The start point for the best source of fleet information |
BusinessCar Awards 2015 - Service Suplier of the year - Alphabet
Date: 27 January 2015
The UK's third-largest leasing company by volume is again voted number one service supplier in the industry by the readers of BusinessCar, making it three wins in a row for a firm that has been expanding and innovating.
Alphabet's chief executive Richard Schooling admits to a slow start to last year, but the company gathered pace through 2014 to cement its number three position behind second-placed Leaseplan.
Our annual BC50 analysis of the leasing industry in October showed that Alphabet increased its funded fleet by more than 8000 vehicles, taking it over 130,000. That closes the gap between Alphabet and Leaseplan, reducing the difference from more than 14,000 vehicles to 9536.
During 2014, Alphabet expanded its workforce with a range of senior appointments, including the roles of corporate mobility customer relations manager, rental sales manager and e-mobility consultant. It also opened its first dedicated broker channel. Working with what the firm calls an "elite group of established brokers", the goal is to "make Alphabet the lender of choice for electric vehicles and prestige models in the broker/SME arena".
The innovation continued throughout 2014, with the launch of a dedicated charge card for electric vehicles to give simple access to 85% of UK charging points. A tie-up with the JustPark app late in the year offers discounts on the service.
Record growth in the public sector was also reported last year, with the firm now operating more than 20,000 vehicles in this market. Alphabet also claimed to have exceeded its first target for the AlphaElectric consultancy programme by 24% in the first year, passing the 700 units marked for 2014. The company is expecting EV orders to at least double during 2015 as the number of manufacturers with electric offerings continues to grow.
Highly Commended | Lex Autolease
The UK's dominant leasing company ranks as Highly Commended in the 2015 BusinessCar Awards. It's had another strong year in the middle of a five-year investment plan designed to add 100,000 units of growth to a company that already leads the market by a huge margin.
Upgrades to the company's digital presence and the launch of a new 10-acre used car remarketing site in Coventry were joined by the launch of the firm's Business Critical programme. New for last year, it helps utility businesses and others wedded to regulatory or contractual performance targets meet their obligations.
