In mid-2002, three experienced courtesy car leasing professionals saw a clear gap in the market for a dedicated courtesy car provider. A provider that would focus exclusively on serving the independent bodyshop sector.
So why did the gap exist?
Quite simply, bodyshops weren't getting good service or good value for money. While courtesy cars were generating valuable business for bodyshops, they were also creating headaches – like more paperwork, more hassle and unexpected charges at the end of the leasing contract. Courtesy Cars were also being seen as a volume generator by mainstream contract hire companies, who were treating bodyshops in the same way they would a regular company car driver.
The launch of Circle Leasing was about to change that.
The aim was to create a dedicated courtesy car provider that would do much more than just deliver a courtesy car at a competitive monthly rate…
Circle would also provide full administrative and customer service support from beginning to end of contract.
Circle would be totally transparent about pricing and charges – to spare bodyshops the pain of unexpected costs.
Circle's focus on providing a hassle-free ‘total solution' would ensure the courtesy car fulfills it's role as a hard-working business asset.
THE FIRST 12 MONTHS
When Circle Leasing launched, the reaction was very favourable – with many bodyshops keen to entrust their courtesy car requirements to a specialist.
We quickly established ourselves as a major player with a truly nationwide customer base.
And hundreds of bodyshops enjoyed the benefits of a hassle-free full service solution.
Here are just some of our success milestones in the first year of operation:
We gain an approximate 20 per cent share of the independent repairer courtesy car leasing market.
We deliver our 5,000th vehicle.
Our customer support team expands rapidly to handle administrative issues on behalf of bodyshops.
In our first year, we deal with more than 1,500 fixed penalty notices without passing any cost on to our bodyshop customers.
2004: CIRCLE RATED THE UK'S NO.1 COURTESY CAR SUPPLIER
In 2004, independent research company Sewells ranked us No.1 overall courtesy car supplier in a survey of UK bodyshops*. This overwhelming endorsement from customers vindicated our service-driven, proactive approach to courtesy car leasing.
2005: CIRCLE GOES FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH
In 2005, we were again voted the best overall courtesy car supplier in the Sewells Survey*, consolidating our position as UK's No.1.
In 2005, we delivered over 10,000 vehicles to the UK's independent bodyshops.
As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, our team grew to 24 people.
We increased the number of account managers to ensure customers continued to enjoy dedicated, proactive customer service.
We appointed a supplier development manager not only to build solid, long-term relationships with suppliers - but also to ensure suppliers meet the high standards our customers expect.
Investment in training and IT underpins our mission to deliver continuous improvement in customer service.
2006: HELPING BODYSHOPS MEET FUTURE CHALLENGES
As the market leader in courtesy car provision, our commitment, as ever, was to serve the UK 's independent bodyshops. In a challenging, unpredictable marketplace, our focus was to help customers minimise whole life costs - to ensure courtesy cars remain a hassle-free, cost-effective business asset.
2007: STABILITY IN A TURBULENT ENVIRONMENT
Circles 5 th year of trading saw some dramatic peaks not least in the money markets and further rises in the cost of cars. Our role in 2007 was to smooth these impacts so that our customers enjoyed consistency of offer and supply.
2007 also saw Circle once again voted the best overall courtesy car supplier in the Sewells Survey*
* Sewells Information & Research 2004, 2005 & 2007 Bodyshop Opinion Surveys
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