West Leeds-based Smart Repairs, the country’s largest independent cosmetic vehicle repairer, has announced a record-breaking year.
The company, which recently bought 18,000 sq ft freehold premises in Weaver Street, Burley, has seen its turnover grow by 34 per cent to £7m, with net profit set to exceed seven figures.
Darryl Short, managing director, said: “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.
“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.
“The quality of repair has been superb, and the feedback we receive from our customers has been excellent.”
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 and currently employs 92 staff across the UK, with that number expected to rise to 110 by the end of this year.
