Prestige Fleet Servicing, provider of vehicle SMR, is to expand its network of fleet service centres by 30% by the end of the year.

The operation currently has a network of 230 independent outlets providing low-cost, added-value servicing to fleet operators, including some of the UK’s largest leasing companies.

Now, the business is to recruit a further 70 fleet service centres to complete its national coverage and meet increased customer demand, following organic growth and a number of new business wins in recent months.

The company currently has 68 territories across the country that it would like to fill before the end of the year to ensure it can meet increased demand. Network vacancies include such locations as Canterbury, Kent: Southend, Essex: Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk: Richmond, Surrey and Bolton, Greater Manchester. 

The Prestige network is headed up by two well-known fleet industry figures: non-executive chairman Bill Daulby who was formerly fleet sales manager, Ford of Britain; managing director, Automotive Leasing, and a director of Nissan UK Holdings, AFG Holdings and LeasePlan UK Group: and CEO Martyn Lewis, formerly board director at Arval and subsequently managing director for sister company, Artegy. 

Prestige has been operating in the fleet servicing arena since 2007. It offers Service Centre partners within its network a number of operational benefits, including beneficial payment terms, guaranteed throughput of fleet servicing business, national parts prices, the latest technology platforms, and through Prestige’s added value programme, including a national oil agreement and discounted insurance deals.

Each independent centre added to the network is physically inspected prior to appointment to ensure that it meets a number of quality standards, and then on an annual basis to ensure that the standards stipulated continue to be met.

Commercial Director Joe Bhamra (pictured) explained: “We are recruiting high calibre, professionally-run, independent fleet servicing outlets to complete our national network in certain geographical locations around the country.

“This expansion is necessary to meet increased customer demand following organic growth plus several new business wins, the combination of which has seen the company grow considerably in recent months.

“Through our added value programme, we offer independent garages a huge array of benefits from joining our network. For example, our national oil agreement with Fuchs, the world’s largest independent lubricants manufacturer, ensures that not only are buying prices kept low, but that the latest oils required for the current generation of advanced engines are readily available.

“We can also save our members 10% on their motor and public liability insurance premiums, via the bulk buying arrangement we have with brokers. This has already proved a major overhead cost reduction benefit for our members.

We provide members with six months’ interest free credit on some purchases to help cash flow, and have also provided support existing Service Centres where they have plans to grow their own business,” he said.

Bhamra said that at a time when, according to the latest research, many fleets faced rising SMR costs, Prestige provides significant benefits for fleet operators using the Prestige network.

“To begin with, unlike some of our competitors, we do not charge management fees. We provide savings of up to 40% on all SMR work through our network compared to franchised dealers and our in-house validation team controls each element of an SMR transaction on behalf of a customer."

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