SalSac becomes AR of Lloyd Latchford
SALSAC, the specialist salary sacrifice provider, is widening its provision in the employee benefits sector by becoming an Appointed Representative of Lloyd Latchford, the specialist insurer in the salary sacrifice sector.
Lloyd Latchford provides a specially designed quote process to make insuring vehicles leased through a salary sacrifice scheme highly efficient. Loyd Latchford says it prices the insurance on each vehicle individually.
“This partnership marks an important milestone for SalSac as we continue to grow and enhance the benefits we can offer to employers and employees through our salary sacrifice programmes,” commented Richard Quilter, Sales Director at SalSac.
New Managing Director for Suzuki
CONGRATULATIONS to Kazuyuki Yamashita who has been appointed the new Managing Director of Suzuki.
Mr Yamashita joins in April from Suzuki Deutschland where he has held the position of Managing Director for the last five years and brings a wealth of experience to the brand.
He joined Suzuki Motor Corporation in 1987, working in several capacities at Suzuki’s Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, head office as well as Japanese domestic and overseas subsidiaries. He worked as Director, Automotive Sales of Suzuki Canada from 2001 to 2006, as Managing Director of Suzuki Auto South Africa from 2007 to 2013, and as Managing Director of Suzuki Deutschland from 2021 to 2026.
He replaces Takanori Suzuki who is retiring from the company and returning to Japan towards the end of May after three years heading up the UK business.
Severe shortage of skilled labour in the automotive industry
A NEW report from ManpowerGroup’s 2026 Talent Shortage Survey shows the UK’s automotive sector is facing the toughest hiring conditions of any industry, with 92% of employers reporting they cannot find the skilled talent they need. At nearly 20 percentage points above the national average of 73%, ManpowerGroup says it signals a sector under significant strain as demand for specialist skills continues to rise.
The report says that engineering remains the hardest skill for automotive employers to source (46%), followed by manufacturing and production (25%). The challenge is particularly acute in regions like the West Midlands – the traditional heart of the UK’s automotive industry – where competition for engineering and technical talent is intense.
The skills shortage is likely to become more acute as electrification accelerates and vehicle technology becomes more complex, as businesses across the region compete for the same limited pool of specialists.
Michael Stull, Managing Director, ManpowerGroup UK, commenting on the report, said:
“Automotive businesses are telling us they can’t get the skills they need, with engineering talent, in particular, in critically short supply. As the sector accelerates towards electrification and more technology‑driven roles, the need for new capabilities is growing faster than the talent available. Employers will only overcome these pressures by investing in upskilling and working closely with schools and colleges, to widen access to future‑focused skills.”
Alphabet appoints Mia Halpin to look after South East broker partners
Alphabet (GB) has appointed Mia Halpin to the role of Partner Regional Manager to further strengthen its broker channel proposition
Leasing fleet surpasses two million but growth masks margin pressure – BVRLA
The UK’s vehicle leasing fleet has surpassed two million vehicles for the first time, according to the BVRLA’s latest Leasing Outlook report
Central Contracts reveals the North’s ‘petrol persistence’
Central Contracts shows that lease drivers in the Midlands and the North are still leaning heavily on hybrids and traditional petrol engines
Charging specialist FOR EV partners with Gofor on salsac
Fleet charging specialist FOR EV has partnered with fleet management provider Gofor to offer EV salary sacrifice schemes
Broker News Awards 2026: the shortlist
Here are the shortlisted finalists for the Broker News Awards 2026 which will take place on 23 April in London
Drivalia backs the Woman in Broking award
Once more our longtime partner Drivalia is supporting the Woman in Broking Award – always one of our major categories
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.
