volunteers scale new heights

INEOS Automotive partnered with Scottish Mountain Rescue (SMR) to help the charity deliver vital off-road vehicle training at its recent annual National Training Conference.Held at Glenmore Lodge in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, this year’s Conference saw the introduction of a practical training element to SMR’s 4X4 workshop, in which INEOS Grenadier Station Wagon and Quartermaster 4X4s were put to the test on the Alvie Estate. Representatives of 10 volunteer mountain rescue teams tackled several real-world rescue and recovery scenarios designed to improve their off-road driving and recovery skills.Ray Smith, 4X4 Lead at Scottish Mountain Rescue, said: “With the help of INEOS Automotive, we were able to provide our volunteers with crucial hands-on 4X4 coaching, training them to tackle tough terrain without the use of a vehicle-mounted winch. These skills are indispensable in many rescues where 4X4s are used not only to transport volunteers to remote locations, but also to move casualties, and act as a mobile centre of operations. Everyone was impressed by the capability, comfort and characteristics of the Grenadiers.”Lynn Calder, CEO of INEOS Automotive, added: “Hooking up with Scottish Mountain Rescue is yet another example of how the versatility and capability of the Grenadier makes it a compelling proposition to emergency services and rescue organisations. It’s becoming the vehicle of choice for rigorous frontline work around the world.”As well as forging ties with SMR, INEOS Automotive is in service with numerous other search and rescue organisations across Europe and beyond.Earlier this year, INEOS Automotive became the official vehicle partner of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) charity, while fire and rescue services in several European countries are using Grenadiers in their daily lifesaving work. And further afield, Grenadiers are used by Search and Rescue Dogs Avalanche (SARDA), which operates search and rescue dog teams in alpine environments across most major ski areas and high mountains throughout New Zealand.