The Outward Bound Trust has renewed its 20-strong fleet of Ford Transit Minibuses with FleetEurope as part of a four-year contract hire arrangement.

The new fleet is being used by the educational charity to transport course participants and instructors to various remote locations from its residential centres in the Lake District, the west coast of Wales and the Scottish Highlands.

The 17-seater vehicles are powered by Euro 6 compliant diesel engines and equipped with a rear view camera, reverse parking sensors, tow bar, butterfly step, seat covers and personalised with vehicle livery.

FleetEurope will also supply fixed cost servicing and maintenance, vehicle acquisition and disposal, tyre and windscreen and breakdown cover.

Kim Parry, director of finance and resources at The Outward Bound Trust, said: “It has been FleetEurope’s complete understanding of the Trust’s challenges over the years that was once again a key factor when it came to renewing the minibus fleet.

“As a charity, all expenditure has to be justified and costs at every stage are examined critically.”

FleetEurope has introduced a number of cost savings and efficiencies for the trust’s fleet, including £10,000 through re-allocating vehicles across different sites and extending contracts from three to four years.

It also saved the trust more than £7,000 recently by assessing, advising and contesting end-of-contract damage recharges directly with the funder of the vehicles.