Member Article

Entrepreneurial Sunderland car lover launches vehicle repair company

North East petrol head Luciana Parker-Jones has started up a new vehicle repair business in Sunderland.

Based in Roker, Luciana the Lady Painter offers a wide range of car refurbishment services, from repairs to minor dents and scratches to a full body respray and polish.

Luciana started the venture after completing a motor vehicle body repair and paint refinishing course at Gateshead College.

The entrepreneurial 22-year-old has followed in the footsteps of her father Steve Jones, a former car paint and respray specialist, and is now busy building a client base of domestic and trade customers. She is already in talks with a car dealership to offer vehicle repair services to its customers.

Luciana, who is originally from Spain, also hopes her entrance into the industry will encourage more women to forge careers in the automotive fast lane.

She says: “I’ve always been interested in cars since my dad showed me what he did for a living. As soon as I fell in love with cars, I knew I’d end up running my own automotive business.

“I worked in a vehicle body shop while I studied at Gateshead College and then operated as a self-employed tradesperson carrying out work for local garages. As interest grew and I started to win more work, it was a natural step to start my own business.

“The course I completed at Gateshead College and the help I received from the tutors gave me the perfect launchpad for this new venture.”

Luciana completed a Level 3 Motor Vehicle Body Repair and Paint Refinishing course at the college’s Skills Academy for Automotive, Engineering, Manufacturing and Logistics, where she acquired a wide range of technical and academic skills.

Students on the course learn how to remove, replace and repair body panels, identify paint defects and work with plastic materials and components.

Katy Malia, automotive tutor at Gateshead College, added: “Entrepreneurial thinking is embedded in all of our learning programmes so that students are equipped with the skills and aptitudes required to run their own business.

“Luciana has shown that women can have a successful career in the automotive sector and we need more females in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) related industries so that companies can plug vital skills gaps.”