A leading South Wales commercial vehicle dealer has underlined its solid confidence in Newport with its expansion to a new site in the city.
Expanding Commercial Motors (Wales) Limited has moved from its previous centre at Frederick Street in the city to a new 20,000 sq ft location on Corporation Road.
The new premises, identified for the business by Newport chartered surveyors Hutchings & Thomas, was officially opened by former TV Dragon Den’s Hilary Devey CBE. Hilary built up her own personal fortune through astute trading in her company Pallex, a nationwide pallet distribution network, which is a marker leader in this sector and of which she remains chairman.
Commercial Motors (Wales) chairman Roger Sheddick, welcoming Hilary to the new business premises, said the move had been a year in the planning.
“We needed to find the correct new site for our expanding business as we had outgrown the previous location at Frederick Street. The location we have selected is very well located with easy access to the M4 and also Newport’s Southern Distributor Road.”
Commercial Motors (Wales) Ltd. was formed almost five years ago by Roger and Gill Sheddick and Robert and Mary Manchip. Roger and Gill previously owned Newport-based Sheddick Transport. Robert had been sales director for a large Mercedes Benz truck dealership.
The move and expansion has already created three new jobs and an apprenticeship. It is expected that more new jobs will follow as the new business expands.
Roger said: “We have made a significant investment in this expanded business both in terms of acquisition of the site and also in the purchase and installation of the latest workshop equipment. This has all been achieved without any outside funding or support from the Welsh Government.
“The business now has facilities for car, van and bus MOT testing as well as a specialist lane for HGV truck and trailers where VOSA staff can carry out annual MOT tests. This marks a first for Newport as the only other facility is at the Newport Transport bus garage.
“We have bus and coach maintenance and repair in dedicated bays served by specially trained staff.”
The business is a main dealer for MAN truck and bus service, parts, hire and warranty and ISUZU truck for sales, warranty, servicing and parts and stockist for MG Rover parts.
MD Robert Manchip said: “We definitely wanted to stay in Newport but it did take us some time to find the suitable location and premises for the expanding business, which we started some five years ago.”
Commenting on the current state of the economy locally Robert said: “There are certainly signs of the economy picking up but it is still difficult and competitive trading conditions.”
Haydn Thomas, Director of Hutchings and Thomas Chartered Surveyors who handled the deal, said: “Commercial Motors (Wales) Ltd. had a specific and precise requirement for the expanding business which we were delighted to be able to satisfy with the 20,000 sq ft premises at Corporation Road.
“The move from one Newport site to another is a solid vote of confidence in the city by the business and its prospects for the future.”