A cosmetic vehicle repairer is targeting expansion across the UK following a record-breaking year.

Smart Repairs, which recently bought 18,000 sq ft freehold premises on Weaver Street in Leeds, is planning to hire 100 new technicians across the country this year.

It follows a year of growth in 2021, with turnover rising to £5m from £3m in 2020, despite the challenges of Covid.

This year turnover is forecast to reach £7m, with net profit set to exceed £1m. During the past three years, the company’s compound asset growth rate (COGR) has increased by 24 per cent.

Smart Repairs is co-owned by its founder Dan Besau and major investor Phil Newstead. The company carries out 180,000 vehicle repairs each year.

Phil Newstead said: “These are tremendously exciting times for the company. The move to our superb new Falcon House premises in Weaver Street, close to Leeds city centre, has given us much more space and has put us in charge of our destiny.

“Clearly the global pandemic had its challenges last year, but one of its consequences was a boom in the second-hand car market, which naturally led to a great deal more work for us. We managed to stay open and working most of the time, despite the difficulties of the various lockdowns.

“We are now expanding across the UK this year, with a special focus on the M25, Essex, the North West, the North East and Scotland. We are now hiring experienced mobile technicians to help with this expansion drive, which will see full UK coverage by the end of the year.”