On Saturday May 3, Ards Youth U12’s won their first trophy of a magnificent season when they won the Lisburn League Cup.

However, only seven days later, not resting on their laurels, they defeated Dungannon Youth in a thrilling final to be crowned Northern Ireland U12s Champions.  A fantastic treble was now on, and with the full squad travelling the long distance to Cork to take on teams from England, Scotland and Republic of Ireland in Irelands biggest end of season tournament, they once again returned Champions defeating Leeds United 6-5 on penalties.

Fleet Financial sales Manager Jim Humphreys has presented a cheque to a major Northern Ireland Charity following his completion of a 100 k cycle event earlier this Summer.  David Magill, Chairman of Glengormley Support Group and Valerie Saunders, Area Appeals Coordinator – both from NI Chest Heart and Stroke Association accepted a cheque for £1,000 at a special handover ceremony, which took place at Fleet Financial headquarters, Mallusk.

Jim Humphreys said:

“I started cycling a year ago in recovery from having open heart surgery and so I have first hand experience of the value of the work of this charity. I see this is my second opportunity of life – they got this far and so this is my way of giving something back! I am a competitive person yet this was the single most difficult task I have ever completed in my entire life! The rain and wind was in my face almost all the way but I am thrilled at the achievement and it was the massive support from family, friends, work colleagues and customers of Fleet Financial that kept me pedalling through the rain and drove me to complete the challenge.”

Mr Humphreys, together with two fellow members of session from Joymount Presbyterian Church, Carrickfergus, completed the 100k challenge. The gruelling coastal route started at Bangor Leisure Centre – all participants winding their way around the Ards Peninsula and to Portaferry before concluding back in Bangor!  Training was rigorous with Jim regularly cycling up to 80 miles a week.

David Magill from Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke added:

“I think this is amazing and a real example of how individual effort really can make such a big difference. Jim is a great example to us all and I have no doubt that our charity, which relies on voluntary donations, will make good use of these funds. Each year in Northern Ireland almost 10,000 people die from Chest, Heart and Stroke illnesses. Scarcely a family in our community has not been affected. The Northern Ireland Chest, Heart and Stroke Association is committed to caring for today and finding a cure for tomorrow.”

Fleet Financial enjoyed a very successful NW200, so much so that VW UK decided to use some photographes from the event in a press campaign promoting their vans sporting elements.

Fleet Financial’s Belfast roadshow judged a major success.

In a first for Northern Ireland, the recent roadshow at the Waterfront Hall brought together key players to help local businesses fully understand issues such as Government legislation, CO2 emissions, greener vehicles and business taxation in relation to running and managing company vehicles.

Over 200 representatives from a broad spectrum of local companies were present, Philip Miley, Sales & Marketing Director at Fleet Financial opened the event and commented “With this series of roadshows, we are bringing together some of the leading experts in the fields of environmental motoring, finance and taxation to talk to businesses in an informal but informative way”.  He then went on to introduce the principal speakers, Ian Crossan and Renee Dawson from leading accountancy firm, Grant Thornton.

Those attending received an informative and concise presentation covering many relevant issues regarding the finance and management of company vehicles.  The speakers also high-lighted the advantages and benefits of contract hire with a particular focus on reducing costs.  Following the main presentation, several leading motor manufacturers, including Toyota, BMW, Lexus, Volkswagen and Citroen gave a short synopsis on green issues and trends within their own organisations.

The successful event was rounded off with lunch and guests were able to network informally, speaking to representatives from a number of companies and organisations including PSNI and Lombard.

Philip Miley from Fleet financial hands over the keys of the mini cooper to competition winner Belfast Telegraph reader John Hutton

Bangor Teacher John Hutton, a teacher at Ulidia Integrated College, Carrickfergus has won a mini-cooper 1.6 Diesel (for two years!) in a recent newspaper competition. Fleet Financial, Northern Ireland’s No.1 Business Vehicle Provider handed over the keys of the mini to the Belfast Telegraph reader this morning. Fleet Financial, who have a head office at Mallusk, were delighted that someone from the Public Sector won the prize package as it highlights their drive to prove the benefits of their products and services to the public sector as well as privately owned enterprises.

Philip Miley from Fleet Financial said:

“We are increasing our business activity in the Public Sector as more employers and employees alike recognise the benefits of fixed cost motoring - avoiding vehicle depreciation and ever increasing servicing costs while offering the very best vehicles and support packages.”

The exclusive prize package includes contract hire for two years, servicing, road tax and even insurance!

Mr Hutton, from Belgravia Park in Bangor said:

“I am absolutely delighted to have won this great prize from Fleet Financial. I will be the envy of students and teachers alike at work. I’m sure my peers will take note and there will be a few enquiries from other interested individuals.”

