EMPLOYERS need to take a more holistic view of their company cars if they want to 'future proof' their fleets and avoid soaring tax costs. VELO, the fleet management and funding specialist, is warning that fleets must adapt to remain a cost efficient element of their company's operations .

It is working with clients on ground-breaking new partnerships to ensure its clients know what to expect in future and how to react to the changes they face.

Pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly is already reporting benefits after signing VELO as its contract hire supplier this year from a choice list of 17 potential suppliers. The firm has a 620-vehicle fleet running under a user-chooser policy, but wanted to put volume through certain manufacturers to maximise potential discounts.

Instead of simply calculating the headline cost of CO2-based company car tax for the fleet, VELO has set up in-house workshops and is meeting employees individually to help them choose whether keeping a company car is the right choice.

VELO also has a seat on Lilly's quarterly car committee, which helps set up company car policy, while it also made a presentation at Lilly's sales conference to explain fleet policy and the move to CO2-based company car tax. The contract hire firm also holds a series of business seminars to keep clients updated on key issues facing their fleets.

Nigel Stephens, chairman and chief executive at VELO, said: 'We are of a size that allows us to offer a consultative approach and, where necessary, critically appraise a company's fleet operation. Our aim is to keep clients one step ahead.'