Manchester-based leasing firm Equalease claims to have seen rapidly increasing demand for short-term leases in recent months as companies look for different ways to provide probationary employees with a company car.

"The recession means that employers are even more keen to take a good look at probationary staff over an initial three- or six-month period to ensure they are the right person for the job before committing," said Equalease managing director Paul Ashton. "Until the recent emergence of medium-term leasing, the only option was daily rental, which can prove very expensive if the car is to be retained for a lengthy period such as three or six months."