ESTABLISHED leasing broker Ash Vehicle Contracts has become an Appointed Representative (AR) of Fleet Alliance.
Run by Karen Elwall for the last 16 years, and a Fleet Alliance partner for the past four years, Elwall says it was a natural progression to become an AR.
When you are running a business, you have to wear so many hats and the BVRLA audit and the FCA compliance bit was becoming a minefield, so having the expertise of Fleet Alliance behind me was a huge attraction. It’s all so much more complex than it was when I first started – so making sure the paperwork is right is a great plus point.
Karen Elwall, Ash Vehicle Contracts
A further attraction of AR status was the much greater Fleet Alliance buying power, offering a better range of rental rates, she adds.
Ash Vehicle Contracts is a specialist in business contract hire serving a variety of businesses, from sole traders to those fleets requiring 30+ vehicles. While there is a proportion of personal contract hire written, this tends to be a spin off from the business leasing contracts she says.
Elwall continues: “I think there’s no question that I think it will boost my business. I have a lot of repeat customers, so with access to a larger variety of funders, along with different special offers, it means we can offer more deals when customers want cars quickly. These tactical funder offers mean I can secure more of the deals I might have lost previously.
There’s also the attraction of the online specialist tax tools that Fleet Alliance makes available to ARs. These will really help me provide improved consultancy services for those fleets wanting to switch to electric vehicles.
“In addition, there’s the benefit of fleet management through the online e-fleet service, while drivers can self-service through the great e-fleet app.
“The other aspect about being a Fleet Alliance AR, which can sometimes be overlooked, is the sense of belonging it provides. It can be a lonely business working on your own, so having an account manager you can liaise with any time really makes a difference. We have a weekly online AR meeting to discuss latest developments or any issues that other Fleet Alliance ARs wish to share. It really makes you feel part of a team. That’s a very special feeling.”
Ralph Morton is the leading journalist in the leasing broker sector and editor of Broker News, the website which provides information and news for BVRLA-registered leasing brokers. He also writes extensively on the fleet and leasing market in both the UK and Europe.
