Commercial Repair Centre gears up for growth With Yorkshire Bank backing

10th December 2012

An expansion into a new workshop has been completed by a West Yorkshire van and light commercial vehicle repair and service business to accelerate its growth.

Vancare Ltd, Pudsey, has built new 15,000 sq ft premises – the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire – after gaining backing from Yorkshire Bank’s Business & Private Banking Centre in Leeds.

The launch of the new £1.2m workshop in Grangefield Industrial Estate this autumn will enable the business, founded in 2009 by directors and joint shareholders, Ryan Cocker and Keith Guthrie, to create three new jobs with further growth expected.

Keith Guthrie, sales director, said: “A key reason for our growth is that the economic climate means that most operators are keeping their vehicles for longer. This is the case with owner-drivers as well as large national fleets and public services. This has resulted in a greater demand for our services, to the extent that we plan to open another branch in Sheffield in 2013.
 
“The move to new premises has transformed our business and would not have been possible without the support from Yorkshire Bank which was prepared to finance an expanding business in the current climate and came forward with the best proposition.”

Services offered by Vancare Ltd from the new workshop include the service, repair and MoT testing of vans and light commercial vehicles, along with special online diagnostic services for Volkswagen and Mercedes vehicles. The company, which already employs eight technicians and five support staff, also has a separate remanufacturing facility and supplies reconditioned engines, gearboxes and axles to several national fleets.

Keith Guthrie added: “We offer our services to the whole spectrum of van owners and operators, ranging from local companies with one van, up to national fleets such as Tesco and other supermarket shop-and-drop vehicles.
 
“We operate mainly in West and South Yorkshire and across the north of England for major emergency repairs such as engines and gearboxes. Our turnover has grown from £200,000 in 2009 to £900,000 today and the new premises will enable us to grow the business further

Steve Roe, corporate banking, director, Yorkshire Bank, said: “Vancare is a fast-growing business and we believe that this enterprise, which has a commitment to quality, service and value for money, can continue to expand even in challenging economic conditions.”