FSB launches service to help SMEs better source cars & vans

The FSB (Federation of Small Businesses) has unveiled FSB Vehicle Services to provide members access to the best advice on how to source and manage their business cars and vans.

The FSB has around 200,000 members across 33 regions, covering the length and breadth of the UK.

FSB Vehicle Services is in partnership with Arval, one of the country’s leading vehicle leasing providers and a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, a major Eurozone banking group.

FSB members benefit from exclusive offers on specific cars and vans and will be able to access advice and support to analyse their current and future business vehicle requirements. As well as evaluating the options available via a dedicated web portal as well as a dedicated telephone helpline.

An annual study of company vehicle habits conducted by Arval of more than 4,500 fleet decision makers across 15 countries, shows that almost one in five businesses expect to see their demand for vehicles rise in 2015 and beyond.

One in five companies also anticipates keeping and using these vehicles for longer as demand increases.
Currently only 24 per cent of smaller UK businesses opt to lease their vehicles but those that do can see clear benefit.

One of the biggest benefits is the ability to manage budgets, followed by the certainty of a fixed monthly cost, reduced administration and balance sheet management.

Carol Undy, FSB Member Services (Ltd) Chairman, comments:  “Very few SMEs in the UK currently have access to experienced fleet management expertise and most don’t even consider their vehicles a ‘fleet’. As this isn’t a core area for the business, it can be hard to access impartial advice through traditional providers – even if they know who those are.

“Our members tell us they lack the in-house expertise to assess the various choices, and there’s no obvious third party that can readily provide impartial advice. We believe the new FSB Vehicle Services will bridge this gap and help our members save many thousands of pounds a year something in here.

The introduction of FSB Vehicle Services is a long-awaited benefit, which further enhances the FSB’s portfolio of benefits that help our members to save money and grow their business.”

Elliot Woodhead, managing director of SME & Partnerships at Arval, adds: “SMEs are the driving force for growth in UK business today. Today, over 60 percent of the vehicles we lease are provided to organisations that fund a smaller number of vehicles through us – sometimes one car or van.

“We’ve aimed to channel our extensive expertise in business vehicle finance and operational management in ways that are specifically tailored to the very specific needs of SMEs, effectively trying to remove the hassle from running company vehicles.

“This partnership with the FSB is a major landmark and we feel honoured to have been selected to provide business vehicle advice to FSB members.”