Fleet Assist has launched Lemon Penguin, a new garage services programme for its UK network.

Lemon Penguin aims to combine the purchasing power of its UK network of service, maintenance and repair (SMR) premises to give the independent garages within its network access to purchasing ability and commercial rates which are normally reserved for larger, franchised businesses.

By allowing all garages within its network access to competitive supply arrangements across a range of key retailers at advantageous rates, Fleet Assist says it is providing a level playing field for all operators within its network, ensuring a parity of pricing and service provision across its network of more than 5,200 franchised and independent dealers located across the whole of the UK.

Given the inflationary pressures all garages are facing, it says there has never been a better time to offer them a range of services using the combined purchasing power of the network to assist in the management of costs.

A key differentiator of the scheme compared to those run by other network providers in the market, says Fleet Assist, is that there are no constraints on the use the products or services solely in connection with its customers SMR work.

Karen Ewer, head of business development at Fleet Assist said: “The launch of Lemon Penguin allows our entire network to access competitive supply arrangements across a broad range of retailers, from oil and lubricant suppliers, technician training schemes, courtesy car providers and even EV charge point providers.

“It is important to Fleet Assist that our customers receive the same excellent levels of service wherever they are in the country, and Lemon Penguin has been designed from the ground up to help our network to deliver this.”

Lemon Penguin has been designed in collaboration with Fleet Assist’s network to ensure that the products and services available are of benefit to users.

Additional suppliers and services are being added to the program on a constant basis, ensuring that garages are not left behind in a rapidly changing marketplace, it said.

“While larger franchised garages have historically been able to access preferential rates on products and services for customers, by combining the purchasing power of our thousands of independent garages into a single buying program, we can ensure that every business within our network has access to a level playing field which not only benefits our garages, but also our customers,” added Ewer.