Since 2006, Age UK has trusted CLM to support their mission to help older people across the UK. For nearly 20 years, we have worked with this vital charity to provide essential fleet management services such as maintenance, vehicle sourcing, fines management, licence checking, accident management, and rental.

Charities face unique challenges when it comes to running a vehicle fleet. As a not-for-profit, keeping costs down is key. However, with increasing running costs, National Minimum Wage and employer National Insurance, every cost must be justified.

Recently, we had the opportunity to speak with Terry Mutton, Retail Operations Manager at Age UK, who shared valuable insights on the importance of maintaining a cost-effective fleet.

For Age UK, the vehicle fleet needs to have a return on investment. They need to be supported by a fleet provider who looks beyond the day-to-day operation and accurately predicts fluctuations in its cost base.

Each quarter, CLM provide an in-depth review of the savings made through the management of Age UK’s 68 vehicle fleet.

“CLM update us on the current fleet market, inform us on savings made through their management of our fleet, and advise us on future decisions which can impact long-term expenditure. This is invaluable to our organisation as we would not have the resource or expertise available to review this.”

We help Age UK save costs by:

• Sourcing new vehicles at a great price: We get quotes from a panel of funders to get Age UK the cheapest quote on new vehicles. This includes negotiating great deals on lease renewals.

• Manufacturer relationships: We achieve significant discounts on new vehicle orders through regular negotiations with manufacturers.

• Managing maintenance spend: We check all garage invoices to ensure work is fair and necessary. We’ve created savings by rejecting unnecessary work and challenging incorrect labour time and rates. The same process is followed for work carried out on vehicles involved in accidents.

We asked Terry for feedback on specific services we provide. Here’s what he said:

“Age UK have relied on CLM’s rental service during times of limited vehicle availability, especially when emergency vehicles are needed within 12-24 hours. While dependency on the rental service has decreased due to having a newer and healthier fleet, Age UK feel fortunate to have access to an on-site rental car provided by CLM in case of emergencies. This is another example of our relationship where CLM heard our request and provided a solution.”

“There has always been a seamless service with CLM’s accident management. The process works well with our own legal and insurance team. Most of our accident management repairs are dealt with quickly and efficiently, whilst being reviewed at each stage of the process, so the charity is protected against potential increased costs.”

“Fleet administration is another seamless service. Fines management can sometimes be complex due to the nature of leasing companies and their own policies; however, CLM update Age UK regularly on the progress of all cases.”

“It’s easy to highlight when something goes wrong, but CLM address all our driver queries, learn from the experience and adapt procedures to reflect. Our drivers have confidence in the fleet management system, its ease of use and flexibility to ensure a good driving experience.”

Over the next 12 months, CLM will be supporting Age UK with its van strategy, helping the charity choose the right vans to replace expired leases while negotiating great deals.

It’s inspiring to see such dedication to their cause, ensuring that every resource is maximised to help those in need.

To find out more about the work Age UK do, click here: Age UK