VMS Group
VMS Group is a privately owned UK commercial vehicle services company providing contract hire, fleet management, accident management, vehicle maintenance, refrigeration, daily rental and vehicle disposal to enterprise and mid-market fleet operators, managing more than 5,000 vehicles across 14 national sites.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2002
- HeadquartersStevenage, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What VMS Group does
VMS Automotive Group Ltd is a privately owned UK commercial vehicle services group formed in 2002 and headquartered in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, operating through VMS (Fleet Management) Ltd as its primary operating entity alongside VMS Refrigeration Ltd, MAR Vehicle Solutions Ltd, MAR Cooling Solutions Ltd and Western Truck Rental Ltd. It delivers a fully outsourced commercial fleet proposition spanning contract hire, fleet management, accident management, vehicle and tail-lift maintenance, refrigeration, daily rental and end-of-life vehicle disposal, supported by a 24/7/365 operations centre in East Anglia, 14 national sites, in-house mobile service technicians and a network of approved repair centres. The group manages more than 5,000 vehicles in total with over 1,400 in its rental fleet, and operates a connected-vehicle stack combining vehicle tracking, RDL/temperature monitoring, on-board forward/rear/driver cameras, digital tachograph downloads and client-portal integration with Geotab telematics for its electric fleet, alongside an exclusive UK distributorship of Alex Original transport refrigeration units through VMS Refrigeration.
Commercially, VMS runs a sales-led B2B model with dedicated account managers, multi-year bespoke contract agreements and relationship-driven enterprise customers. Named customers include Iceland Foods (15+ years, approximately 4,000 vehicles), PHOENIX Healthcare, Kier Group, LF&E Transport, Minor Weir & Willis, Fisher and Woods, Nursery Kitchen, FlowerBX and Brook Street Foods, spanning food retail, pharmaceutical, fresh produce, foodservice and construction verticals. Geographic expansion has come via the 2020 acquisition of Western Truck Rental into Devon and the 2021 opening of a Bridgend site in South Wales, alongside product expansion into UK-first electric welfare vans and electric traffic management trucks developed with partners including Renault Trucks UK, Clarks Vehicle Conversions, Isuzu Truck UK, GAH, Paneltex and Solomons Commercials. Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the group is independently owned with no external PE/VC backers named in source materials.
VMS Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- VMS Group
- Legal name
- VMS Automotive Group Ltd
- Website
- https://vmsglobal.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2002
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- VMS Group is a privately owned UK commercial vehicle services company providing contract hire, fleet management, accident management, vehicle maintenance, refrigeration, daily rental and vehicle disposal to enterprise and mid-market fleet operators, managing more than 5,000 vehicles across 14 national sites.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
VMS Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fleet Management Services
- NAICS
- Automotive Equipment Rental and Leasing (5321), Other Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing (53249)
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510), Industrial Trucks, Tractors, Trailors & Stackers (3537)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Material Handling Equipment MRO (Forklifts, Reach Trucks, Pallet Jacks) (TLAKAHAC)
Keywords
Where VMS Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Stevenage
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
VMS Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Contract Hire: Fixed-term contract vehicle leasing without initial capital outlay. Tailored payment profiles, flexible terms and mileage, complete vehicle build management, and bespoke end-of-life vehicle service. Full repair and maintenance packages available.
- Fleet Management: Outsourced fleet management services including 24/7 operations centre, compliance management (RFL, MOT, fines, O license requirements), and flexible operational procedures. Manages assets owned by VMS or third parties.
- Accident Management: 24/7 accident management and claims handling service acting on behalf of insurance companies, claims handlers and self-insured clients. Includes full repair management, national approved body shop network, replacement vehicles, and third party claims handling.
- Daily Vehicle Rental: Flexible vehicle hire solutions with nationwide delivery and collection. Various vehicle types available including large catalogue of refrigerated vehicles. Flexible hire terms and mileage.
- Vehicle Maintenance: Vehicle compliance management and maintenance services including access to manufacturer dealer networks, national non-franchised repairers, in-house workshop facilities, and fully trained mobile technicians. Bespoke software system for online vehicle maintenance records.
