Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog

WE normally associate the Rugby Football Union (RFU) with England’s performance on the pitch at Twickenham – although I use the term loosely after the laboured performance during the RBS Six Nations.

But now the RFU has become a master at leasing cars as well as running with the ball in hand – thanks to Masterlease. The contract hire and fleet management company has agreed a new four-year agreement with the RFU to be the exclusive leasing partner for business vehicles and ancillary services to the RFU at its head office and at a community rugby level.

Masterlease says it conducted feasibility studies and whole-life cost reviews for the RFU and was able to demonstrate that such an exclusive partnership would save the business money and improve the options for drivers in terms of vehicle desirability and benefit-in-kind tax position.

But this is the bit I really like. As part of the deal, Masterlease becomes an official box holder at Twickenham and is able to entertain its customers at all England home games. Ahem! Should a spare ticket comes up…

As you can imagine, Clive Forsythe, Masterlease’s sales and marketing director, is fairly delighted with the outcome: “Building close ties with customers really gives us a chance to get under the skin of business issues and devise options and solutions that deliver quantifiable benefits,” Clive said on announcing the agreement.

Before adding: “Supporting such a great sport, being part of the Twickenham experience and being able to share the joy of it with other customers is the icing on the cake.”

Let’s hope Masterlease’s business support also helps the cause of improving England’s on-pitch performance too.