SMEs increasingly turning to contract hire, says Lombard
The firm has reported a 23% year-to-date increase in SME contracts (1-150 vehicles), with September deliveries alone up by 10%.
Lombard also says that its specialist van team is helping SMEs with a number of queries on fleet management issues, including overloading, vehicle sourcing, bespoke specification and journey planning.
Stuart Houlston, managing director, Lombard Vehicle Management, said: 'Businesses turn to contract hire and fleet management for a number of different reasons, but for small companies it is crucial to get a quality service that meets their needs. Our understanding of those needs ensures that we don’t just deliver a cost-effective solution but one that also helps with recruitment, retention, duty of care and operational efficiency.
'The fact that Lombard has continued to grow its new business year-on-year in challenging circumstances clearly demonstrates that we remain ready to support SMEs which are the lifeblood of the UK economy and will drive the recovery.'