UNITED Norwest Co-operatives has awarded a one-year contract to c2K Automotive Solutions, which will now have first option to supply vehicles for the company's 900-strong fleet. The leasing company believes the year-long deal will see it supply about 100 cars on contract hire to the fleet managed from Sharston, Manchester.

United has a £700 million annual turnover, making it the UK's largest regional co-operative society and all of the cars will be provided on a non-maintenance basis as United operates its own workshops. Ken Trinder, director of c2K, says this agreement is the first in a series of major deals to expand the company's 6,500-strong fleet during 1999.