HERTZ Leasing has presented the first tranche of bursaries to study for Institute of Car Fleet Management qualifications. The Hertz Bursary Award Scheme is designed to help fund fleet management personnel through ICFM courses and improve management standards.

The first award was made retrospectively last November to former BISS fleet manager Sylvia Hogg who is now joined by three more recipients: Proctor and Gamble purchasing assistant Catherine Ducker, Pershke Price Service Organisation safety and fleet manager Michael Ward and Sun Alliance fleet service assistant Christopher Tubbs.

They received bursaries to undertake the intermediate ICFM Certificate after being selected by a judging panel of ICFM secretary Peter Moxon, ICFM training officer Steve Hook, Hertz Leasing sales and marketing director Henry Hopkins and Fleet News editor Ashley Martin.

The panel was impressed by the standard of applicants, but disappointed by the number of entries. Hopkins said: 'The scheme is not simply fleet management training, it is business management training for fleet professionals. The ICFM courses are relevant to anyone involved in management or administration of a vehicle fleet. Although it's a shame the number of entries wasn't higher, the entries we did receive were of a very high quality.'

The scheme was developed to address a perceived lack of professionalism in the industry after research suggested less than 5% of personnel involved in running a vehicle fleet had formal training. For further information contact Wendy Hancocks at the ICFM, Henderson House, New Road, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire HP27 0JZ. Tel: 01844 275297.