- Refrigeration Sales & Maintenance: Sales and maintenance of transport refrigeration and air conditioning systems. Sole UK distributor of Alex Original products. Flexible PAYG or fixed-term maintenance agreements.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Bespoke contract arrangements |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels6 records
VMS Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
VMS Group provides outsourced commercial vehicle fleet management, contract hire, accident management, vehicle and tail-lift maintenance, refrigeration services (as sole UK distributor of Alex Original units), daily rental, and vehicle disposal. The company manages over 5,000 vehicles for enterprise clients across food retail, pharmaceutical, fresh produce, construction, and foodservice sectors, delivering services through 14 national sites and a 24/7/365 operations centre.
Product overview
VMS Group is a privately owned UK commercial vehicle services company formed in 2002, offering a platform-plus-services model centred on fleet management and contract hire. The core portfolio includes Contract Hire, Fleet Management, Accident Management, Vehicle Maintenance, Tail-Lift Maintenance, Refrigeration Services, Vehicle Disposal, and Daily Rental — unified under the flagship VMS Fleet Management brand. These are complemented by driver services (Telematics, Cameras, Licence Checks, Driver Training), the specialist VMS Refrigeration sub-brand (sole UK distributor of ALEX ORIGINAL refrigeration units), and VMS Fleet Maintenance (in-house workshop and mobile technicians). Digital services include a Client Portal for licence checking and accident reporting, and Used Vehicle Sales. The group manages over 5,000 vehicles in total with over 1,400 in rental.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- 400% increase in delivery volume supported during pandemic
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use VMS Group
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
VMS Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature4 records
VMS Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Kier GroupcoreLong-term partnership for electric vehicle rental. Kier Group is using VMS's 100% electric traffic management truck (Renault Trucks Master Z.E.) and electric welfare vans for highway contracts. Joint development of first UK electric traffic management vehicle and welfare van.
- Renault Trucks UKcoreVehicle supplier providing Master Z.E. electric vehicles to VMS Fleet Management for conversion into specialist applications. Ongoing relationship for electric fleet solutions.
- Clarks Vehicle ConversionscoreVehicle conversion specialist that transforms base vehicles into welfare vans and traffic management vehicles for VMS. Created UK's first Maxus eDeliver9 Welfare Van and first electric welfare van with VMS.
- Paneltex LtdcoreVehicle conversion partner that converted Mercedes Sprinter chassis cabs into box body vans with triple compartment rear box for Iceland Foods fleet.
- Solomons CommercialscoreVehicle conversion partner collaborating with Paneltex on Mercedes Sprinter conversions for Iceland Foods delivery vehicles.
- Alex OriginalcoreTransport refrigeration manufacturer. VMS Refrigeration Ltd is the sole UK distributor of Alex Original range of transport refrigeration and air conditioning units. Exclusive distribution partnership.
- MAR Vehicle SolutionscoreGroup company and vehicle supplier. MAR Vehicle Solutions Ltd is part of VMS Automotive Group Ltd. Supplied Maxus eDeliver9 for welfare van conversion. Also provides vehicle solutions for PHOENIX Healthcare conversions.
- MAR Cooling SolutionscoreGroup company providing cooling solutions. Worked with VMS Refrigeration to create converted Sprinters and Connects for PHOENIX Healthcare.
- Middlesex Cricket ClubminorCSR partnership. VMS supplied the Run Machine, a specially created cricket activation vehicle, to Middlesex Cricket for community outreach programs.
- BidfoodminorCSR project co-sponsor. Bidfood is one of the sponsors of the Run Machine / Middlesex Moves project bringing cricket to children.
- NikeminorCSR project co-sponsor. Nike partnered with VMS and Middlesex Cricket on cricket activation activities including camps in North London.
- Better Leisure CentresminorCSR project partner. GLL Better Leisure Centres partnered with VMS and Middlesex Cricket for Middlesex Moves cricket sessions.
- BOLAminorCSR project sponsor. BOLA is a sponsor of the Run Machine cricket activation project, providing bowling machines.
