Fix Auto UK Spreads Its Wings North in Its Drive to Increase Its Northern Ireland Standing

Fix Auto UK’s recruitment drive in Northern Ireland is gaining momentum with the network signing its second repair centre since the summer with the appointment of MRB Auto Body that will operate as Fix Auto Ballymoney. 

Significantly, the 10,000 sq ft repair centre, which is approximately 15 miles from the historic Giants Causeway, is the network’s first site situated north of Belfast and is ideally positioned between Ballymena and Coleraine which is little under an hour’s drive from Londonderry.  

The appointment follows that of Fix Auto Saintfield in August and Fix Auto Lagan Side in October 2021 which takes the collective amount of bodyshop space in Northern Ireland to more than 26,000 sq ft and a capacity to repair up to 160 vehicles a month. The main bodyshop sits within a four-acre plot surrounded by additional buildings leaving plenty of scope for further development. 

Owner Matthew Balfour, who is investing significantly in the facility in order to join the network, first declared his intention to join in July but has been working towards attaining his BSI 10125 accreditation, one of the prerequisites needed to join the network, which is imminent.   

After investing in the site, which has included installing two new spray booths, one being suitable for commercial vehicles, to sit alongside his original smaller booth, Matthew is now aggressively recruiting to boost his team and has also started work building a new reception and offices.  

“I set up my business 18 years ago and my reputation has been built on repairing vehicles to the highest standard of repair and priding myself on exceptional customer service, but as with the majority of business owners, I am very ambitious and although I believe in what I have created, I realised that I needed to be part of something bigger if I am to fulfil those ambitions which is why I have taken the decision to become part of Fix Auto UK to help me take my business to that next level. 

“The network has been in Northern Ireland now for a couple of years and you can see just how they’re working with the teams at Lagan Side and Saintfield and that cannot be ignored.” 

Commenting on the appointment, Ian Pugh, Managing Director for Fix Auto UK, said: “We always had confidence that, once we’d established ourselves in Northern Ireland which we did when Fix Auto Lagan Side joined us, others will follow and I am delighted to welcome Matthew and his team on board.”

With a 10,000sq ft of workspace and literally acres of additional buildings and space the potential for Fix Auto Ballymoney is truly exciting. Matthew is extremely ambitious. We outlined various requirements we expect of a business and he has delivered on his promises to meet those obligations.