BRITAIN'S six-month presidency of the European Union, which ends this month, signals the end of a high profile spell of fleet business for Rover Group. Working with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Rover Group has been the official transport provider for a number of Commonwealth and EU conferences culminating in the Cardiff EU summit earlier this month.

Rover Group provided more than 300 Rover and Land Rover vehicles which were used to transport presidents, prime ministers, other government ministers and officials and dignitaries from more than 70 countries. The cars clocked up more than 60,000 miles around the UK. Meanwhile, chauffeur drive and coach company Silverline, based in Solihull, transported delegates to the recent G8 conference, attended by the leaders of the eight major industrialised countries in the world.

The company's fleet was supplemented by additional vehicles supplied by Rover and Birmingham-based Mercedes-Benz dealer Gerrard Mann. PHH AllStar fuel cards were also used. Seventy cards were provided on a two-month contract and Keith Greenhead, director of fuel at PHH Vehicle Management Services, said: 'This contract is a good example of the advantages and flexibility of PHH's fuel management service. The cards enable businesses to provide their drivers with a simple method of payment that they are able to control and record the transactions.'