Headcount and turnover soar at cosmetic vehicle repairs business
Smart Repairs.co.uk, an independent cosmetic vehicle repairer, has achieved a turnover rise of 25% this year.
The Leeds company, based at 18,000 sq ft freehold premises in Weaver Street, has also surpassed its target of creating over 100 new and sustainable jobs.
Overall turnover is set to rise to more than £9.5m by the end of this year.
Managing director Darryl Short explained: “Since 2019, we have achieved sustained growth across the UK, disrupting the fragmented cosmetic vehicle repair sector, creating over 110 new jobs, buying brand-new premises in Leeds and working closely and rewarding our mobile technicians all over the country.
“We expect to employ 140 within three years, with turnover rocketing to £12m. This increase is totally sustainable as we steadily grow our share of the cosmetic vehicle repair market year-on-year. Currently we carry out 165,000 vehicle repairs a year.
“Our turnover in 2020 was £3,582,865; in 2021 it was £5,403,674; in 2022 it was £7,530,000; and this year it is projected to be £9.5m, a year-on-year increase of almost 25%.”
The company has recently extended its leadership team, employing a key account manager in the Midlands and, from this month, a financial controller.
Smart Repairs has already committed to buy 15 new vans early next year, an investment of £800,000. This year the company has bought 21 vans, investing a total of £1.2m in vans and equipment.
Short added: “We truly operate nationally now. We are really gaining a foothold in the South West and this has been our fastest growing area.
“Meanwhile the business has continued to grow in the North West, North East, Thames Valley and Scotland.
“In 2024 we will focus on expanding our reach in all areas as the demand for our national coverage continues.”
Founder and co-chairman Dan Besau said: “It has given me tremendous pleasure to see how the company I founded in 1995 has developed.
“We have gone from strength-to-strength in recent years. The mobile business has proved popular and successful and, when I spotted a gap in the market for high-end alloy wheel repairs, I had the confidence to go for that, too.
“We already have a formidable client list, including many of the quality Yorkshire dealerships such as Bentley Leeds; BMW Leeds, Harrogate, York and Bradford; Mercedes Leeds, Bradford, Huddersfield and York; Ferrari Leeds; Aston Martin Leeds; and Audi York and Harrogate.”
Co-chairman Phil Newstead said: “Our expansion plans, which have gathered pace post-Covid, are very carefully targeted at geographical areas which are not especially well served by cosmetic vehicle repair companies.
“These plans have been massively backed up by the talented and hard-working team leaders and technicians we have been able to hire.
“The second-hand car market remains buoyant, despite the cost-of-living crisis and the current economic uncertainty.
“The outlook for the sector is positive and we have every reason to be confident about the future, though we will never be complacent.”
