This week saw the opening of Kwik Fit’s new national Fleet Customer Support Centre on the Strathclyde Business Park. The support centre was officially opened by North Lanarkshire Provost Cllr Kenneth Duffy, who joined senior Kwik Fit executives including managing director Mark Slade and fleet director Dan Joyce, as well as members of staff at an event to mark the opening.

Kwik Fit is one of the UK’s largest suppliers of tyre management, servicing and repair support to the nation’s vehicle fleet operators. Since it was first established in North Lanarkshire 25 years ago the operation has grown significantly. The team has expanded to more than 160 people, with staff now providing round-the-clock support, 365 days a year, to more than two million fleet vehicles across the UK.

The expansion of the operation resulted in the company outgrowing its previous headquarters on the Tannochside Business Park, leading to a search for a new property. The expertise within the well-established team is vital to Kwik Fit’s business success and was a key reason for the company being crowned Fleet Supplier of the Year last year by industry publication Fleet News. It was therefore essential that a suitable property could be found locally to ensure a seamless transition to a new location.

The company identified Duart House on Strathclyde Business Park as the perfect location and has spent the last few months installing its bespoke systems and tailoring the modern office space for its requirements. Not only does the new property meet the current needs of the business, it also provides expansion potential for the operation over the coming years.

Cllr Kenneth Duffy, Provost of North Lanarkshire said: “I’m really pleased to be able to officially open Kwik Fit’s new fleet support centre. The company has a long history in the area and it’s great news that a market leading organisation like Kwik Fit has committed its future operations to North Lanarkshire. I’ve been incredibly impressed with what I have seen today with companies across the UK being kept safely on the road by the dedicated team here at Duart House.”

The UK vehicle fleet is getting ever more complex. When Kwik Fit first began supporting fleets in the 1980s, around 50 tyre sizes covered the majority of vehicles. Today, the most popular fleet tyres comprise around 250 sizes, with additional requirements running to more than 1,000 options. In addition to tyre complexity, the move to electric vehicles and increased used of autonomous systems in cars require a greater level of technical expertise and specialist support.

Mark Slade, managing director of Kwik Fit said: “The team here in North Lanarkshire are vital to the day-to-day operations and ongoing growth or our business. Fleet operators and their drivers throughout the UK rely on their commitment and expertise to reduce vehicle downtime and keep businesses running smoothly. Fleet operators are often the early adopters of new vehicle technology, so it is essential that we are able to support them with the latest developments. Over the last 25 years we have continually evolved to meet the demand of our customers and support improved productivity as the team grows. Our new operation is set up to do the same for the next 25 years.”

Note to editors

About Kwik Fit

Established in 1971, the Kwik Fit Group is one of the largest independent automotive parts, repair and replacement specialists in the world. Kwik Fit has over 600 service centres across the UK and more than 200 mobile tyre fitting vehicles, making it the UK’s leading tyre, exhaust, brake and MoT specialist. Details of its range of products and services can be found at kwik-fit.com