Member Article

This entrepreneurial father and son team have launched a new car garage in Heywood

A new car garage specalising in MOTs and air conditioning servicing has launched in Heywood headed up by local entrepreneur Michael Gbasai and his son Jordan.

Heywood Auto Clinic has opened its doors on Manchester Street in Heywood on the back of a £10k loan from Business Finance Solutions (BFS), a delivery partner of the government’s £310m Start Up Loans programme.

Formerly an IT worker, Michael fostered his passion for cars by training as a mechanic and service technician in his space time, efforts which eventually led him to becoming a vehicle maintenance manager for a major car rental company in the North West.

Now the Heywood entrepreneur is looking to build what he describes as a ‘solid local business’ having utilised his Start Up Loan to install new equipment and testing kits at his new garage, and also has plans to invest in a breakdown truck so that he can undertake recovery work.

Following the launch, he commented: “Being able to access the Start Up Loan from BFS means that I am now able to build Heywood Auto Clinic with my son, bringing a high quality garage service to the area.

“We are now ideally placed to grow the business, being on the site of a previous garage, close to major transport links and sharing a forecourt with a popular car wash business and we want to establish Heywood Auto as a solid local business that delivers great service for our customers.”

Roger Seddon, head of lending at BFS said: “Michael typifies a real trend that we are seeing with start ups at the moment as more and more people decide to follow their business dream and access the support that is out there to enable them to change direction in their career completely.

“Michael’s business model, coupled with the finance and the practical support that we have worked closely with him to provide, put him in a great position to start, build and grow his family business.”

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