A new vocational training course for leasing and fleet management providers has been launched.

The four-day Professional Fleet Consultant Development Programme is aimed at sales and business development executives employed by BVRLA member companies.

Developed in conjunction with the Institute of Car Fleet Management (ICFM), the course will equip participants with the skills and knowledge to align their sales role more closely with the demands and responsibilities of their fleet manager customers.

“This course is not about teaching our members how to sell,” said BVRLA director general John Lewis.

“We are inviting them to step into the shoes of their client and learn more about the pressures, barriers to ‘buy-in’ and issues they face.”

Roddy Graham, chairman of the ICFM, added: “For the first time ever, the industry will have a vocational training course that combines the competence of the professional fleet manager with the technical fleet acquisition know-how of a leasing consultant.”

The course will be externally accredited by the Institute of Leadership and Management.

Executives from ALD Automotive, Arval, Leaseplan, LloydsTSB Automotive, Marshall Leasing and Masterlease have already signed up for the first course, which starts in September.

The training is also endorsed by the fleet managers association ACFO.

Its chairman Julie Jenner said: “We welcome any initiative that helps promote a better service for fleet operators.”