Venson Automotive Solutions has secured a 10-year contract to administer Hertfordshire County Council’s vehicle fleet and undertake all service, maintenance and repair work at a new workshop.

The Surrey-based company which has 11,500 cars and commercial vehicles on its books entered into an open tender to retain the contract that it has held for five years.

The new contract has an option to extend for a further five years and could potentially run until 2024.

It covers Hertfordshire County Council’s fleet of 2,300 vehicles, which includes cars, light commercial vehicles, welfare ambulances, library vehicles and larger commercial vehicles, as well as the blue light and non-emergency vehicles for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Venson Automotive Solutions will provide a range of workshop services as well as traditional service, maintenance and repair (SMR) work.

The contract also includes the provision of two mobile response vehicles on a 24/7 basis that will deliver a dedicated breakdown and recovery service to the council’s fleet.

Under the previous contract SMR work was carried out at the council’s own workshops in Hatfield which were managed on their behalf by Venson Automotive Solutions.

However, this month the fleet management company opened a new 47,000 square feet facility in Welwyn Garden City to facilitate the smooth-running of the contract.

The official opening of the premises, which includes offices, a vehicle workshop, MoT centre, bodyshop repair facility and tachograph service centre, will take place tomorrow (September 2, 2009).