Fix Auto buys sites in Henley-on-Thames and Newport

Fix Auto UK has bought Fix Auto Henley-on-Thames and St Woolos Auto Repairs, in South Wales, from franchisees, as it creates a company-owned bodyshop group.

The latest acquisitions take the organisation’s number of wholly and part-owned repair centres to 10.

St Woolos Auto Repairs will operate as Fix Auto Newport and sit within the organisation’s portfolio of wholly owned repair centres that includes Fix Auto Daventry, Fix Auto Colwyn Bay, Fix Auto Barnsley, Fix Auto Crawley, Fix Auto Paignton, Fix Auto Liverpool South and Fix Auto Castleford. The Network also holds a majority share in Fix Auto Goole.

Fix Auto UK managing director Ian Pugh said: “Newport was a strategic purchase. While we have two Franchise Partners doing a fine job in South Wales, we needed to provide additional support in the region. Strategically and commercially, while we have had to invest significantly in the business, Fix Auto Newport has provided a solution to our needs in the region.”

Fix Auto Henley-on-Thames joined the network more than a decade ago, though Pugh has had close links with the Butler family since the early 1990’s, serving the business during his time as a field engineer for a major insurance company. 

He said: “I have long held a huge amount of respect for Jamie and his father, Colin, who started the business more than 50 years ago. When Jamie approached me saying he was stepping away from the industry altogether and offered us a first refusal on the business, we had to act.

“I know Jamie received considerable interest from other parties, but he was adamant he wanted the business to stay within the Fix Auto UK family which really does underline the commitment and loyalty he has had to the network.”

In January, North-east based dealer Sherwoods Motor Group joined the Fix Auto repair network.