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Research reveals van man’s sensitive side

May 2007

Research published today by Budget Van Insurance challenges the stereotypical views that people have about ‘white van man’.  Superseding the images of the road menace who lives and breathes the greasy spoon lifestyle; findings show a refreshing alternative.  The majority of van drivers questioned are image and diet conscious, make their own packed lunches for work, embrace technology and spend time at the weekends on days out with the family.

Builders bum?
Dispelling the builders bum myth, the vast majority – 73 per cent of respondents – said that they were concerned about their appearance on the job.  And within this group, 27 per cent of respondents let their concern determine the brand of work wear they choose. 

Sixty per cent of van men also admitted to being concerned about their diets with the same number admitting to preparing their own lunches as a healthier option to roadside cafes or fast food restaurants.  Twenty per cent of respondents still opt for the greasy spoon café while just 10 per cent snack on burgers at fast food chains. 

Van man relaxes
While many presume that van man only spends his waking hours ranting and raving behind the wheel to and from work, research findings show different.  Sixty four per cent use their vehicles after hours to relax with 22 per cent using it on camping or summer holidays; 20 per cent use it for days out with the family while 10 per cent use their van for the school run.   Thirteen per cent transport motorbikes between locations while 6 per cent use their van to travel and camp at music festivals.

Van mans personal hobbies are wide and varied.  Football is the favourite at 51 per cent; followed by motor sports enjoyed by 38 per cent; rugby – 27 percent; golf – 21 per cent, fishing - 20 per cent and cricket – 19 per cent. 

It also seems that van drivers embrace technology with 53 per cent having an item in their vehicle that they could not do without.  The favourites were stereos/radio, sat nav systems, hands free kits and air conditioning.  Lucky mascots were also very popular.  Fourteen per cent of respondents take a lap top to work in their van with those aged between 17-24 more than twice as likely as the other age groups to do so – 32 per cent.

 Usage of laptops ranged from work related – 87 per cent; surfing the net – 33 per cent and e-mailing friends – 23 per cent.  Other uses cited include charity work, navigation and storing stock details.

Lisa Corston, spokesperson for Budget Van Insurance said:
“It’s time for us to ditch the more negative side of the van man’s reputation once and for all. Our research puts forward an alternative to the road menace and shows that there’s more to van man than meets the eye.  Our findings confirm that van man is just like the rest of us – he likes to relax at the weekend, spend time with friends and family and takes pride in his appearance.”

Key findings
A professional appearance

  • 73 per cent of respondents said that they were concerned about their appearance on the job.  Interestingly, men are more likely to be so than women - 75 per cent compared to 53 per cent respectively.
  • Those in the 55 and over age bracket are the most concerned about their appearance on the job – 78 per cent compared to 73 per cent generally.
  • For 27 per cent of respondents, their concern about their appearance determines the label of clothing they wear.  Those aged between 25 – 34 are slightly more likely to be so at 29 per cent.

Food on the go

  • When asked if they were concerned about their diet, the majority or 60 per cent of respondents said that they were, while 5 per cent more men admitted to being more concerned than their female counterparts.
  • Those from older age brackets are more likely to be concerned about their diets – 67 per cent those aged 45-54 compared to 60 per cent in general and 65 per cent of those aged 55 and over.
  • Far from living up to the slob van man image, the majority of respondents to the survey – 60 per cent – said that they preferred to make their own food rather than stopping off at cafes or fast food chains.   The remainders:
    • buy food at petrol stations –  26 per cent
    • stop at roadside cafes – 20 per cent
    • eat in fast food restaurants – 10 per cent

 

Wide and varied interests
Van drivers sporting interests are wide and varied.  Football is the favourite for 51 per cent of respondents followed by:

    • Motorsports – 38 per cent
    • Rugby - 27 per cent
    • Golf – 21 per cent
    • Fishing – 20 per cent
    • Cricket – 19 per cent.
  • More unusual sporting pastimes include shooting for 11 per cent, skiing for 8 per cent.  Other responses ranged from archery, boxing, cycling, hockey, horse riding, jiu jitsu and sailing.
  • 64 per cent of van drivers use their vehicles outside work.  Men are more likely to do so than women - 64 per cent compared to 57 per cent.
  • 85 per cent of 17-24 year olds use their vehicles for leisure time.
  • Of the van drivers who use their motors outside work,  72 per cent use it to run around at the weekend; followed by
    • 23 per cent who use it for fishing/sports
    • 22 per cent who use it to go camping or for summer holidays
    • 20 per cent who use it for family days out
    • 13 per cent who use it for transporting motorbikes
    • 10 per cent who use it for the school run
    • 6 per cent who use it for traveling to music festivals
  • Women are more likely to use their vans for camping - 34 per cent compared to 20 per cent of men; family days out - 38 per cent compared to 18 per cent of men and music festivals - 14 per cent compared to 5 per cent of men.

