Bluecycle motors into fleet sector with Motability Operations

Spearheading an aggressive growth strategy which sees it entering the fleet sector for the first time, leading online salvage business, Bluecycle, has announced a major new contract with Motability Operations, the UK’s largest fleet of new vehicles, following a successful pilot programme over the past six months.

Driving maximum value from Motability Operation’s end of fleet vehicles, through online auctions, heralds a significant evolution for Bluecycle, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aviva, the UK’s largest insurer. Since launching in 2000 at the height of the ‘dot com’ era, Bluecycle has developed exponentially as a stand-alone business within the automotive and plant salvage sector, handling in excess of 80,000 vehicles in 2008.

At a time when many ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses face an uncertain future, the new partnership with Motability Operations and entry into the fleet sector complements Bluecycle’s lean business model within the salvage industry. Bluecycle holds more than 1,000 online auctions each week.

Diversification into new markets is a cornerstone of a new blueprint laid out by Guy Spence, Managing Director, Bluecycle, following a far reaching review of the company’s management and operations structure. Short-term strategic goals include the implementation of re-engineered auction architecture to enable greater customer interaction and ease of navigation, as well as enhanced payment administration. Both are planned to come on stream during 2009.

So Bluecycle can realise its ambitious strategy, Spence has also announced changes to the senior team. Nick Leyland has been appointed Head of Operations, responsible for auction management, customer service and logistics. Prior to joining Bluecycle, Leyland was Commercial Director at leading online motor retailer, Motorlogix. He brings more than twenty years' experience in automotive, finance, leasing and operational roles.

Formerly responsible for expanding Bluecycle’s business into new territories, Piers Wilson, Head of Market Development, has taken on the additional responsibilities of sales both in the UK and internationally.

Commenting on the new partnership with Motability Operations and the strengthening of his management team, Guy Spence said: “Our new partnership with Motability Operations is a major step forward for Bluecycle and a testament to the online business model we’ve worked hard to develop. In this testing economic climate, returning value to our customers through a process which is truly integrated, secure and hassle-free remains the focus of our endeavours. We’ve set the bar pretty high and have some exciting developments in the pipeline, which will further strengthen our market position.”