ENHANCING services and customer benefits in a rapidly evolving fleet industry will only occur if contract hire, rental and leasing companies employ the best-trained and educated staff, according to the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association. As a result, the BVRLA will launch its six-stage industry-specific professional development programme for employees ranging from industry newcomers to company chiefs at Nottingham Trent University.

Following almost two years of planning, courses will start almost immediately with 15-18 people on each course, which range from the six-month 'an introduction to the rental and leasing industries' to the three-year 'MSc in strategic leadership (automotive industries)'. The courses, with tuition fees between £1,500 and £5,750, are designed to help increase the professionalism of employees and their businesses in an industry which is currently operating within a legislatively, fiscally and environmentally-driven 'seething cauldron of uncertainty', according to the organisation.

Colin Tourick, chairman of the BVRLA's leasing and fleet management training committee and managing director of Manchester-based The Associates, said: 'Every training manager and every managing director we have talked to about the courses is interested.' The launch of the programme comes less than a month after some contract hire, leasing, fleet management and rental companies were criticised for not employing qualified people in their core activities.