Global Autocare drives ahead with relocation
FLEET operator Global Autocare is expanding into new premises as it gets into gear for its next phase of growth.
Finance and operations director David Sadler joined Global last May to work with owner Geoff Bloore to grow the business founded in 1997.
The company, which counts daily rental, contract hire, maintenance, fleet management, vehicle movements, storage and sales amongst its customer offering, operates within both the corporate and trade markets and is expanding to a new site on Gelderd Road in Leeds.
Clients include Zenith, Lex, Alphabet, Principle Group, Lloyds Banking Group, KPMG and Carlsberg together with regional and local businesses around the Yorkshire area. The company currently has a fleet of more than 1,100 daily rental vehicles in addition to its longer term contract fleet.
Global said the move to the 157,000 sq ft site will significantly add to the property footprint of the business, enable further expansion, create new jobs and improve the working environment for the 60 strong team.
While the business had enjoyed consistent year-on-year growth, Mr Sadler said it was ready for a “new growth trajectory.”
He said: “Global is a national organisation with a strong local presence. We are fast-growing but look to safeguard the family culture Geoff has worked hard to build. To date, it’s been about preparing for growth. The move to the Gelderd Road facility will see us shift our plans up a gear – it’s a very exciting time.”
Mr Sadler worked with David Reed and Dave Smithies from the NatWest Leeds Commercial Team to secure the funding for the purchase of Global’s fourth premises.
This compliments its partner company, Lombard, which has provided asset finance funding which has helped Global grow its fleet over the past couple of years.
Relationship director Jonathan Plaxton led the Lombard team.
Leeds-based industrial property specialist Gent Visick sold the building to Global Autocare on behalf of Threadneedle.
Director Andrew Gent said: “The property was sold to Global Autocare following an informal tender.
“The level of interest in the property is clear evidence of the increasing scarcity of supply of standing stock in the West Yorkshire market.”
Andrew Steel, of Michael Steel & Co in Leeds, has advised Global Autocare for a number of years and helped the company with the deal.
Mr Sadler added: “We were pleased that the NatWest and Lombard teams took the time to understand how our business operated to ensure that they were able to deliver the best solution.
“Our model is such that we don’t have a direct competitor but the NatWest team understood the bespoke nature of our operation and what we needed to deliver our long-term strategy.
“Global has achieved some impressive growth over the past six months and is well on track to meeting its aspiration of doubling in size by 2016.”
