the largest specialist municipal fleets in the UK. 

“Strategic investment is about more than just growth today,” Fran adds. “It’s about ensuring we have the resilience, capability, and infrastructure to deliver sustainable performance over the long term, positioning the business to thrive as the fleet sector evolves.”

As the business grows, maintaining consistent service delivery remains critical. 

Gary Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, believes operational excellence ultimately defines the company’s reputation. 

“Our customers rely on us to keep essential services running,” he explains. “That means our operational standards have to be consistently high across every depot, every workshop and every vehicle we manage.” 

NRG Riverside’s operational capability continues to expand alongside its customers. The company now operates 17 depots nationwide, strengthened through the integration of TruckCare and Commercial Motors (Wales) Ltd, ensuring vehicles can be maintained, serviced and supported close to where customers operate. 

The network is supported by IRTE-accredited workshops and highly trained technicians, enabling the business to maintain high standards of compliance, reliability and vehicle uptime. 

“Our focus is always on reliability, compliance and uptime,” Gary says. “Technology is playing a growing role in that, from predictive maintenance to enhanced telematics, allowing us to monitor performance and respond faster when issues arise.” 

Fleet capability has also evolved significantly over time. 

Chris Snelson, Fleet and Asset Director, has seen that change firsthand. 

“I started my career here twenty eight years ago,” he says. “Today we are managing one of the largest specialist municipal fleets in the UK, and the vehicles themselves have become far more advanced.” 

Modern vehicles now include sophisticated telematics, enhanced safety systems and digital diagnostics that improve both efficiency and reliability. 

“Vehicle specifications have evolved enormously,” Chris explains. “Technology now allows us to track performance, improve safety and support customers with better data than ever before.” 

For Gary, that evolution reflects a broader shift within the industry. 

“Specialist fleet operations are becoming more complex every year,” he says. “Our job is to stay ahead of that change and ensure our customers always have the capability and support they need.” 

Thirty years in business demonstrates resilience. It demonstrates adaptability. And it demonstrates trust. 

But for Darren, the milestone ultimately reinforces something even more important: readiness for the future. 

“We have built a strong business with exceptional people, trusted customer relationships and the financial strength to keep investing,” he says. “That gives us a powerful platform for the next phase of growth.” 

As the fleet sector continues to evolve, driven by technology, regulation and sustainability, NRG Riverside remains focused on leading that change while staying true to its core purpose: supporting the essential services that keep communities running. 

Our growth is powered by our people. We are proud to be consistently recognised as a Great Place to Work and for the second year running, placed in the top 100 for large organisations, reflecting the culture, expertise and commitment that underpin everything we deliver for our customers. 

“The next chapter for NRG Riverside is about scale, innovation and partnership,” Darren concludes. “We are proud of what we have achieved over the past 30 years, but we are even more excited about what comes next.”