Leeds vehicle repair specialist moves into top gear with record-breaking year

Leeds based independent cosmetic vehicle repairer Smart Repairs has announced a record-breaking year, with turnover growing by 34 per cent.

The company, which recently bought 18,000 sq ft freehold premises in Weaver Street, expects that next year will see turnover “soar” to £7m, with net profit set to exceed seven figures.

Darryl Short, managing director, explained: “This has been a game-changing year for us. We had previously concentrated on looking after customers and clients in the north of England, but this year we have expanded our operations to service the whole of the UK.

“One of the keys to our rapid, and sustainable, expansion has been our flourishing new relationship with Insurance Underwriters Fortegra, which has come about because of a number of factors.

“Fortegra were looking for a working relationship with a company that had a proven track record for outstanding levels of service, a company which wanted to grow with their own client base and showed a genuine desire to go above and beyond.

“This contract is gaining momentum by the day, with repairs of more than 300 cars per week for this one client alone. Significantly, Fortegra is one of the many new clients added to our portfolio this year.”

A spokesman for Fortegra commented: “We were looking for the right partner to provide services for its repair insurance customers in the North of England. Smart Repairs stood out as a professional and accomplished company with well-equipped and scalable operations.

“Since then, Smart Repairs has expanded its network from the north of England to national coverage. The quality of repair has been superb, and the feedback we receive from our customers has been excellent. We at Fortegra are very grateful to have a dedicated partner that takes the utmost pride in their work and customer service.”

Smart Repairs, which boasts “most of Yorkshire’s major car dealerships” among its clients, is co-owned by its founder Dan Besau and major investor Phil Newstead. The company carries out 180,000 vehicle repairs a year. The company currently employs 92 staff across the UK with that number expected to rise to 110 by the end of this year.

Dan Beau concluded: “We are very proud and very humbled by these wonderful testimonials. Every single member of our staff works exceptionally hard to achieve and maintain the highest of standards. It is vital this continues as we expand across the UK.”

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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