BCA consults Derby, Peterborough and Sandwich staff over planned restructure

Used car remarketing giant BCA is consulting staff at its Derby, Peterborough and Sandwich facilities ahead of a planned restructure following a review of the “scale and capability” of its UK operations.

The business, part of the Constellation Automotive business which also owns cinch and WeBuyAnyCar, 19.9% of Lookers and soon Marshall Motor Group, would not confirm whether the sites were destined to close and insisted it would continue to invest heavily in the scale and diversification of its physical estate in a statement issued to AM today (July 21).

Commenting on the opening of consultation with its staff in Derby and Peterborough BCA, which currently operates 28 remarketing centres across the UK, BCA said: “Like all businesses, BCA needs to evolve it’s operating model in line with the changing external environment and needs of our customers to ensure we continue to provide market leading service and support.

“In line with these developments, we have taken the opportunity to review the scale and capability of our remarketing network to ensure we fully support our customers’ strategic objectives.

“This review highlighted the need to rebalance some areas of our network to position ourselves appropriately across the UK and identified the need for restructuring our footprint in the East of England.”

On developments at its Sandwich site, in Kent, BCA suggested that the facility had been impacted by the current car manufacturing supply issues in its role as, predominantly, a refurbishment centre for a single OEM.

It said: “In line with the changing external environment and the well documented impact on new car supply, BCA remains focussed on evolving it’s operating model to ensure that we continue to provide market leading service to all of our customers.”

In relation to all its restructure plans, BCA asserted that it would not comment further during the consultation period with employees.

The remarketing giant’s restructure is the latest issue to highlight difficult formal proceedings involving its workforce.

In May last year national newspaper The Independent reported that BCA could be set to face a legal case over hourly pay rates equating to as little as £2.30-per-hour for its delivery drivers.

AM understands that legal proceedings in the case, pursued by law firm Leigh Day, will be heard in court next January.