Dalkeith Retail Centre expands into Dundee with £3m investment

Dalkeith Retail Centre is expanding its footprint into Dundee thanks to a £3 million investment package.

The business, operating under the name Your Ford Centre, will use the funds to acquire its fifth location, establishing itself as Dundee’s primary Ford franchise. The expansion is set to create 20 new jobs.

The business is led by founders William and Janina Short, supported by their sons David, Ian, and Marek, grandson Ben, sales director Derek Thomson, and aftersales director Graeme Salmond.

Under their leadership, Your Ford Centre already has locations in Cupar, Peebles, Dalkeith, and Kirkcaldy, employing over 100 staff members.

The investment, secured through Royal Bank of Scotland, will facilitate the purchase and refurbishment of the Dundee site, which is expected to open later this year.

The new Dundee Ford Centre will offer a range of services, including the sale of new and used cars, used commercial vans, and full workshop facilities.

David Short, managing director of Dalkeith Retail Centre, expressed pride in the expansion, crediting the hard work of the entire team and saluted the long-standing relationship with Royal Bank of Scotland, which has supported the business since its inception over five decades ago.

“As a family business, we’re built on trust - something which has been central to our longstanding history with Royal Bank of Scotland since the early days of W&J Short. We’ve worked together for over five decades now and their support and advice has played an integral part in our growth so far.”

Mark Goodall, relationship manager at Royal Bank of Scotland, added: “David and the rest of the team have built a hugely successful business from the ground up and it’s been a privilege to help them on that journey. With a reputation for offering exceptional customer service across their other four dealerships, this new site marks an exciting new chapter in the growth of Dalkeith Retail Group by enabling them to become Dundee’s main Ford franchise.”