A Nuneaton business is on target to double its customer list in a year and add to its workforce after benefiting from the support of the Skills Escalator Fund.
Attleborough Auto Centre, located in Hammond Close, is owned by Andrew Pethick. Established in 2007 as a sole trader, the business expanded by adding a second employee in 2023 before relocating to larger premises in January following Andrew’s successful acquisition of his MOT licence.
He credited the move and expansion to the funding received. Andrew Pethick said: “The training I received thanks to the Skills Escalator Fund enabled me to make the move to this site and open an MOT bay here without needing to find someone to do the testing. The fund was invaluable – the budget for our move really spiralled, so it made a significant difference.”
Andrew hopes to recruit in the future to meet the needs of drivers in and around Nuneaton. He added: “The MOT training was crucial because the MOT scheme is a very serious scheme. We are working for the Ministry of Transport and issuing Ministry of Transport documents, so our site, qualifications, conditions and my managerial status are all heavily scrutinised.”
Councillor Rob Howard, Portfolio Holder for Economy at Warwickshire County Council, said: “It’s great to see that the Skills Escalator Fund has proved so valuable to Andrew. The training he underwent has allowed him to grow and develop the business and set goals for the business’ continued growth. This is exactly what the Skills Escalator Fund is for.”
The Skills Escalator Fund provides businesses with funding to develop and upskill their staff in a wide range of areas, supporting overall business growth.
Source: Coventry Telegraph