SENTA steering Independent Cars on the road to success

An independent car showroom has hit top gear only a year after setting up, after receiving help from Sheffield Enterprise Agency (SENTA).

In its first year of business, Independent Cars achieved a turnover of more than £2million.

The business was set up by Steve Roebuck and Ian Brown - who have more than 40 years experience in the industry between them - after they became disillusioned with the practices employed by large dealerships.

Said Steve: “We’ve both worked in large franchises for many years and felt the manufacturers were becoming very dictatorial. The branding guidelines and amount of money being spent on flash showrooms was becoming ridiculous.

“Those kinds of costs have to be passed on to the customer and I believe that’s unfair. They’re going over the top and the consumer is paying the price.”

A change in the block exemption regulations opened up the market and meant that showrooms did not have to be tied to any one brand.

Steve, who first trained as a mechanic before working his way up to a main board position in a franchise dealership, said: “I don’t think a lot of people fully understood what the changes meant but I saw the opportunity to be able to set-up on my own and offer truly impartial advice on every single make of car.

“The large franchises can be tied to recommending one of the few brands they offer so it can often be difficult for people to get an accurate and unbiased opinion. But we now do exactly that.”

Steve admits that leaving his high-ranking job at one of the area’s best known dealerships to set up on his own was nerve-racking and not something he entered into lightly.

“It was quite tough. I have young children and as every parent knows that brings many bills to pay! so I had to think about it carefully but it’s been phenomenally rewarding.”

And since opening Independent Cars at Hydra Business Park, Ecclesfield, Steve has had very positive feedback and already has ambitions to grow the business even further.

“The comments and testimonials we’ve had from customers have been great and are exactly the reasons that we wanted to do this.

“We even had a visit from one of the trading standards officers because he was concerned that he hadn’t been told about us by anyone! He said by the time someone in our industry has reached the three month mark, he’s had calls about them and we’d been going for nine at that point! He had a look at our set up and was impressed - in fact, he came back and bought a car from us!”

Independent Cars are able to sell all makes of car, have expanded to include a servicing department and can also provide contract hire and leasing to both business and private users.

And despite having only just celebrated their first year in business, Steve has hopes of further expansion. “Within the next 12 months we’d like to open another branch,” he said. “And within ten years we’d love to have ten!”

When first setting up, Independent Cars turned to SENTA for support and Steve said the help they received was invaluable. “SENTA have been great,” he said. “Our business advisor Mandip has looked after us from the start and has continued to give us support in various guises.

“The training that’s on offer at SENTA is fantastic. I know from experience that it can be hugely expensive but they were able to secure training for us, free of charge.

“They have been really great, right from the moment I first went down there. In their reception are testimonials from other businesses they’ve helped establish which gives you confidence because it’s quite scary going out into the big wide world on your own.”

Sheffield Enterprise Agency (SENTA) is part of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and provides fully integrated support to new business start-ups and businesses up to two years old.

Its start-up programme is funded by Yorkshire Forward under contract with Business Link South Yorkshire.

SENTA Enterprise Director Sandra Edwards said: “Steve and Ian know their industry inside out and had great entrepreneurial vision to see the potential created by the changes in the law.

“We’re delighted to have been able to support them in reaching their goals.”