Ogilvie Fleet’s new rental division wins industry award less than 12 months after launch
Apr 03, 2018
Ogilvie Fleet's new standalone rental division, Ogilvie Rental, has won its first industry award less than 12 months after being launched.
The company won the Best Daily Van Rental Award at the 2018 Van Awards, which celebrated the very best light commercial vehicles and service providers with a networking lunch, held at Twickenham Stadium, London.
Judged by an expert panel from sister publications Van Fleet World and Vans A2Z, the 18 categories sought to recognise innovative new products and services which cut costs, streamline operations and contribute to safer, more fuel-efficient fleets.
Ogilvie Fleet's short-term hire business has been transformed since 2013 into a £4.5 million a year operation - up around 27% on the previous 12 months - with an expectation that turnover will top £5 million in 2018.
The significant growth in business - rental days increased by around 30% over 12 months to 193,883 in 2016/17 from 147,655 in 2015/16 - is due to Ogilvie Fleet maximising short-term hires with existing contract hire and leasing company customers while also winning business in the wider marketplace. In 2017/18 Ogilvie Fleet is on target to record 240,000 rental days and is averaging 19,000 rental days per month.
Dan Gilkes, editor of Van Fleet World, said: "With a significant increase in rental days over the last few years, Ogilvie Fleet launched Ogilvie Rental in 2017, accompanied by a dedicated website. The site provides access to more than 120,000 commercial vehicles at more than 2,000 locations, with vehicles available within a two-hour time frame if required. The Ogilvie Rental team has been expanded from seven to 10, to meet growing demand. The company has also introduced a fleet of early-terminated leased vehicles to offer customers a flexible long-term rental solution, with the ability to return the vehicle at any time without penalty."
Ogilvie Fleet, one of the UK's fastest growing vehicle leasing and fleet management companies with more than 16,000 company cars and vans on its books, has a multi award-winning history over many years for its customer service and it is that focus that was critical to building up the client base to the extent that company sees short-term hire business as a standalone division.
If Ogilvie Rental encounters vehicle delivery, availability or condition issues with one rental provider it simply moves orders to another provider.
Additionally, rental business success has been underpinned by the offering of very competitive rates - cheaper than customers can source themselves - due to Ogilvie Rental's buying power and scales of economy, access to the entire UK short-term rental network and the flexible solutions offered.
Jim Hannah, operations director, Ogilvie Fleet, who collected the Award, said: "It's fantastic that Ogilvie Rental and the team behind it has been recognised with the Best Daily Van Rental Award at the 2018 Van Awards less than 12 months after the launch of the division.
"Our daily rental team under the leadership of daily rental manager Ian Bennett has been phenomenally successful in building up the customer base. The personal service our team offers is key to the success we are achieving, alongside the very competitive rates we are able to offer due to our increasing buying power.
"The daily rental solution we are able to offer is a win-win for our customers in terms of both cost and service."