Fleet Financial is an independently owned contract hire and vehicle management company providing vehicles to business. The company has a fleet of over 3,500 vehicles and 750 clients. They provide an individual based service to find customers the most cost effective and efficient method of meeting their business vehicle requirements.

'To celebrate the fact that Fleet Financial is Northern Ireland’s No.1 business vehicle provider they teamed up with Northern Ireland’s No.1 newspaper for business news, Belfast Telegraph, to give one lucky reader the exclusive chance to WIN a Mini Cooper 1.6 Diesel for two years! This fabulous prize package included contract hire for two years, servicing, road tax and even insurance!'

Organisers of Ireland’s largest outdoor sporting event warmly welcomed a three year sponsorship deal with contract hire and leasing company, Fleet Financial.

As part of the deal with the International North West 200, Fleet Financial will provide all corner direction boards around the famous 9-mile circuit, a fleet of vans for course event preparations and cars for use throughout Race Week by race officials as well as a significant funding package.  

Fleet Financial – which was recently named as a Top 50 UK Company by Fleet News – has been involved in the International North West 200 for four years and is delighted to provide the International North West 200 with a further three-year sponsorship package.

Fleet Financial’s Jim Humphreys said, “Fleet Financial is Northern Ireland’s number one contract hire and leasing company and we are delighted to be associated with Northern Ireland’s number one sporting event.

“We will be providing funding and the vehicles for course preparation and race officials and hope that our involvement will be of great benefit to the International North West 200. It is a fitting sponsorship for us and we are pleased to be able to support an important event which brings so much to Northern Ireland”, said Mr Humphreys.

Clerk of Course of the International North West 200, Mervyn Whyte MBE, said, “The North West 200 is organised by volunteers and we rely on support and financial backing from local companies and government to make the event happen each year. I warmly welcome Fleet Financial’s financial and in-kind support of the International North West 200.”

Fleet Financial was established 12 years ago and is today Northern Ireland’s number one contract hire and leasing company. The Mallusk-based company has over 700 corporate clients including National Windscreens, Gilbert Ash and Dale Farm Group.

The 2008 Kennedy Group International North West 200 Race Day will take place on Saturday 17th May this year. The event is regarded as Ireland’s largest outdoor sporting event, attracting in excess of 150,000 spectators. The North West 200 website has received over 4million hits since March of last year.

Philip Miley, Sales and Marketing Director of the Mallusk-based company, said: “Being the first Northern Ireland company to achieve this milestone puts us among the UK leaders in our field and reflects the growth of a business which is based on offering a value-for-money service to companies of all sizes from the smallest sole trader to major corporations.

"Fleet Financial is only 11 years old, so being placedin the UK’s FN50 is a great tribute to the work of everyone on the Fleet Financial team and could only have come about withthe support and loyalty of our valued customers and suppliers.”

Managing Director of Fleet Financial Damian Hughes added: “Fleet News is the industry bible of the UK contract hire and leasing industry so this is a real validation of our products and services on a national level. The achievement is all the more remarkable because of the 50 companies earning recognition in the annual FN 50 listing only a mere handful are management owned enterprises! It is our aim to increase our lead as Northern Ireland's Number One contract hire and business vehicle supplierand to move further up the FN50 ranking in 2008!”

Among Fleet Financial’s 700 plus corporate clients are companies such as National Windscreens, Gilbert Ash, Dale Farm and even the business-savvy publishing team who bring you 'Business Eye' each month!

Fleet Financial attributes it's success to it's precise assessment of individual customer requirements. This premier service is one that remains constant whethera customer requires just one or one hundred vehicles. Fleet Financial provides vehicle contract hire and management which can include maintenance for vehicles being driven anywhere in the UK and Ireland. Fleet Financial also makes provision for the resale of cars and light commercial vehicles in the business sector therefore providing a one-stop shop for all fleet vehicle requirements.

2007 has been a challenging and rewarding year for the contract hire and leasing industry. Demand for contract hire is growing rapidly as more companies recognise the benefits of outsourcing their business vehicle requirements and reducing business capital tied up in the depreciating costs of vehicle ownership. Fleet Financial have stayed ahead in this competitive market with a constancy of quality in vehicle provision options and a heavy investment in customer support resulting in building a strong customer loyalty.

A wealth of research is compared and considered in the compilation of the FN 50 listing. This includes analysis according to fleet sizes (including non-funded vehicles); car and van reliability surveys; residual value report; damage recharge analysis; fines report; fuel use survey; excess mileage survey.

Fleet Financial (NI) Ltd is Northern Ireland’s number one privately owned contract hire and vehicle management company and currently employees 28 people with a rapidly growing list of over 700 private, corporate and public sector clients.

The Belfast School’s Celtic Cup was held in Dublin in May 07. Teams representing England, Scotland, the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland battled it out in this high quality competition. Fleet Financial were pleased to provide track suits for the Belfast under 7 team.

Philip Miley pictured with the team at Ormeau Park before departing for Dublin