Mike Lloyd from Central Contracts: forward-thinking staff motivation

Business Car Manager: Editor’s Blog

TOOK the train up to Central Contracts to visit md Mike Lloyd and his team in their very smart offices in Stoke.

For the train journey I’d ordered mobile broadband from O2 and was keen to use it. Having turned up the day before (thank you to my neighbour David for signing for the package), I was keen to try it out: you know, write a story and deliver it to the website on the move.

Sounded good, this, being fully wired all the time. But the execution wasn’t quite as planned. The trouble is the reception on the train from Euston to Stoke is so intermittent it drove me nuts. When it worked it was very good but the signal kept on dropping out. Really, really annoying…

Anyway, my frustrations aside, it was good to see Mike and find out what was ticking in his world and see the BVRLA-approved car leasing broker Central Contracts operation.

What most impressed me about the building was the upstairs area with a ‘music’ room. “All the staff spend 15 minutes in here before the start of the day,” said Mike. Reading my slightly bemused expression, Mike went on. We play relaxing music so they can clear their heads. So when they start work at 0930 their heads are clear and they are ready to go. We all come up here.”

Sorry, let me rephrase that: what impressed me most was not the upstairs area per se, but the methodology of clearing out the overnight debris and mind clutter so the sales and support team could concentrate on the day job ahead.

For a small business, you don’t expect always expect such forward thinking. But it obviosusly works. The company is well ahead on sales in the first quarter; clearly the appetite for business cars is definitely out there in 2010.

This daily routine is all part of the Central Contracts commitment to training. All staff are fully trained to offer best advice to both small – and some large – companies wanting to know the best financing methods and the ramifications of business car choice on tax.

“I don’t mind what people order, I just want them to be happy,” continues Mike. “Making sure we get the right car and the right specification at the right price before customers order is important.

“I found one customer a very nice BMW. It was at a rate that was going to save him cash each month, but it didn’t have sat nav (which he wanted) – but would have also added to the monthly costs. Knowing him well I suggested that, if we waited and got the exact car he wanted we would be looking at a monthly increase of