SUPPORT services firm VT Group continues to thrive after shedding its historic shipbuilding arm and now adds the nation’s fleet of Highways Agency vehicles to its portfolio of management operations.

The Botley based firm, which finally quit shipbuilding in late 2009 after 149 years, has been named preferred bidder by the Highways Agency to supply, manage and support its fleet of more than 200 patrol vehicles.

Based at 40 locations across the UK, the agency’s familiar fleet of neon painted Land Rover, Mitsubishi and Toyota vehicles are an important tool to keep motorways flowing.

VT will use a network of local dealers throughout the country to carry out repairs on the vehicles, which average some 100,000 miles a year and require monthly servicing.

Already it manages the fleets for a range of “blue light customers”, including the Metropolitan Police, where VT maintains some 3,750 vehicles, and the emergency response vehicles operated by fire and rescue services throughout England and Wales.

Austin Lewis, managing director of VT Group’s Critical Services division, said: “The Highways Agency is a prestigious addition to our emergency response customers and fits our business model of providing critical fleet management for customers whose operations depend on a high level of performance by their suppliers.

“We will look to bring innovation and increased rigour into the process so that the fleet is able to fulfil the HA’s role in ensuring the major road transport network in England runs smoothly.”

As part of the contract, VT will be required to adhere to strict performance measures which will incur a financial penalty if the performance drops below the agreed target.