LeasePlan leads the way with UK industry first

FORS is currently trialling accreditation for van leasing and LeasePlan is the first company in the UK to receive it. This is a significant step for both LeasePlan and the increasingly important FORS - a voluntary scheme for best practice that now has 5,000 members.

This new type of accreditation - part of a trial by FORS - is specifically designed to enable hire and leasing companies to demonstrate that their vehicles meet the FORS Standard.

Under the trial accreditation, a FORS Vehicle Hire accredited company can supply vehicles that have been assessed to meet the FORS Standard. However, these vehicles will only be considered to be FORS accredited if they are used on behalf of a FORS operator who is already accredited.

The new FORS Vehicle Hire Company accreditation will help operators meet requirements set out in the new FORS Standard which stipulates that short term temporary (hire) vehicles employed by FORS operators, must be FORS accredited.* It is being trialled at LeasePlan UK for both their current short term lease fleet and longer term lease vehicles.

FORS Vehicle Hire Company accreditation is a new type of FORS Associate** status, whereby the company is assessed against the FORS requirements relevant to the supply of vehicles. This means evidencing activities such as the correct policies and procedures are in place and ensuring that the vehicles are maintained and managed to the mandatory FORS requirements.

To qualify, vehicle hire companies must prove their vehicles are equipped with the FORS mandatory safety equipment and are maintained and managed to the relevant FORS requirements.

Paul Wilkes, FORS Business Services Manager, explained that the LeasePlan UK trial has been set up to ensure this type of accreditation adds value for existing FORS members.

LeasePlan UK, which is already a FORS Associate, has successfully completed its FORS Vehicle Hire Company accreditation audit, and can now provide vehicles that meet the FORS Bronze requirements.

For further information on the FORS accreditation please contact a member of the Commercial Vehicle Team lcv@leaseplan.co.uk or visit the FORS website.

* FORS Silver companies must ensure sub-contracted services delivered on behalf of FORS clients are FORS accredited - FORS Silver S9. https://www.fors-online.org.uk/cms/new-standard/

** FORS Associate status is offered to suppliers who provide an exclusive offer or discount on products and services aligned to the requirements of the FORS Standard.