GLOBAL professional services firm Andersen has launched a new staff car scheme for 7,500 employees as part of a major overhaul of its fleet policy.

The scheme, Fuel & Drive, promises the benefits of a company car but without the tax and is an optional part of the firm's Alpha overall benefits package.

Andersen will offer the choice of two models, which will be fully expensed for maintenance, insurance and depreciation.

Staff make a fixed monthly payment as a personal use contribution, freeing them from liability for company car tax.

Fuel & Drive has been developed with Zenith Vehicle Contracts, and promises drivers a £100 a month saving on funding a vehicle privately. Andersen previously had three separate car schemes, personal contract purchase, pool cars and company cars, but with the introduction of Fuel & Drive, it is retaining only PCPs for senior executives.

Stephen Rowe, head of UK procurement at Andersen, said: 'During the past year we have had meetings with numerous other fleet management companies to discuss ways of meeting the challenges of the new company car tax regime.

'Overall, we felt proposals were unoriginal and we took the decision to work with Zenith and create an imaginative strategy which matches our requirements most closely.

'Fuel & Drive will be a central part of our benefits package and I am confident that it will also prove to be a valuable tool in recruitment and staff retention.'