The regional newspaper publisher also runs a number of regional and local lifestyle magazines and specialist magazine titles in the UK and owns a broad portfolio of digital media assets and marketing services. 

The company operates around 80% job need cars, mainly for sales and editorial staff, and 20% management cars for editors, sales, circulation and marketing managers and directors.

As part of an ongoing environmental and sustainability initiative, the company incentivises all its staff who are eligible for a company car to select the lowest carbon-emitting vehicles in return for the payment of a green bonus. 

Take-up of the incentivised green option is currently running at over 30% amongst job need staff and contributes to average CO2 emissions across the whole Archant fleet of 99.6g/km – a key part of the company’s drive to reduce its corporate carbon footprint.

Fleet Alliance will now look to build on this through a number of new environmental moves, including the proposed introduction of petrol-electric and diesel-electric hybrids and pure electric vehicle options for the fleet.

At the same time, the Glasgow-based fleet management specialist, which manages in excess of 18,400 vehicles across the UK for corporate customers, will look to reduce acquisition costs by competitively tendering all new vehicles to be added to the fleet through a panel of preferred leasing suppliers to select the most competitive leasing rates.

Archant currently contract hires its vehicles for four years without maintenance, but Fleet Alliance will proactively manage the maintenance of the fleet going forward to find the most cost-effective solution for reducing maintenance spend.

Fleet Alliance will also manage vehicle mileages, including the re-scheduling of contracts set to exceed their contract miles, to ensure the client does not face excess mileage charges when vehicles are de-fleeted.

To improve levels of support to Archant company car drivers, Fleet Alliance is also rolling out its e-fleet mobile app for all company car drivers. 

Greg Parton, group head of procurement and sustainability at Archant, said: “Through appointing Fleet Alliance, we are looking to build on the excellent green record we have achieved across our fleet over recent years, as well as reducing costs in key areas of our fleet operations. 

“We have been impressed with the levels of investment they have made in new technology, particularly in e-fleet. We will also value the increased support available to our drivers through the e-fleet mobile app. Our drivers can now readily access their vehicle information, all emergency contacts and support services whilst operating remotely in the field.”