Link Group

Who are Link Group?

Link Group (Link) provides impartial and reliable advice on asset finance and vehicle procurement. We pride ourselves on being completely independent of any manufacturer, supplier, finance company or funding method. We regularly assist our clients including local authorities, nhs, housing association etc, with the leasing of technology, vehicle, plant, equipment and machinery assets and provide advice on the most prudent form of funding for asset acquisitions in line with The Prudential Code.

We manage relationships with a national and international market leading panel of third party funders ensuring that we are able to offer our clients the best possible funding, via compliant procurement frameworks, including the very popular the Halton Housing £1 rebate Fleet Procurement Framework.

The core aim of our service is to:-

1. Identify alternative manufacturers capable of supplying vehicles that match our clients’ specification requirements.

2. Obtain indicative discounted capital cost figures for those vehicles.

3. Appraise the alternative funding options for those assets across a range of retention terms.

4. Provide a summary of conclusions and findings as to the most cost effective method of funding the proposed fleet.

Our Approach

We prepare reports to assess the key funding options open to clients for forthcoming replacement fleet vehicles, and will look at the pros, cons and associated costs of outright purchase versus finance lease versus operating lease versus contract hire.

We review the vehicle specifications with the relevant user department and identify suitable manufacturers.

Using manufacturer discounted capital cost figures we the obtain alternative funding rates for assets from appropriate lessors and contract hire providers. These are compared on a present value basis to internal borrowing and the relevant PWLB Annuity Certainty rate.