According to car finance news, the retail sector of Ford has been given the backing of a finance industry competency programme. The certificate was passed to the Ford Retail by the Finance and Leasing Association (FLA), who recognised the group as the Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) approved.

The head of motor finance at the FLA, Paul Harrison, said that the award would help to boost consumer confidence to buy finance packages sold through showrooms. The award guarantees that members of staff have a certain level of competency.

Mr Harrison reportedly commented: As the representative body for motor finance providers, the FLA recognised back in 2007 there was a need to set a kite-mark for motor finance .