A father and son team are planning for the future after relocating their car care company to a new, council-run industrial park.
Alan and Sam Wilson have moved their ChipsAway business to the £5.5 million Apollo Court Business Park in Coalville, north west Leicestershire, which opened last year.
The site was developed by Leicestershire County Council to support start-ups and firms looking to expand.
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The site was built as part of the council’s corporate asset investment fund, which aims to improve the local economy and generate income for front line services.
Alan Wilson, who bought his ChipsAway franchise in 2012, decided to move the car-care-centre from its base in Ashby, following increased demand for his services.
The business specialises in car paintwork repairs such as scratches, scuffs and dents.
He said: “We are expanding as a business and have been really successful so far.
“We have around 4,000 customers and we needed more space to reflect the growth in our business.
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“We could only fit two vehicles at a time into our Ashby unit.
“We have now doubled in size and we can now comfortably fit four or five vehicles into our spacious new centre.”
Alan’s ChipsAway franchise spans from Swadlincote through Ashby, taking in Ibstock, Whitwick, Coalville and continues right through to Ratby, Groby and part of Glenfield.
Alan said: “It was really important that we did not move too far away from our previous base.
“This brand-new facility is perfect for us and the area we have moved to is more central to our geographical area, which is more convenient for all our customers.
Count Hall said a range of high-spec industrial units ranging from 1,000 to 9,000 sq ft are still available at Apollo Court.
Coun Byron Rhodes, cabinet member for finance and property, said: “I’m delighted to see ChipsAway move into Apollo Court.
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“Supporting businesses is important, particularly in the current climate, as it helps boost our local economy and creates jobs”.
The venture was part-funded by the Local Growth Fund, a pot of government funding awarded to the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Limited (LLEP) for projects that benefit the local area and economy.
Kevin Harris, chair of the LLEP board of directors, said: “It’s great to see businesses moving into Apollo Court.
“The addition of ChipsAway is particularly pleasing as it is a small, family-run business that will benefit hugely from its new location.
“At the LLEP, one of our key aims is to support the development of the business environment here in Leicester and Leicestershire, which is why we invested £2.4 million of our Local Growth Fund into Apollo Court, and continue to support similar developments.”