Richard is the managing director for Co Wheels Car Club, a pioneering force in the world of sustainable transport that allows customers to book vehicles flexibly from as little as £5 per hour.
Co Wheels was set up in 2008 to provide an environmentally friendly, socially just, community-based alternative to car ownership. Richard believes that pay-as-you-go models are the key for the future of the vehicle hire industry, allowing individuals to enjoy the benefits of driving cars without the commitment of owning them.
A rise in subscription-based models for automobile hire is hoped will also lead to an increase in the use of electric vehicles, reducing pollution and protecting the environment.
Under Richard’s guidance, Co Wheels has been recognised with nominations for numerous industry prizes, including at the 2020 Business Motoring Awards, and being crowned Mobility Provider of the Year by Greenfleet UK in 2021.
Richard has since launched Carbon CLEVER Cycles, a pilot electric bike hire scheme in Inverness, a collaboration between Co-wheels , The Highland Council, and SSE which allows users to hire an e-bike at an affordable price from two locations in the city.
As well as having over two decades of experience in the automobile industry, Richard has also previously served as the Director of Enterprise for one of the nation’s largest homelessness organisations.