Social Landlord Housing Group - ICE Vehicles and Flexible Hire

Our client is a social landlord, owning and managing almost 9,000 homes across the Northwest of England.

They deliver a range of homes and servicesdesigned to meet the needs of a wide range of customers, from family and single person homes, safe and secure homes for marginalised people, and Later Living and HAPPi schemes specifically for older people. They currently have 102 Vehicles on hire (VOH) with Northgate, having grown from 32 VOH over the last two years since joining the Pretium Framework.

 

CHALLENGES

At the outset, their fleet comprised of 57 ageing vehicles that were no longer meeting the demands of the business. Increasingly frequent breakdowns, rising maintenance costs and unplanned downtime were affecting productivity and operational performance.In addition, the outdated appearance of the fleet did not align with their professional image, highlighting the need for a modern, reliable vehicle solution.

SOLUTION

Northgate conducted a full fleet analysis and
provided disposal valuations through Van Monster. This enabled a streamlined vehicle disposal process, reducing operational effort and releasing equity for investment in new vehicles.

Northgate assessed the vehicle and equipment
requirements of each department and developed a tailored fleet proposal, providing certainty around vehicle availability and a clear mobilisation plan. This ensured vehicle downtime was kept to a minimum while addressing the service and maintenance
challenges they were experiencing, delivering a
smooth transition to a more efficient fleet solution.

Northgate’s solution included delivering new vehicles in the timeframes proposed and removing the pain points and associated costs they were experiencing.

THE RESULT

Initially, the client was looking to dispose of 57 of their owned vehicles. Northgate proposed fleet swapping the current 32 vehicles on hire to new vehicles, ensuring continuity across the fleet. They then established a further 12 vehicles that were coming to the end of their
lease which could also be replaced.

The client’s relationship with Northgate has grown significantly over the last two years. While Northgate continues to support the business, it is now helping the company reduce its carbon footprint through EV consultancy, providing guidance on how electric vehicles can support the business in the future.

Northgate is working closely with the client to identify where electric vehicles can be integrated into its fleet. The Fleet Manager holds regular reviews with Northgate, using fleet data and driver feedback to support the organisation’s journey towards net zero. As the client continues to grow, it is expected to
increase its fleet of hire vehicles in the coming months.

✓Over 100+ ICE Vehicles

✓12 Months+ And Flexible Hires

✓Exploring EV Consultancy