With the Olympics only 12 months away, van rental requirements are likely to increase further as businesses look to scale up to meet the anticipated demand from visitors.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car, which operates over 80 branches in London and the South East, has noted that demand for vans traditionally jumps considerably in the summer months. In July this year, for example, its van rentals were 29% higher than in April.

However, the summer of 2012 is likely to see many companies in the South East looking to increase their van fleets for the duration of the Games. This will include not just the Olympics’ business partners, but also utilities and infrastructure firms, couriers, support services in the region and smaller businesses looking to ensure they can cope with the increase in demand for their goods.

Rob Ingram, director of business rental at Enterprise Rent-A-Car, comments: ‘We find van demand often peaks in the summer months. It’s a time when many businesses need to expand their operations to meet normal increases in demand. There’s also an increase in consumer demand as customers realise they need a larger vehicle to move house or clear out the garage.

‘Next year that demand is likely to be even higher. A lot of local businesses may need additional vans before, during and even after the Olympics: thousands of tourists means more work for delivery companies and shopkeepers. There will also be additional pressure on rental firms in the region to meet this increased demand.’

Ingram continues: ‘We’re growing our van fleet and working closely with our business customers to plan their likely demand cycle during 2012. That way we can help them meet any potential business commitments and still manage the increased summer demand among motorists.

‘The key message is that businesses in London and the South East need to start thinking now about the vans they may need during July and August 2012. They don’t want to get caught on the hop.’