A NETWORK of private nursing and residential centres hopes to achieve six-figure savings in running costs and tax after signing the first major fleet contract for the recently-launched Fleet Alliance.

ANS, based in southwest London, is switching its current 47-car work fleet to Honda Civic 1.6-litre SE five-door automatics after consulting with Chris Cooper, a member of Fleet Alliance, who is based in Brighton and covers the south east of England.

The company expects to cut its contract hire bill by £105,000 over the next three years, while drivers are also expected to make significant tax savings.

ANS runs 45 nursing and residential centres and provides company cars to each of its centres, with three head office cars. It called in Fleet Alliance, as well as inviting tenders from a number of other suppliers, when its previous four-year contract with a large contract hire company was nearing its end.

ANS fleet co-ordinator, Barbara O'Reilly, said: 'Chris Cooper will become our acting fleet manager and the point of contact for my drivers for their problems and queries.'