Contract hire and fleet management specialist Grosvenor is urging businesses to look beyond the transition to electrification and begin planning a future of more flexible and sustainable business travel.
The call comes as the company celebrates its 45th anniversary, with late Chairman and founder, Brian Johnson, having first opened its doors for business in 1981.
Drawing on expertise from almost half a century, Grosvenor is looking to support its customers through new challenges ahead.
Analysis of DVLA and National Travel Survey data reveals that nearly one-third (32.8%) of all UK driving licenses are now held by people aged 60 and over, while drivers aged 17-24 now account for just 7% of full license holders.
Financial pressures, a rise in digital connectivity, increased urbanisation, and environmental awareness are causing many young people to question the need for a driving licence. As a result, a lower proportion of people entering the UK workforce hold a driving licence, with many younger employees accustomed to using Apps and flexible travel options.
Whilst attractive benefit in kind tax rates for EVs have encouraged many drivers back to the company car, Grosvenor is foreseeing a longer-term future in which other corporate travel options will sit alongside the traditional company vehicle. These will include car sharing and car clubs, as well as App-based business travel through Mobility as a Service (MaaS) options.
“We are very proud of our 45 year track record of pioneering innovative solutions for fleet operators,” said Grosvenor’s managing director, Lee Brown.
“This forward-thinking approach was first demonstrated when we became the first leasing company to open a retail site to sell our ex-contract hire cars direct to the public, rather than processing all ex-hires through the auction houses. Many said that this couldn’t be done but adopted the same practice shortly after.
“We brought software development in-house, giving us far greater control of the technical offerings we could provide to our customers. This contributed to a number of industry awards recognising the quality of our fleet management software and systems.
“We have consistently resisted the trend to utilise impersonal call centres and automated telephony systems, instead remaining committed to providing a personal approach whereby customers are put straight through to our teams, many of whom have been with the business for more than 20 years.
“We were also the first leasing and fleet management specialist to launch a dedicated service to support customers with the transition to electric and ultra-low emission vehicles. Called 0Zone, this was first offered back in 2017 when very few electric models were on the market, however by advising our customers and their drivers early we became one of the market leaders in plug-in vehicle registrations for several years.
“As we look to the future yet again, we recently launched Vista. In response to current data and forecasted trends, this pioneering consultative solution looks at how businesses will move employees from A to B sustainably, efficiently and cost-effectively.
“Vista is made up of 8 pillars that cover all key areas, including policies, technology, infrastructure, culture, regulations, data, financial implications and propulsion. The Vista team broadens the scope of traditional fleet consultancy by advising organisations on a wider range of flexible travel solutions that complement the company car.
“It means we are innovating once again, and supporting our customers with the tools and insights they need to navigate the complexities of flexible and sustainable business travel.
“As we progress towards our 50th anniversary over the next 5 years, we are committed to ensuring we stay ahead of the curve as the fleet sector experiences even further change in the exciting and challenging times to come.”