- Isuzu Truck UKcoreVehicle supplier and ongoing partnership. VMS Fleet Management ordered 37 new Isuzu dual-compartment refrigerated 7.5 tonne rigids worth over £2 million. Isuzu provides nationwide dealer network support vital for rental business.
- GAHcoreRefrigeration system provider. 37 new Isuzu rigids feature GAH refrigeration systems on Coolertech and Polar multi-temperature refrigerated bodies.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
VMS Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- LeasePlan: Large international fleet management and leasing company. Comparable to VMS on the leasing and fleet management core, though LeasePlan operates across many more geographies and customer segments at materially greater scale.
- ALD Automotive: Global fleet management and vehicle leasing player (now part of Ayvens/SG Group). Overlaps with VMS on contract hire and fleet management for UK commercial vehicles, but operates a far broader international multi-brand portfolio.
- Alphabet (BMW Group): BMW-owned international fleet leasing and management business. Overlaps with VMS on contract hire and fleet management, though Alphabet skews more to premium passenger car fleets and operates across multiple European markets.
- Arval: BNP Paribas-owned global fleet services provider with significant UK presence. Competes with VMS on contract hire and full-service leasing for commercial vehicles, but offers a broader multi-country footprint and integrated mobility services.
Direct peers
- Lex Autolease: UK's largest vehicle leasing and fleet management business, part of Lloyds Banking Group. Directly competes with VMS in contract hire and outsourced fleet management for commercial vehicles, with a much larger scale and similar B2B sales motion.
- Zenith: UK fleet management and leasing provider owned by BNP Paribas (alongside Arval). Directly competes with VMS in outsourced fleet management and contract hire for UK commercial vehicle operators.
- Novuna Vehicle Solutions: UK contract hire, leasing, and fleet management provider (formerly Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions). Direct peer on contract hire and outsourced fleet management for UK commercial fleets, with similar mid-market enterprise customer profile.
- Northgate Vehicle Hire: UK-focused commercial vehicle rental and fleet management group. Closest direct peer on LCV/truck rental, contract hire, and maintenance services, competing for the same mid-market and enterprise customers VMS serves.
- Fraikin: Specialist commercial vehicle contract hire, rental, and fleet management provider with UK operations. Directly comparable to VMS on commercial vehicle leasing, refrigerated transport, and managed maintenance services.
Emerging players
- Marshall Fleet Solutions: UK specialist in commercial vehicle refrigeration, conversions, and fleet solutions. Closely comparable to VMS's VMS Refrigeration division and Alex Original distribution, competing for the same refrigerated transport customers.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
VMS Group social profiles
Digital presenceVMS Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
VMS Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
VMS Group subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries5 records
VMS Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
VMS Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about VMS Group
What does VMS Group do?
VMS Group provides outsourced commercial vehicle fleet management, contract hire, accident management, vehicle and tail-lift maintenance, refrigeration services (as sole UK distributor of Alex Original units), daily rental, and vehicle disposal. The company manages over 5,000 vehicles for enterprise clients across food retail, pharmaceutical, fresh produce, construction, and foodservice sectors, delivering services through 14 national sites and a 24/7/365 operations centre.
Is VMS Group a public or private company?
VMS Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was VMS Group founded?
VMS Group was founded in 2002. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is VMS Group based?
VMS Group is headquartered in Stevenage, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does VMS Group make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. Contract Hire is the primary driver. The others are fleet Management, accident Management, daily Vehicle Rental, vehicle Maintenance and refrigeration Sales & Maintenance.
Who are VMS Group's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are LeasePlan, ALD Automotive, Alphabet (BMW Group) and Arval. Direct peers are Lex Autolease, Zenith, Novuna Vehicle Solutions, Northgate Vehicle Hire and Fraikin. Marshall Fleet Solutions is listed as an emerging player.
Does VMS Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for VMS Group.
What industry is VMS Group in?
VMS Group's product category is Fleet Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAHAC, Material Handling Equipment MRO (Forklifts, Reach Trucks, Pallet Jacks). Its NAICS code is 5321 and its SIC code is 7510.