Fleet management boss: ‘Innovation is driving Birmingham region’s economic success’
The boss of Multifleet Vehicle Management has highlighted how practical innovations are continuing to drive the Birmingham region’s future economic success.
Steve Whitmarsh, chief executive of Multifleet, the leasing company which trades as runyourfleet from headquarters on Solihull Business Park, was writing for the 2025 Birmingham Economic Review.
In his thought-leadership contribution, Mr Whitmarsh says: “When people think of innovation, it is easy to think of AI and digitisation, forgetting that innovation takes many forms and is completely sector agnostic.
“Whilst life sciences, engineering and software development lend themselves well to innovation, where would we be without innovation in the humblest everyday settings? In our own kitchens we have toasters, kettles, microwaves, dishwashers and, the latest must-have, the air fryer…
“Often taken for granted, these everyday items are the result of innovation – delivering solutions to problems, making life easier and more efficient, and driving change in all our lives.
“Innovation has always been a driving force in Birmingham and the West Midlands, shaping its journey from industrial roots to breakthroughs in life sciences and its longstanding reputation for automotive innovation.
“Powered by its universities, accelerators and investment zones, the region is continuing to proudly foster experimentation and growth. Initiatives like the West Midlands Innovation Programme and its Flexible Innovation Fund are seeking to equip the region with the skills and infrastructure to become a national leader in innovation.
“The challenge will be to ensure these opportunities are made available to all so Birmingham and the region can foster future talent and capitalise on being the youngest major city in Europe. The arrival of HS2 is set to further accelerate this innovation landscape – connecting Birmingham to London in under an hour, and dramatically improving the region’s access to talent, investors and collaborators.”
Mr Whitmarsh also described how innovation is deeply embedded in runyourfleet’s own operations: “Our own platform, recognised by the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, exemplifies how scalable, data-driven solutions can transform fleet management for organisations of all sizes.
“By addressing complex rental needs, enabling predictive maintenance and offering flexible leasing and salary sacrifice schemes, we have developed a cloud-based system to quickly adapt to customers’ evolving requirements.
“AI now underpins our next phase of development, supporting smarter decision-making, automating routine processes and enhancing safety. As the transition to electric vehicles accelerates and regulatory demands grow, we must continue to innovate, supporting businesses with the agility and insight required to adapt and thrive.”
Mr Whitmarsh added: “As we prepare for the next chapter in Birmingham’s economic story, innovation is not just part of the city region’s history but will be the lifeblood of its future that is being built here, in Birmingham.”
The 2025 Birmingham Economic Review was produced by the City-Region Economic Development Institute at the University of Birmingham, in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
runyourfleet is a fleet management and vehicle leasing company with a customer base of more than 1,200 businesses across the UK, providing fleet management services for 32,000-plus vehicles.
Customers range from accountancy firms to NHS ambulance services, using a wide range of services including fleet management, leasing, rental and salary sacrifice schemes.
For further information please contact:
Joanna Lees, Marketing and PR Manager, Multifleet Vehicle Management,
Remus 1, 2 Cranbrook Way, Solihull Business Park, Solihull B90 4GT
Steve Whitmarsh, chief executive of Multifleet, the leasing company which trades as runyourfleet from headquarters on Solihull Business Park, was writing for the 2025 Birmingham Economic Review.
In his thought-leadership contribution, Mr Whitmarsh says: “When people think of innovation, it is easy to think of AI and digitisation, forgetting that innovation takes many forms and is completely sector agnostic.
“Whilst life sciences, engineering and software development lend themselves well to innovation, where would we be without innovation in the humblest everyday settings? In our own kitchens we have toasters, kettles, microwaves, dishwashers and, the latest must-have, the air fryer…
“Often taken for granted, these everyday items are the result of innovation – delivering solutions to problems, making life easier and more efficient, and driving change in all our lives.
“Innovation has always been a driving force in Birmingham and the West Midlands, shaping its journey from industrial roots to breakthroughs in life sciences and its longstanding reputation for automotive innovation.
“Powered by its universities, accelerators and investment zones, the region is continuing to proudly foster experimentation and growth. Initiatives like the West Midlands Innovation Programme and its Flexible Innovation Fund are seeking to equip the region with the skills and infrastructure to become a national leader in innovation.
“The challenge will be to ensure these opportunities are made available to all so Birmingham and the region can foster future talent and capitalise on being the youngest major city in Europe. The arrival of HS2 is set to further accelerate this innovation landscape – connecting Birmingham to London in under an hour, and dramatically improving the region’s access to talent, investors and collaborators.”
Mr Whitmarsh also described how innovation is deeply embedded in runyourfleet’s own operations: “Our own platform, recognised by the King’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation, exemplifies how scalable, data-driven solutions can transform fleet management for organisations of all sizes.
“By addressing complex rental needs, enabling predictive maintenance and offering flexible leasing and salary sacrifice schemes, we have developed a cloud-based system to quickly adapt to customers’ evolving requirements.
“AI now underpins our next phase of development, supporting smarter decision-making, automating routine processes and enhancing safety. As the transition to electric vehicles accelerates and regulatory demands grow, we must continue to innovate, supporting businesses with the agility and insight required to adapt and thrive.”
Mr Whitmarsh added: “As we prepare for the next chapter in Birmingham’s economic story, innovation is not just part of the city region’s history but will be the lifeblood of its future that is being built here, in Birmingham.”
The 2025 Birmingham Economic Review was produced by the City-Region Economic Development Institute at the University of Birmingham, in partnership with the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce.
runyourfleet is a fleet management and vehicle leasing company with a customer base of more than 1,200 businesses across the UK, providing fleet management services for 32,000-plus vehicles.
Customers range from accountancy firms to NHS ambulance services, using a wide range of services including fleet management, leasing, rental and salary sacrifice schemes.
For further information please contact:
Joanna Lees, Marketing and PR Manager, Multifleet Vehicle Management,
Remus 1, 2 Cranbrook Way, Solihull Business Park, Solihull B90 4GT
