Car repair shop expands

A car repair shop looks to the future with a move to a Leicestershire business park to help with increased demand for their services.

Alan Wilson, who bought his ChipsAway franchise in 2012, decided to move the car-care-centre from its base in Ashby to an industrial park in Coalville.

The £5.5m Apollo Court Business Park was developed by Leicestershire County Council to boost business in the town by supporting start-ups and firms looking to expand.

The authority invested in Apollo Court as part of its corporate asset investment fund.

Alan Wilson said: “We are expanding as a business and have been really successful so far. We have around 4,000 customers and we needed more space to reflect the growth in our business.

“We could only fit two vehicles at a time into our Ashby unit. We have now doubled in size and we can now comfortably fit four/five vehicles into our spacious new centre.”

Alan’s ChipsAway franchise spans from Swadlincote through Ashby, taking in Ibstock, Whitwick, Coalville and continues right through to Ratby, Groby and part of Glenfield. 

He said: “It was really important that we did not move too far away from our previous base. This brand-new facility is perfect for us and the area we have moved to is more central to our geographical area, which is more convenient for all our customers." 

Now, Alan is looking to the future and his son, Sam, 18, has purchased the business and joined the team as a trainee technician. 

Alan said: “Sam has bought the business from me and ChipsAway are delighted to have added him to our experienced team. 

“Sam wants to grow the business, repair more cars on a daily basis and hopefully in the future hire another technician or an apprentice.”

Councillor Byron Rhodes, cabinet member for finance and property, said: “I’m delighted to see ChipsAway move into Apollo Court. 

“Supporting businesses is important, particularly in the current climate, as it helps boost our local economy and creates jobs. 

“ChipsAway staying within Leicestershire proves how attractive the county is as a place to not only work, but live, invest and socialise. We have been very pleased with the level of occupier interest in the units and hope to make some more announcements soon.”

The venture is part-funded by a £2.4m grant from the Local Growth Fund, a pot of government funding awarded to the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited for projects that benefit the local area and economy.

Kevin Harris, chair of the LLEP board of directors, said: “It’s great to see businesses moving into Apollo Court. The addition of ChipsAway is particularly pleasing as it is a small, family run business that will benefit hugely from its new location. 

“At the LLEP, one of our key aims is to support the development of the business environment here in Leicester and Leicestershire, which is why we invested £2.4 million of our Local Growth Fund into Apollo Court, and continue to support similar developments.”