Kwik-Fit Named Fleet News Top Fleet Industry Supplier

Kwik-Fit has beaten a string of companies responsible for delivering a range of solutions to Britain’s multi-billion pound fleet industry to be named Fleet Supplier of the Year by Fleet News. While Kwik-Fit Fleet has been a regular winner of the Best Fast-Fit Company title at the annual awards ceremony, which for more than two decades has been hosted by the fleet industry weekly newspaper, this is the first time that the company has beaten off competition from other sectors – including the likes of AA Business Services and RAC Fleet – to win the top supplier accolade.

The Fleet Supplier of the Year Award is designed to identify the organisation which has gone the extra mile in providing exceptional service to fleet customers and has ‘stand out’ service levels, products and staff and a commitment to providing the best products or services. The award was presented at a ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on March 18 and follows Kwik-Fit Fleet being named the nation’s top fast-fit company for an impressive 16 years in succession in the annual BusinessCar Awards announced earlier this year.

“Kwik-Fit took this award by storm, convincing the judges with an entry that confirmed it not only as this year’s fleet supplier of the year but also a supplier that is true industry supporter,” commented a representative from the judging panel. “During the judging, there was an astonishingly comprehensive vote in favour of Kwik-Fit.”

Head of Kwik-Fit Fleet, Mike Wise, added: “This award firmly establishes Kwik-Fit Fleet among the leaders of the fleet industry’s Premier Division. For many years, the company has been the number one fast-fit provider to the corporate sector and now we officially rank among the entire industry’s crème de la crème having beaten suppliers from a range of sectors to the top title. But, such success is not luck. It is due to the people Kwik-Fit employs and the training they receive. Whether account managers, call centre staff or technicians based in centres or driving our mobile units, delivering top notch customer service is crucial to success in a cut-throat marketplace.

“Not only must we ensure that our 4,500 UK-based staff have the knowledge and experience to handle fleet operator and company car drivers requirements, but our product range continues to evolve.

“In the last 12 months, for example, we launched our manufacturers’ service initiative enabling customers to book a service at a minimum 48 hours notice, which is significantly more convenient than franchise dealers where up to 14 days notice could be required.”

Across the fleet sector, Kwik-Fit Fleet supplies a wide-range of services to more than 2.5 million company cars and vans, including those run by most of Britain’s top contract hire and leasing companies such as Lex, LeasePlan, Lombard Vehicle Management and ALD Automotive.

“We have also seen demand rise for our company car park-based tyre safety checks as an ever-increasing number of fleets increase their occupational road risk management focus. This has resulted in new vans being added to our mobile fleet,” added Mike Wise. “In a challenging economic environment we expect corporate demand for our range of centre and mobile services to further increase in 2009 due to a range of factors such as: the fleet focus on cost management with our range of services providing businesses with savings when compared with franchise dealers; our seven-day a week opening policy which gives flexibility to drivers; and the extension of fleet replacement cycles means that more vehicles will require service maintenance and repair work.”