Meet Vince Dignam

Vince Dignam

Vince’s story is one of quiet determination, adaptability, and a deep commitment to both public service and safety. Today, he holds some of the most wide-reaching and complex roles within the City of London Corporation, overseeing waste management, environmental operations, and fleet compliance for one of the most demanding urban environments in the world.

Early days

After a five-year indentured apprenticeship laid the technical foundation for his future, stints in construction, at a Ford dealership, and as a mechanic at British Gas followed. A chance remark soon led Vince in a new direction. “A tip-off from my father-in-law brought me to the City of London in 1989,” said Vince. “Initially a six-month temporary mechanic’s position, I’ve been here ever since!”

Importance of education

Alongside his day job, he pursued qualifications at night school in transport management, achieving his Certificate of Professional Competence and later a Higher National Certificate in waste management. These prepared him for subsequent roles, first as a Client Officer in the City’s waste services and eventually as the head of its entire fleet and environmental operations.

Every day is different

Today, Vince heads multiple teams overseeing street Environment Officers, the City’s cleansing and waste contract, fleet compliance, and operator licences. Alongside this, he coordinates operations for major public events, including the recent London Marathon and even state ceremonies. And it doesn’t stop there! He’s also responsible for winter maintenance, ensuring the City remains safe throughout colder spells.

Like so many in this fast-paced sector, it’s a relentless role but Vince wouldn’t have it any other way. “It’s 24/7,” he admitted, “but that’s the nature of running a city. You’ve got to be ready and no two days are the same.”

Safety first

Vince’s entire career has seen him champion both innovation and safety. His early work with Dennis Eagle helped pioneer the City’s adoption of the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and low-entry cabs, the latter significantly reducing slips and incidents among operators. “We saw an 85–90 per cent drop in those kinds of injuries almost overnight,” he noted proudly.

Vince’s push for safer urban driving standards – particularly through his involvement with Transport for London initiatives and his leadership roles for the Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme and the Construction Logistics and Community Safety initiative – saw further innovations such as the DVS Dennis Eagle tippers working on the Thames Estuary project. “It’s not just about staff safety,” he said. “It’s about protecting the public – cyclists, pedestrians, everyone.”

Cleaning Up

Alongside his unstoppable pursuit for safer roads, Vince has worked hard to make them cleaner, too. Notably, he led the City’s trials of electric vehicles with both external and internal real-time air quality monitoring systems providing valuable metrics. “We saw a marked improvement in air quality both inside and outside the vehicle,” added Vince.

Proud moment

Vince somehow also finds time for charity and plays a vital ceremonial role in the City. As a liveryman and court assistant with the Worshipful Company of Carmen, he chairs the historic Cart Marking ceremony, a 500-year-old tradition where commercial vehicles are “branded” to symbolise their licence to operate in the City. “It’s something I never thought I’d be part of when I started as a mechanic,” he said. “Becoming a liveryman and Freeman of the City is one of my proudest moments.”

Evolving all the time

Looking back, Vince reflects on the huge transformation he’s witnessed during his time in the industry. “Health and safety has evolved massively. It’s no longer about tick-box compliance, it’s about wellbeing, mental health, and doing the right thing for staff and the public. We have many new initiatives, including a real drive for greater diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) awareness. It’s a really positive step for us and the wider community.”

Vince is keen to encourage others to embrace the full potential of their future careers, even if it might not feel possible when repairing that first lawnmower. “Those opportunities to learn throughout my early career made all the difference for me and, as we speak, we have a full-time Fleet Administrator who started as an apprentice in the City,” added Vince. “I'm very passionate about encouraging people to consider roles in these sectors. As I discovered, you just don’t know how far life can take you!”