An award-winning garage in Inverness is to plan a new future for the employee-owned business.
Anderson Clark Motor Repairs, which has been in business for nearly 30 years, has been sold to an employee ownership trust made up of its 14 employees.
The company, based in Carsegate Road, has an annual turnover of £2m and has won numerous independent repair center awards as well as the Investor in People gold standard.
The business is currently owned by the family of Graham and Sheila Clark, who will remain involved as part of the transition to employee ownership. The new management team will consist of an experienced team with Designated Managing Director Neil Johnston, Katie Fraser (Company Secretary) and Alan Reid (Workshop Manager), all of whom have been with Anderson Clark for many years.
READ MORE: GOING FOR GOLD: Inverness business Anderson Clark has been awarded Gold accreditation by Investors in People
Chief executive Graham Clark, who founded the company in 1996 with his late business partner David Anderson, said: “People have always been at the heart of what we do, we have great employees and great customers.
“This was seen as a natural progression, giving the team control over its own destiny and the company remaining in the hands of the people who made it what it is today. Customers appreciate our service, the personal aspect of our business, and the familiar, trusted staff that attends to their motoring needs.
Anderson Clark Motor Repairs is believed to be the first independent motor vehicle repair center in Scotland to switch to an employee ownership model. It joins a growing number of Scottish businesses transitioning to employee ownership.
Research by Co-operative Development Scotland shows that the number of employee-owned businesses in Scotland now stands at 286 – a 47 per cent increase from 2022. The sector contributed £1.471 billion to the Scottish economy, employing more than 7,500 people.
Anderson Clark Director, Alan Reid “Creating trust in employee ownership is the perfect solution for us. It allows us to continue to serve our customers, many of whom have used Anderson Clark Engine Repair for over 20 years, while retaining the same talented employees, some of whom have been part of our team for just as many years.
“We hope to continue Anderson Clark’s success story and maintain the high level of customer service that our customers have come to expect. We would like to thank Graham for this opportunity and wish Graham and Sheila all the best in their retirement.”
Anderson Clark was advised by Ralph Leishman of 4 Consulting, Douglas Roberts and Nimarta Cheema of TLT and Jonathan Innes of Innes and Partners.
Ralph Leishman said: “It was good to see the enthusiastic response from employees to employee ownership, which offers job security and will enable them to continue to provide quality service to customers.”
Douglas Roberts, partner at TLT, commented: “We really enjoyed working with Graham and his team as they explored employee ownership and then implemented it. The values that have made Anderson Clark such a successful and well-known business will be preserved through this exciting next step in the company’s history.”
Jonathan Innes, Managing Director of Innes & Partners Ltd, added: “It has been an honor to support Graham and the team at Anderson Clark Motor Repairs Ltd through this process.
“Anderson Clark is an incredibly successful garage in the Highlands that has won many awards for its customer service. We are pleased that as a result of this transfer of the business to employee ownership, the history and heritage of the business will be preserved.
“This will, of course, enable Anderson Clark customers to continue to receive the best possible service at all times and for its employees to benefit from this success.”
More business news