Around 300 managers from across The Parts Alliance converged in Manchester last week for the trading group’s first national conference. The event was held in the Concorde Conference Centre underneath the iconic supersonic plane on Friday 22 March. The day was packed with engaging and interactive content, all designed to build a sense of community among the sprawling nationwide network and communicate a future strategy with staff at its heart.
The Parts Alliance has appointed chief financial officer Neil Croxson president and chief operating officer, effective immediately. He succeeds Peter Sephton, who is retiring after ensuring an orderly transition over a three-month period.
The Parts Alliance’s South West Garage and Workshop Show has returned for 2017 even ‘bigger and better’. Storm-like conditions failed to deter well over 500 garage owners and mechanics from visiting Sandy Park, home to English Premiership side Exeter Chiefs, on the evening of Thursday 19 October. The event hosted garage customers invited by the nine Parts Alliance branches in Somerset, Devon and Cornwall – including the recently opened Midsomer Norton Branch.
The Parts Alliance has completed its acquisition of Blackburn Brakes Holding Limited, owner of BBC Superfactors Ltd (BBC), a leading distributor of vehicle parts in the Lancashire market. BBC, an affiliated member of The Parts Alliance, has a network of seven locations across the county. Employing more than 150, it makes more than 1,000 deliveries per day to commercial customers with approximately 97 per cent of orders delivered within one hour. It has been in business for more than 30 years.
The Parts Alliance has acquired BMS Superfactors, their Greater Manchester-based associate member. BMS Superfactors has four branches in Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and Dukinfield, collectively employing over 120 staff.
The Parts Alliance has been named CAT magazine’s ‘Factor Chain of the Year’. The Award came on Friday 10 February at an industry awards ceremony at Manchester’s renowned Lowry Hotel. The national trading group was represented by the eight branches in its South West region. They were shortlisted in recognition of a dramatic turnaround in fortunes under The Parts Alliance’s ownership. The branches were all previously part of the Unipart network, but have since been developed with significant investment from The Parts Alliance.
HgCapital-owned Parts Alliance Group has acquired Waterloo (Motor Trade) Ltd. The company will continue to trade under its own name, serving customers in the East Riding of Yorkshire, with branches in Hull, Beverley and Bridlington. Waterloo was founded in 1928 by current managing director Jim Munday’s grandfather.
Peter Sephton, chief executive of The Parts Alliance, has been shortlisted as a finalist in the prestigious EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.
He is one of 34 leaders from businesses across the Midlands who will compete in the regional final on Tuesday, 14 June, at Birmingham Council House.
The Parts Alliance has launched autoparts vending machines in partnership with the AA. The machines are designed to provide the UK’s biggest breakdown provider with access to parts on the road, 24 hours a day. The PA PartVend concept is being piloted in a number of strategic locations, with the machines electronically linked so The Parts Alliance can tell instantly which products are being used and when to replenish the stock.
The Parts Alliance has been recognised for providing the ‘Best UK Automotive Transactions in 2014’ in Deal Feed International’s inaugural Sector Success Awards. The website’s new business awards examine mergers and acquisitions across the globe, asking a panel of financial professionals and writers to judge award winners across various segments. The Parts Alliance’s victory comes on the back of “the group’s rapid growth and financial performance as well as other key strengths such as customer service, employee development and overall strategy,” according to the Alliance’s statement.
The Parts Alliance has made its eighth acquisition, buying out associate member Car Parts & Accessories (CPA). Established in 1995, CPA employs 120 people in 12 branches serving Hampshire, Sussex and Surrey. It has a delivery fleet of 60 vehicles and a turnover approaching £12 million.
A second former Unipart Automotive director has been recruited by The Parts Alliance. Joining south west regional director Paul Dineen, James Geldart will be responsible for the Eastern Alliance’s 21 branches, serving independent garages in London and the South East of England. Geldart was previously a divisional director with Unipart Automotive (UA), and was appointed with effect from Monday, 1 September.
The Parts Alliance business group has completed its acquisition of the Worcestershire-based Bromsgrove Motor Factors (BMF). It follows the acquisition of The Parts Alliance by HgCapital, the investment company with a £2 billion automotive fund. The Parts Alliance’s new chief executive Peter Sephton said he was excited to be welcoming new colleagues from BMF to the HgCapital backed Parts Alliance group ‘family’.
The Parts Alliance group has been acquired by investors HgCapital (HgC). The acquisition of the business, along with its central facilities in Solihull and central warehouse in Smethwick, was completed on Friday 4 April. Peter Sephton has become chief executive, pledging “to build an industry leading board of industry experts” to drive the enhanced business forward. Sephton retains his role as Group CEO of the HgCapital-owned Parts Alliance members which trade under local brand names and are organised into The Western Alliance and The Eastern Alliance.
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