Member Article

National Tyres celebrate over 40 years in Stockport

UK fast fit specialists National Tyres and Autocare is celebrating over 40 years in Stockport.

The company, which has over 230 branches nationwide and employs over 1,400 people, has been Stockport-based since the organisation was founded back in 1971, with the last 20 years spent in Regent House, Orbit Development’s flagship commercial property in Stockport town centre.

Over the past 44 years, Axle Group Holdings - the umbrella organisation for National Tyres, along with tyre distributor Viking International and National Fleet - has expanded the business to accommodate the ever-increasing number of company car drivers, after creating a dedicated contact centre in 2001.

The offices at Regent House now accommodate 100 staff as part of the headquarters operation and contact centre, with a recent redesign of the office space to enable the business to operate more efficiently.

Mike Bourne, Marketing Director at Axle Group Holdings, said: “Stockport offers so much to our business; not only do we have an excellent logistics base for our international suppliers with Manchester Airport being on our doorstep, we have first-rate links to the capital from Stockport railway station, access to major motorway road links to Birmingham and Glasgow, where our sister company is based, and we’re a 20 minute drive from Manchester city centre.”

He added: “The regeneration scheme is also very exciting for us. It will bring a renewed vibrancy to Stockport and hopefully will provide open arms to new organisations looking for somewhere equally convenient and cost effective to invest and base themselves. Stockport isn’t just a town of businesses, it’s a community.”

National Tyres and National Fleet are also supporting the array of local suppliers. The company’s national stationery and office supplies contract is currently managed by Stockport-based Egan Reid, while Axle Group use Stockport-based property management company Fairhurst Estates, who oversee the acquisition and management of all 230 properties. Another local partner is Damar Training.

As part of the company’s commitment to training, 18 staff are currently undertaking a qualification and three new apprentices have joined its Stockport operation. National Fleet is currently looking to recruit a further three apprentices, who will complete the National Fleet qualification alongside a Level 2 qualification in customer service and a Level 2 qualification in business administration, provided by Damar.

Group Training and Development Manager, Graham Atkinson, said: “We are focussed on developing, training and investing in our staff because it means our customers receive the best service and we can build a dedicated team who feel proud to work for the company. I’m extremely proud of our training programme, our apprentices and all those who have used it to further their careers with us.”

National Fleet’s Apprenticeship programme, which is Ofsted tested, was rewarded at the recent IMI (Institute of the Motor Industry) Awards with a second place finish in the Apprentice of the Year category from a field of 30,000 entrants. The firm is hoping to go one better this year with three members of staff entered for the prestigious motor industry accolade.

Orbit Developments Managing Director, Tony Jones, said: “It’s great to see national companies choosing Stockport town centre as their operational base, and I applaud National Fleet for their investment in staff training, which demonstrates their commitment to excellent customer service.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by James Welton .