A HERTFORDSHIRE-based fleet has switched from an owner policy to contract hire in a bid to cut costs.

Accord, which supplies environmental and business services to clients such as local authorities, housing associations and the Highways Agency, will replace its 350-strong fleet with a single-badge Ford deal, through Lombard Vehicle Management.

The original fleet was funded through HSBC but Accord found implementation costs were high and operational savings low, which spurred the change. Edward Pigg, head of sales at Lombard Vehicle Management, said: ‘We demonstrated the business case for taking the contract hire route.’