PROOF that a living room start-up can still grow into a thriving company operating an SME fleet lies in the story of Star Medical.

Created by its chairman Tim Webster and managing director Lucy O’Neill in 2002, Star Medical has grown to become one of the largest operators in its sector with offices in Bath, Maidenhead and Manchester, plus a network of affiliates and trusted suppliers nationwide.

What started as a recruitment agency for the pharma industry is now six influential business units providing an array of resourcing solutions, across the pharma, medical devices and technology, healthcare communications and clinical research sectors.

And despite this relentless growth, Star Medical still found time to enhance staff working conditions – in The Great Place to Work® Institute’s UK Best Workplaces Programme 2012 it was ranked the 3rd best small company to work for.

Now ready to take on bigger challenges, Star Medical has chosen Lexus hybrid cars for its new vehicle fleet to reflect its own company policies focused on environmental responsibility and technical innovation.

The solus deal will see the company take delivery of CT 200h and IS 300h models, cars that will be used by its sales representatives for visiting healthcare professionals. Star Medical is just one of many SME fleet operators choosing both compact and larger hybrid cars which are now making a compelling business case and likely to figure in our 2015 SME Car of the Year Awards.

Webster said: “We share the same passion, customer focus and commitment to innovation as Lexus, making this an ideal fit for our business. We work with the best people in healthcare, so it is extremely important for us that our contractors and clients are also aligned with premium, luxury brands, demonstrating their value to our business.”

The proven environmental efficiency of Lexus hybrid power was another significant consideration: “We take our responsibility to the world around us seriously. This partnership with Lexus enables us to reduce our impact on the environment and positively influence our contractors’ attitudes towards environmental responsibility. At the same time the low costs associated with Lexus hybrids help us increase our profitability, making this a very positive step for our business and therefore our customers.”

The company’s new vehicles are on a two-year renewal contract and are being supplied by Lexus Cheltenham.

If, like Star Medical, your company is about to address its transport options and needs a company car policy click here to read how to create a policy for a small business.

There’s also some essential information you will need to know about contract hire here.

Money saving vital statistics of the Lexus hybrids

Lexus ​CT 200h

• ​Priced from £20,995
• Top Speed: 112mph
• 0-62mph: 10.3secs
• Fuel economy: 78.5mpg
• CO2 – There’s a choice of 82g or 94g models
• Typical company car tax band is 11%

 Lexus IS 300h

• Priced from £29,495
• Top Speed: 125mph
• 0-62mph: 8.3secs
• Fuel economy: 65.7mpg
• CO2 – Choose between 99g, 103g​ and 109g models
• Typical company car tax band is 14%