National Tyres passes 40-year milestone in Stockport

UK fast fit specialists National Tyres and Autocare is celebrating more than 40 years in Stockport.

The company, which has more than 230 branches nationwide and employs upwqards of 1,400 people, has been based in the town since the organisation was founded in 1971.

For the last 20 years the company has been accommodated in Regent House, Orbit Development’s flagship commercial property in Stockport town centre.

Axle Group Holdings – the umbrella organisation for National Tyres, along with tyre distributor Viking International and National Fleet – has expanded the business to accommodate the ever-increasing number of company car drivers, after creating a dedicated contact centre in 2001.

The offices at Regent House now accommodate 100 staff as part of the headquarters operation and contact centre, with a recent redesign of the office space to enable the business to operate more efficiently.

Mike Bourne, marketing director at Axle Group Holdings, said: “Stockport offers so much to our business.

“Not only do we have an excellent logistics base for our international suppliers with Manchester Airport being on our doorstep, we have first-rate links to the capital from Stockport railway station, access to major motorway road links to Birmingham and Glasgow, where our sister company is based, and we’re a 20 minute drive from Manchester city centre.”

Bourne also hailed plans for regeneration of Stockport town centre, saying: “It is very exciting for us. It will bring a renewed vibrancy to Stockport and hopefully will provide open arms to new organisations looking for somewhere equally convenient and cost effective to invest and base themselves.

“Stockport isn’t just a town of businesses, it’s a community.”

Meanwhile, 18 staff are currently undertaking a qualification and three new apprentices have joined its Stockport operation.

National Fleet is currently looking to recruit a further three apprentices, who will complete the National Fleet qualification alongside a Level 2 qualification in customer service and a Level 2 qualification in business administration, provided by Damar.

Orbit Developments managing director Tony Jones said: “It’s great to see national companies choosing Stockport town centre as their operational base, and I applaud National Fleet for their investment in staff training, which demonstrates their commitment to excellent customer service.”