OVL Group is continuing on its growth trajectory by opening up a finance partnership agreement with another of the top five fleet management companies, Alphabet.

The funding deal means that that OVL Group, which is celebrating 25 years in business, now has partnerships with several of the major fleet management providers and, it says, reinforces its strong position as a national, full-service leasing company.

The tie-up with Alphabet also means that OVL Group is now able to offer its customers greater choice of prestige marque cars, and the 2,000 managed fleet size looks set to increase by another 1,000 vehicles – a further stepping stone in OVL’s ambition to triple its managed fleet in the next 10 years. 

It also means that OVL is on a recruitment drive to deal with additional business.

The business, based in Brightwell Baldwin, south Oxfordshire, has already taken on two new members of the operations team and is looking for more specialist sales personnel.

Managing director Martin Wedge (pictured) said: “Having Alphabet as part of our finance offering means we now have all of the top five fleet funders on our books.

“It means greater choice and more competitive prices for companies in Oxfordshire and the Thames Valley, which means that we require more staff to support the additional business that we are writing.

“The agreement underlines the fact that there is greater confidence out there, as the business has experienced a lot more enquiries as a result of the general economic improvements which are continuing in a more sustainable fashion.”

OVL Group is a national company specialising in business, personal leasing and contract hire for cars, vans and light commercial vehicles, including blue chip companies, schools, colleges and universities, as well as a number of NHS Primary Care Trusts, in its customer portfolio.

The company has grown organically since Martin Wedge, formerly of Nissan Contract Hire, opened a small office in Oxford city centre in January 1989.

Based on five business sectors; minibuses, commercial vehicles, large fleets, SMEs (small medium enterprises) and personal contract hire, each sector has a  ‘champion’ tasked with becoming the first call contact point for leasing and contract hire within their target sector.

These specialist areas match OVL’s major skill sets and allows each champion to take an in-depth interest in those markets and accelerate the company’s continued growth.

“Our champion approach takes a more in-depth look at the markets where we are strong and then continue to build long-lasting relationships," added Wedge. 

"The partnership with Alphabet will enhance this strategy and offer greater access to finance in these markets.”