Prestige Fleet Servicing has agreed a deal with The AA to carry out inspections of service centres and vehicle spot checks across the UK.

Prestige has been working closely with The AA and between them, the two parties have collectively developed an inspection programme which the AA will use to further improve quality standards.

Service centres will undergo an initial inspection by The AA and will have to pass a number of checks to be considered to join Prestige’s network, which currently stands at 315 centres.

Joe Bhamra, commercial director at Prestige, said: “We are delighted to use the services of The AA to further strengthen the inspection and selection process of service centres prior to approval.

“We believe that our partnership with The AA and itsexpertise and experience will help us deliver the best service centres for our customers to use.

“In addition to the service centre inspections, we will also be using The AA the carry out random vehicle spot checks to ensure service levels are being met on a continuous basis."

Howard Curle, head of operations at AA Motoring Services, added: “We recognise the importance that Prestige places on ensuring service centres are equipped to carry out work to the highest standards. Our team will work closely with Prestige to ensure we deliver this across the UK”.

The new arrangement also includes utilising AA video imaging technology for both service centre inspections and vehicle checks. Images will consequently be sent directly to Prestige’s operations team for analysis.

Prestige is planning to expand its network of independent fleet service centres by almost a third in the first quarter of this year to meet rising demand.

The company currently has a network of 315 independent outlets providing low-cost, added-value servicing to fleet operators, including some of the UK’s largest leasing companies.

The business is looking to recruit a further 100 fleet service centres across the country to complete its national coverage and meet increased customer demand, following organic growth and a number of new client wins in recent months.