Small businesses have endless to-do lists. From meeting clients and developing products, to monitoring accounts, securing finance and planning for growth – it’s non-stop action stations.
Such a hectic schedule means that some things are non-negotiable – which is often true of a company car. After all, that car does more than tackle the daily commute, and so reliability, connectivity, space and value for money are all close to the top of that list of must-haves.
Here, two founders of small businesses – Joline Stevens and Patrick Southwell – explain how integral their cars have become to their roles and day-to-day responsibilities.
‘I practically live in that car – and I really need the space’
A gazebo, weights, marketing material, and stacks of boxes of her products – Joline Stevens doesn’t travel light with her sustainable skincare brand, Clementine Suds. But her life has been much easier since she bought a Škoda Kodiaq. “I practically live in that car and I really need the space,” she says.
“I pack up for markets, I deliver to multiple retailers in a day; it’s a really spacious car but it doesn’t feel like I’m driving a car of that size. I did the Chiswick Flower Market in London a few weeks ago and needed to squish into some small spaces. The connectivity features are great too. My car and my phone are pretty much all that I need to run the business day to day.”
As well as being the practical choice for Clementine Suds, the Kodiaq has also proven itself a reliable family car. Last year, Stevens and her husband drove to northern Spain on a summer road trip with their five-year-old son, 11-year-old daughter and dog – a golden doodle called Hattie. “It’s still comfy and spacious, even when spending that amount of hours in it with the kids and all of their stuff,” she says.
Before striking out on her own, Stevens, who lives in Hertfordshire, had a long career in business development, working for the likes of Warner Brothers and BT. In 2019, she became interested in making skincare products, seeing it as a way to use natural ingredients and minimise her plastic consumption. Eventually, she decided to quit her job and focus on the business full-time. “I wanted to do something more meaningful,” she says.
The brand specialises in solid skincare products, such as soap and bubble bath bars, shampoo bars, and moisturising balms, and has already been nominated for a “free-from” skincare award.
She puts much of her early success down to her ability to speak to customers face to face and collect feedback in real time. The markets, in particular, have given her assurance that people love her products. “I’m proud of the community we’re building. It’s such a tough retail environment at the moment. That face-to-face time gives me confidence there are people who care about what I’m trying to do,” she says.
Now available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain capable of up to 75 pure electric miles, the all-new Kodiaq – introduced in 2024 – is arguably better placed than ever to support business owners like Stevens.
‘The car’s become a hot box of ideas, planning and learning’
Patrick Southwell has become a strong advocate for remote working since co-founding Five Not 10, a PR agency, in 2021. While he’s based in Bristol, his co-founder is in Reading, with other team members in Southampton, the Midlands and Prague. Despite the distance, the team of 10 comes together for brainstorming and co-working sessions a couple of times a month. “We think that’s a really vital opportunity to build relationships and our culture,” says Southwell.
Key to making that happen is the Škoda Karoq Sportline – the automatic 4x4 he bought at the end of 2023. “The car’s become a bit of a hot box of ideas, planning and learning for me and the team,” he says.
“One of my juniors lives in Bristol too, so I’ll often give her a lift [to meetings]. Once we’re in the car, it becomes like an informal workspace. She might come to me with a bit of a challenge and ask for advice, or fill me in on the work she’s doing, which is really useful for me. It’s unusual for a junior person to have so much time with a business owner, but equally I’m learning a lot from her as well.”
Southwell had done a lot of research before choosing the Karoq which, along with a host of advanced technologies as standard, offers bags of space. And space was paramount – he and his wife have two tall teenage boys who constantly need lifts for themselves and their friends. But he also had other requirements. “I wanted something that looked good, wasn’t too big and was practical enough to stand up to the wear and tear of everyday life,” he says.
“I liked the Škoda bodywork – it’s very sleek and modern looking – and thought it was really good under the bonnet. The technology is excellent and the price was good value in comparison to other brands. I feel like I’m getting more for my money in terms of extras and upgrades.”
As well as the car’s panoramic sunroof, Southwell says his favourite feature is the MyŠkoda app. “We live in the city and I can never park outside the house, so the app is helpful for keeping an eye on the car. With it, you can see where the car is parked, whether it’s locked [and lock it if not], whether the windows are closed, even whether you’ve left the lights on,” he says. “My kids think it’s a lovely looking car and like the charging ports in the back. It’s got everything I need from a business and family perspective.”
To explore the all-new Kodiaq and book a test drive, please visit the Škoda website
