THE growing number of employers demanding access to flexible leasing products has prompted Pendragon Contracts to launch a new service.

Called MiniLease, the flexible contract scheme is designed to meet growing demand for flexible, shorter-term contract hire. The company has found that customer requests for contracts running from six to 12 months has been steadily increasing.

MiniLease is designed to work on a single lease or rolling lease basis, with the vehicle hired in blocks of six or 12 months. At the end of each period, the hirer has the choice to renew the vehicle, take a new one or simply end the contract.

Kevin Denham, marketing manager at Pendragon Contracts, said: 'MiniLease is very much a product of current economic conditions. Companies have become much more wary when taking on new staff and are nervous about committing themselves to traditional longer-term vehicle contracts.

'Instead, they are looking for shorter-term solutions.'