Sapphire

Independent truck and van repairer Sapphire Vehicle Services has opened its second all-makes workshop.

Sapphire, which operates 19 vehicle maintenance units across Britain, has converted its former vehicle maintenance unit in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, into a service depot which is open to all.

The launch follows the opening of its first workshop in June this year at Tamworth, Staffordshire. The strategy marks the next step in what the firm describes as an “aggressive push” for more business, with other facilities already under development and due to open in the near future.

Sapphire Vehicle Services maintains upwards of 28,000 trucks and vans for its clients, in dedicated vehicle maintenance units across the country.

The Hatfield site’s four-bay workshop is equipped with pits, lifts and a brake roller-tester, while the building also houses a parts store, offices, and driver waiting area.

The facility is open for business every day of the year, around the clock and has a staff of 12 qualified technicians, led by manager Paul Howgego and supported by workshop controller Lewis Simmonds and senior compliance administrator Victoria Bateman. The team also includes an apprentice technician with the company on the hunt for a second apprentice.

Under Sapphire’s apprenticeships trainees benefit from a structured two-year training programme, with continual mentoring support, leading to a nationally recognised qualification and prospects for ongoing development.

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Howgego said: “We’ve invested a huge amount in setting up this site. The building has been fully refurbished and is now kitted out with diagnostic equipment and tooling for all leading vehicle brands.

“We carry a stock of genuine OEM parts, and both the workshop and our fully equipped mobile roadside assistance van operate around the clock. We also have a dedicated driver whose job is to collect vehicles from customers, and deliver them back as soon as they’re finished, to help keep downtime and inconvenience to an absolute minimum.

“I think customers will be pleasantly surprised at the depth and breadth of the back-up we can offer, on either a pay-as-you-go or contract basis, at highly competitive prices.”

The Hatfield facility also offers MOT preparation and has technicians specifically trained to work on electric vehicles.

The firm also provides customers with vehicles on contract hire, lease or spot rental, as well as full fleet management and vehicle disposal services, through its parent company, Northern Ireland-based Ballyvesey Holdings.

Sapphire Vehicle Services managing director Perry Reeves, said: “There are literally tens of thousands of trucks and vans out on the roads, which are kept running smoothly by Sapphire workshops.

“So even customers who have never heard of us can have complete confidence in our exemplary standards of support.

“Our Hatfield site is already generating a great deal of interest in its local area, and we’re looking forward to opening more workshops very soon. To any operators looking for the finest back-up, with exceptional value and a friendly face, I say get in touch – we’d love to hear from you.”

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