ARE YOU THE ‘ULTIMATE PRO’? FORD PRO LAUNCHES SEARCH FOR SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS WHO GO THE EXTRA MILE

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28/02/2024

• Ford Pro is looking to shine a light on small business owners across Europe who go the extra mile with a new initiative to find the ‘Ultimate Pros’
• The chosen Ultimate Pros will get exclusive behind-the-scenes access to test new Ford Pro products and services which can help support their businesses
• For nearly 60 years the Transit nameplate has been supporting small businesses in Europe; new Ultimate Pro initiative aims to deepen that support

DUNTON, UK, 26.02.2024 - Across Europe, small and medium-sized business owners – whose companies form approximately 99 per cent of all businesses in Europe1 – are working hard every day to deliver excellence to their customers, often with little support. Recognising this, Ford Pro is launching its search for a group of ‘Ultimate Pros’, aiming to shine a light on those small business owners who go the extra mile.

Small businesses, who have been building the economies of Europe alongside Ford Transit for almost 60 years, can be recognised by Ford Pro as an Ultimate Pro by tagging themselves, or others, in social media posts related to the initiative. This includes the launch video which is an homage to the very people the initiative is aimed at, celebrating those who put the hard work in and experience the realities of running a small business, rather than the many online posts and videos of people who only talk about it.

Those chosen by Ford will get the opportunity to work with Ford Pro in a collaborative nature, with behind-the-scenes access to new vehicles and services, and an immersion into the Ford Pro ecosystem that will help to maximise productivity, efficiency and ultimately help their business thrive. There will be opportunities to take part in local drive events and Q&A sessions with Ford Pro experts, and at a time when many small businesses may be facing the additional challenge of making the switch to commercial electric vehicles they will have the opportunity to speak with experts about how to make the transition.

“Small business owners often have to wear many hats: accountant, driver, co-ordinator, human resources, and that’s all before they’ve even begun their real job,” said Hans Schep, General Manager Ford Pro, Europe. “Our products and services are designed to help, to be that steady hand behind every small business owner, allowing them to continue being the ultimate professionals that we know they are.”  

European small and medium-sized businesses create 85 per cent of all new jobs² and their value to the economy is huge, with small businesses accounting for just under 70 per cent of Europe’s GDP. In 2021, vans supported an estimated 786 billion euros in economic activity across Europe. Ford’s Transit Custom van was the top-selling van that year and again in 2022, and has been by the side of small businesses since it launched in 2012 as the latest member of the popular Transit family, which stretches back over half a century. Ford Pro services offer additional support from the dedicated FordPass Pro smartphone app, free vehicle management and with home charging for self-employed traders.

Ultimate Pro is another way that Ford Pro is aiming to help small business owners – often the doers rather than the talkers who are working to be the best professional they can be.

¹ SMEs in the EU 2023, by size | Statista

² Small and medium-sized enterprises | European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (europa.eu)

The declared WLTP fuel/energy consumptions, CO2-emissions and electric range are determined according to the technical requirements and specifications of the European Regulations (EC) 715/2007 and (EU) 2017/1151 as last amended. The applied standard test procedures enable comparison between different vehicle types and different manufacturers.