BEN offers ex-Unipart Automotive employees support
Following confirmation that Unipart Automotive has entered administration with job losses totalling 1,250 BEN (the automotive industry benevolence charity) is offering to support to those affected.
The charity has contacted KPMG, the appointed administrators, and hopes that through them, and its own communications, it can ensure that those who have been displaced know BEN is on hand during this potentially difficult period.
Dexel goes live with CAM UniSerV system integration
The Dexel Tyre Group’s integration of CAM’s UniSerV application suite has gone live. The system is designed to help the commercial tyre supplier to increase job sheet processing efficiency. The system also provides a smoother transactional solution with tablet technology utilised for commercial jobs and breakdowns.
Conflicting views on higher speed limits for trucks
The Government has announced plans to raise the speed limit for lorries on single carriageway roads to 50 mph and the move has generated diametrically opposed views. On the pro side, Transport minister Claire Perry says that the move is part of a package of measures to cut congestion, reduce dangerous overtaking and help get the country moving. Brake, the road safety charity, has expressed serious concerns about the proposed limit increase and the announcement comes as a survey by Brake and Digby Brown solicitors reveals the extent of risky driving on country roads.
Home counties independent tyre dealer, Watling Tyres has signed up to CAM’s UniSerV application suite. The platform will assist the retailer, which is primarily focused on commercial business, in streamlining job sheet processing, saving considerable admin time and cost, and professionalising its operation further.
Unipart Automotive administrator to support staff redundancy procedures
Administrator KPMG will support 1,244 Unipart Automotive staff through the redundancy process. The firm said its team of employment specialists will also put staff in touch with job seeker services. Further information on Unipart Automotive for all interested parties will also be posted on KPMG’s Insolvency Portal.
New Boco Tyres JV aiming to increase Tyre Giant penetration
Tyre wholesaler Bond International has increased its direct involvement with the online tyre retail website Tyre Giant (tyregiant.com). Launched in September 2011, Tyre Giant was supplied by Bond from its inception, while the running of the operation was subcontracted to another retailer. Now, Bond has entered into a joint venture with digital marketing company Colewood Internet named Boco Tyres, which has taken over Tyre Giant operations, as well as those of Asda Tyres, the online tyre retail portal of the Big Four supermarket operated using Tyre Giant’s retail system. Boco Tyres has signalled its intentions to grow the online retailer’s penetration with a new price-match guarantee and a plan to grow the network of dealers within the Tyre Giant network. Tyrepress asked current director of Tyre Giant Philip Hankinson about the current plans to increase the online retailer’s business.
Autopart Tyres helps tyre dealer to improve profits and customer service
MAM Software reports that tyre dealer Paul Jarrold Tyres Ltd has experienced significant growth since using MAM Autopart Tyres, MAM Software’s flagship business management solution for the tyre industry. Paul Jarrold has now extended its operations by purchasing the premises next door as a result of opening new revenue streams and enhancing the customer experience.
33 Unipart Automotive sites were transferred to Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance in a deal that saved 361 jobs. The full list of sites taken on by Andrew Page and the Parts Alliance is published below, while the remaining 147 sites that are currently inactive follow.
Unipart Group ‘saddened’, restates distance from Unipart Automotive
The Unipart Group has released a statement on Unipart Automotive’s descent into administration and the partial rescue by a joint deal between Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance. While expressing sympathy for the company’s plight, the Unipart Group sought to delineate the boundary between the Unipart business units of which it remains in control and the stricken parts distributor.
Andrew Page, The Parts Alliance buy 33 Unipart Automotive branches
Automotive parts business Andrew Page has rescued around 350 jobs, spearheading a deal with The Parts Alliance to takeover 33 branches of Unipart Automotive, which entered administration today. Andrew Page has taken 21 branches and The Parts Alliance a total of 12, with the terms of the deal as yet undisclosed. Andrew Page rejoined major UK and Ireland buying and distribution group The Parts Alliance following a six year absence on 8 July, coinciding with Unipart Automotive’s announcement that it had put the administrators on standby, a clear signal that some kind of move was on the cards. Tyrepress estimated Andrew Page possessed a growing share of the automotive parts market of around seven per cent at the time; the company will expect today’s news will help to grow that share quickly, having increased its existing network of 93 branches by 23 per cent.
After two weeks of intensive rescue talks, Unipart Automotive has failed to find a buyer and called in administrators KPMG. Immediately afterwards administrators sold part of the business in a joint deal to car parts/workshop equipment distributors Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance. The deal will see Andrew Page acquire 21 branches and The Parts Alliance a total of 12. A total of 361 staff employed across these sites have transferred to Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance with immediate effect. Andrew Page announced it had rejoined The Parts Alliance on 8 July, the same day the news broke that Unipart Automotive had put the administrators on alert and was seeking out a rescue plan.
Car production in the UK has been described as “robust” by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, who report that manufacturing volumes rose 3.5 per cent year-on-year between January and June 2014 to 791,314 units. Output in the month of June was 136,419 vehicles, 3.7 per cent higher than a year earlier and a result driven by a 16.5 per cent growth in production for the UK market.
Vacu-Lug enters 30th year of recycling company tyre supply
Vacu-Lug is marking its 30th year supplying tyres to Viridor, one of the UK’s leading recycling, renewable energy and waste management companies. The tyre and retread supplier will continue to support Viridor’s long term waste and recycling contract with the Greater Manchester Waste Disposal Authority. The company has more than 200 vehicles in the fleet, including 110 lorries, 55 front end loaders, 14 fork lift container handlers and 22 wheeled excavators, managing more than 30 locations, including household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) across the Greater Manchester area.
Despite EC assurances, unease about eCall system exists
The European Commission says reports that UK motorists will be monitored by ‘black box’ technology are “not true”, however although draft legislation for the eCall system has been approved, the commission may find convincing motorists of its purpose harder than it thinks.
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