 

Embracing technology

  • 14 per cent of respondents take a lap top to work with them in their van.  Those aged between 17-24 more than twice as likely as other age groups to do so – 32 per cent.
  • Those that use a laptop at work use it for:
    • Work – 87 per cent
    • Surfing the internet – 33 per cent
    • Emailing friends – 23 per cent
    • Shopping – 14 per cent
    • News – 12 per cent

Other uses cited include:

  • Charity work, navigation, storing travel photos and storing details of stock.
  • Men and women use their laptops differently with women more likely to use it to e-mail friends - 43 per cent compared to 21 per cent; shop 29 per cent compared to 13 per cent and monitor the news – 29 per cent compared to 10 per cent.
  • Age differences also affect usage with those aged 25-34 being the biggest web surfers - 57 per cent compared to 33 per cent in general; e-mailing friends - 50 per cent compared to 23 per cent in general; shopping - 29 per cent compared to 14 per cent and looking up news - 29 per cent compared to 12 per cent.
  • Over half of van drivers – 53 per cent - have an item in their vehicle that they could not do without.  Stereo/CD player is the clear favourite followed by:
    • Sat nav
    • Radio
    • Air conditioning
    • Cigarettes and lighter
    • Cup holders
    • Hands free car kit
    • Tools
    • Lucy mascots
  • Those in the younger age brackets were more likely to have an item in their van that they couldn’t do with out – 68 per cent of 17-24 year olds and 62 per cent of 25-34 year olds.

 

Regional differences

  • People in Wales are the most technologically savvy with 28 per cent taking lap tops with them to work compared to the national average of 14 per cent. In contrast people in the North East and West are stuck in the dark ages with only 5 per cent taking lap tops to work with them.
  • Respondents from the North East – 80 per cent - report being the most concerned about their appearance on the job, followed closely by Yorkshire and Wales – both 78 per cent.
  • Respondents from London and the North West are slightly more likely than the rest of the population to be concerned about their work labels with 36 per cent and 32 per cent respectively.
  • Those in Wales – 66 per cent – South East, North East and South West - all 60 per cent – are all more likely to have an item in their van they couldn’t do without.
  • The top two regions concerned about their diet are London and the Midlands 72 per cent and 62 per cent respectively.  Surprisingly, London is the region guiltiest of eating fast food on the go with 22 per cent of respondents using fast food restaurants compared to the national average of 10 per cent.
  • Where as people in the Midlands act on their concerns and are the top region to make their own food at 72 per cent.

For further information please contact:
Roland Cross/Nicola Pierce
Broadgate                                                                               020 7726 6111

The BGL Group

The Budget Group of Companies was established in 1992 and has grown to be the UK’s third largest personal lines insurance intermediary, through a combination of organic growth and a series of major strategic acquisitions.

It now arranges and administers insurance for around 1.5 million customers, has contact centre operations in Peterborough, Coventry, Sunderland, Peterlee and Cape Town, South Africa, and a number of websites, including – www.budgetvaninsurance.com.  It currently employs over 1500 people, and its head office is in Peterborough.

As an intermediary, Budget is able to access a wide range of underwriters, making it highly competitive in the marketplace.

Budget’s core products are motor, home, commercial vehicle and motorcycle insurance. The Group also offers a wide range of supplementary products, which include breakdown cover, legal protection, travel insurance and mortgage payment protection insurance.

In 2003, Budget launched Junction, its affinity arm, which provides insurance outsourcing services for major UK brands including Bradford & Bingley plc, Marks & Spencer Money, Debenhams and the Post Office.

Budget’s motorcycle division, Bennetts, is a leading player in the motorcycle insurance market. 

Budget is a trading style of BISL Ltd, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority.

Registered Address: Pegasus House, Bakewell Road, Orton Southgate, PE2 6YS. Registered in England no 3231094