THE most ordered vehicle during April at Concept Vehicle Leasing, which provides our contract hire quotations, was actually a van – the Vauxhall Astravan. In terms of cars it was another Vauxhall, the Insignia, as businesses helped stoked new car sales in April – see Business leads demand for new cars.

There’s been an undoubted move in the sentiment of small business owners and SME directors. It’s been noted by the Federation of Small Businesses in their Small Business Index that business confidence rose to +6.7 in the first quarter, after falling in each quarter in 2010.

Meanwhile the CBI, in its latest quarterly SME Trends Survey of small and medium-sized manufacturers, found that volumes of domestic and export orders among smaller firms rose at the fastest rate since April 1995.

This rise in business confidence among smaller firms has been noted by Paul Bulloch, the boss of BVRLA-approved car leasing firm Concept.

“Our first quarter was very strong – the best we’ve had for four years.” Paul told me. “There’s still an element of caution but there is much more confidence and SMEs are now making decisions that they have been putting off.

“Those high-mileage cars on leases that have been extended have become troublesome and now need replacing.”

April, said Paul, was quieter because of Easter and the volume of bank holidays, but Concept’s most ordered cars were the Vauxhall Insignia, BMW 3 Series and Audi A3 Sportback.

“Buyers haven’t shifted much in their choices,” added Paul, “although BMW 3 Series Exclusive and Sport Plus Edition models have been doing well because they represent good value for money and strong residual values.”

Let’s hope this rising sentiment of confidence, fragile though it may be, strengthens through the next quarter as SME firms help stoke the economic recovery of the UK.

Editor’s Blog in conversation with Concept’s Paul Bulloch