THE best in the fleet industry were acclaimed last night in front of a 1,400-strong audience at this year’s Fleet News Awards.

After an exhaustive investigation lasting five months into fleet management excellence, we revealed who had scaled the heights in running the best fleets in the UK and Europe.

The awards, handed out by BBC newsreader Huw Edwards at the glamorous event at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane, London saw eight fleet managers from seven companies walk away with the main prizes.

In the supplier and manufacturer categories, multiple award winners included Volkswagen, BMW, Honda and Manheim.

  • UK FLEET OF THE YEAR
    sponsored by Avis

    Kelly Communications (Dermot Coughlan/Claire Cain)

  • FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR: SUB 100 VEHICLES
    sponsored by AA Business Services

    Michelle Hallam
    Fisher Scientific

  • PAN-EUROPEAN FLEET OF THE YEAR
    sponsored by Volkswagen Fleet Services

    Phil Redman
    IBM

  • FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR: 101-400 VEHICLES
    sponsored by BMW Corporate Sales

    Mick James
    Improveline

  • FLEET MANAGER OF THE YEAR: 401-PLUS VEHICLES
    sponsored by LeasePlan UK

    John Bradley
    Hampshire Constabulary

  • PLATINUM AWARD
    sponsored by Guy Salmon Prestige Rental

    Ron Dickson
    Strathclyde Police

  • FLEET RISK MANAGEMENT AWARD
    sponsored by Kwik-Fit Fleet

    Nick Purkis
    Pickfords

  • Manufacturer Awards (vans) sponsored by ATS Euromaster

    Best Van under 2.2 tonnes

    Winner: Ford Transit Connect

    Runners up:
    Ford Transit Connect; Volkswagen Caddy

    Best Van 2.2-2.8 tonnes

    Winner: Volkswagen Transporter

    Runners-up:
    Mercedes-Benz Vito; Vauxhall Vivaro; Volkswagen Transporter

    Best Van 2.8-3.5 tonnes

    Winner: Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

    Runners up:
    Ford Transit; Iveco Daily; Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

  • Manufacturer Awards (cars) – sponsored by Europcar UK

    Best Small Car

    Winner: Honda Jazz

    Runners up:
    MINI; Renault Clio; Volkswagen Polo

    Best Lower-Medium Car

    Winner: Ford Focus

    Runners up:
    Skoda Octavia; Vauxhall Astra; Volkswagen Golf,

    Best Premium Lower-Medium Car

    Winner: Audi A3/Sportback

    Runner up:
    BMW 1-series

    Best Upper-Medium Car

    Winner: Volkswagen Passat

    Runners-up
    Honda Accord; Mazda6; Toyota Avensis; Vauxhall Vectra

    Best Premium Upper-Medium Car

    Winner: BMW 3-series

    Runner-up:
    Audi A4

    Best Executive Car

    Winner: BMW 5-series

    Runner-up:
    Audi A6

    Best Luxury Car

    Winner: Audi A8

    Runner-up:
    BMW 7-series; Jaguar XJ, Mercedes-Benz S-class; Range Rover

    Best Small SUV

    Winner: Honda CR-V

    Runners-up:
    Nissan X-trail; Toyota RAV4

    Best Large SUV

    Winner: Mercedes-Benz M-class

    Runner-up:
    BMW X5; Land Rover Discovery; Nissan Pathfinder

    Best Mini-MPV

    Winner: Vauxhall Zafira

    Runner-up:
    Mazda5; Renault Scenic; Toyota Verso; Volkswagen Touran

    Best Large MPV

    Winner: Renault Espace

    Runner-up:
    Chrysler Grand Voyager; Mitsubishi Grandis

  • Service company awards

    Best Website - in association with Fleet NewsNet

    Winner: www.manheim.co.uk

    Best Innovation – sponsored by Audi UK

    Winner: AutoRestore

    Best Risk Management Company – sponsored by JTK Automotive

    Winner: Peak Performance

    Best Glass Repair Company

    Winner: RAC Auto Windscreens

    Best Daily Rental Company

    Winner: National Car Rental

    Best Breakdown Service Company – sponsored by Enterprise Rent-A-Car

    Winner: AA

    Best Fast-Fit Company

    Winner: Kwik-Fit Fleet

    Best Disposal/Remarketing Company – sponsored by Hyundai Motor UK

    Winner: Manheim Europe

    Best Contract Hire/Fleet Management Company – sponsored by Toyota

    Winner: Leasedrive

    Headline awards

    UK Fleet of the Year

    Winner: Kelly Communications

    Company Car of the Year – sponsored by Hi-Q

    Winner: Volkswagen Passat

    Runners-up:
    Audi A4; BMW 3-series; Ford Focus; Vauxhall Astra

    Fleet Manufacturer of the Year – sponsored by Manheim

    Volkswagen

    Runners-up:
    Audi; BMW; Ford; Vauxhall

    Platinum Award – Guy Salmon Prestige Rental

    Winner: Ron Dickson, Strathclyde Police

    Pictures from the Fleet News Awards 2006

    Keep clicking on 'next page' at the bottom of this page to view more pictures.