The Leasedrive Group has retained the business to supply contract hire and fleet management services in the UK to BAT. The sole-supply contract has been extended for a further three years and covers a fleet of around 350 cars leased to and owned by BAT.

Leasedrive Group commercial director, Roddy Graham said: “We are delighted to have retained the BAT business, which has been in the group’s portfolio since 2004. This is the second time that we have had to undergo a very thorough and comprehensive re-tender exercise. This was co-ordinated by Agrega, a joint venture between BAT and international brewer Anheuser-Busch, to manage each partner’s requirements for common non-industry specific goods and services through volume aggregation and category expertise.

“Of the BAT fleet, 48 per cent of vehicles are under contract hire and 52 per cent owned by BAT but managed by us. BAT operates a user-chooser fleet policy to maximise the attractiveness of the employee benefit and, in support, we also provide on-line driver licence checking, accident management and vehicle rental services.”

Viv Windrum, fleet manager, at BAT in the UK, commented: “Leasedrive has consistently provided a quality service to our company car drivers, which has often been commented upon. This underlines the importance and perceived value of the company car as part of an employee’s total reward package – after all, it’s one of the most valuable, high profile and emotive employee benefits.

“Following an extensive review process, we were happy to renew knowing that we would continue to receive the highest quality service with further added value in the future. Leasedrive continually improves the products and services it offers to us to make the employee driver experience the best available.”