THE founder of a UK business that rents cars by the hour has received an award for entrepreneurship.

Andrew Valentine set up short-term rental company Streetcar with his business partner Brett Akker in 2004.

At the time, Mr Valentine was working as a sales executive and while on holiday in the US he noticed a service that offered car rental by the hour as a cost-saving alternative to car ownership.

It led him to set up Streetcar to provide a similar service in the UK and he has now won a Portman Award, created to encourage and recognise people who see business opportunities while abroad.

As explained in a Fleet News feature in September last year, the company offers cars for rent by the hour, day, week or month.

It costs £4.95 an hour to rent a vehicle and there are no monthly or annual membership fees. Mr Valentine said: ‘Streetcar saves money and it’s also good for the environment.

‘Our customers tell us that they cut out non-essential car travel, reducing congestion and CO2 emissions.’

The Portman Award was established in 2005 by travel management consultancy Portman Travel.