Since Nicky Morgan became Education Minister there have been numerous policy changes and initiatives to improve the shape and direction of education in the UK.

Just one of these is the way in which careers education for both primary and secondary school students has been prioritised in response to 2013’s NEET figures for young people.

Initiatives and schemes have since been set up to ensure that students get a better opportunity to experience business and the world of work long before they leave compulsory education.

Schemes such as Young Enterprise and Primary Futures aim to put schools and local businesses in contact with one another so that the children can experience business in action.

But, despite these schemes, schools are still finding it difficult to connect with businesses.

The problem arises when there aren’t any, or are very few, businesses in a school’s local area suitable for students to visit. And so for schools to provide the students with engaging careers education they are forced to look further afield.

Now if your school has a means of transport which enables students to visit businesses out of the immediate area then this is fine. But a survey has revealed that over 10% of schools don’t have appropriate transport such as a minibus available to them.

Of these schools, the main reason for not having a school minibus is the cost. And understandably so.

The cost of a minibus not only includes the vehicle itself, but of course the insurance, tax, maintenance costs… and so on.

Which is why we have developed and introduced a facility to lease minibuses to schools.

It is an arrangement which very often makes it possible for schools to fund the minibus through a small payment each month rather than having to find a large capital sum for an outright purchase. We can also take over responsibility for maintaining the minibus if you wish us to.

Benchmark Leasing specialises in the supply and maintenance of school minibuses. If you are interested in the benefits of a minibus do call us on 01753 859944 or click here to see what we can offer.

Purchasing a minibus costs money, lots and lots of money. Money that most schools just don’t have. Not now, not next week, not the week after…

And indeed, after taking into account the additional maintenance costs that come with the responsibility of owning a minibus, even considering such a purchase is unimaginable for most schools.

Which is why we have developed and introduced a facility to lease minibuses to schools.

It is an arrangement which very often makes it possible for schools to fund the minibus through a small payment each month – and, I am delighted to say, it has been an enormous success with well over 150 minibuses supplied through our facilities since we launched the scheme.

In some cases, where trips are paid for by contributions from parents and the PTA, it is possible to allocate a part of those contributions towards the cost of the minibus, thereby reducing the funds being deducted from the school’s capital account.

One of the other main attractions of leasing a minibus from us seems to be that schools don’t have to worry about maintenance as the contract requires us to keep the vehicle fully operational at all times.

A new minibus is a valuable asset which enables the school to arrange beyond the classroom activities and is also a statement to prospective parents about the breadth and scope of the school’s vision.

Benchmark Leasing specialises in the supply and maintenance of school minibuses. If you are interested in the benefits of a minibus do call us on 01753 859944 or click here to see what we can offer.