Halfords relocates Autocentres HQ to Worcestershire head office

HALFORDS has announced it is to close the Solihull head office of its Autocentres business and relocate the operation to its main group headquarters in Redditch.

The Autocentres business was acquired in a £75m deal last year and the firm has been integrating the operation over the last 12 months. The relocation of the head office is one of the last tasks to be completed before the integration is concluded.

Halfords said the breakdown centres were an important part of its growth strategy and there was a great opportunity to develop the Halfords brand in the £9bn car servicing market.

It said working more closely within the group would help build on success and grow the Autocentres network to 300 and beyond.
 
The proposed move would see the Autocentres head office staff link up with Halfords retail counterparts next spring.

Halfords said it anticipated the majority of existing Autocentres head office staff would transfer from the Olton site to Redditch.

The Autocentres operation will continue to be managed, trade and operate as a separate business within the Halfords Group and there will be no changes to the Autocentre proposition or network.
 
Bill Duffy, chief executive of Halfords Autocentres, said: “This is an important proposal for our business. Now the Autocentres have been successfully rebranded and relaunched, the next logical step in our growth strategy is to unite our head office teams under one roof.
 
“Our proposal will help us work closer together within the group which will improve processes, communication and efficiencies.
 
“The experience and quality of the Autocentres head office team has been vital to the progress of our business and we plan for this to continue. Apart from the new office location, with its scope for expansion, in all other respects it would be business as usual.”