Solus, the south east bodyshop group recently acquired by Norwich Union, is set to begin an expansion drive.

The company is recruiting general managers to drive the business forward at new sites as Solus takes its body repair model to other parts of the UK. It already has nine sites in London and East Anglia and last year turned over £38m.

Those appointed will be put in charge of bodyshops repairing around 2,500 vehicles a year, with teams of up to 50 staff.

This development comes just weeks after Norwich Union, the main work provider, paid an undisclosed sum to buy the network. Industry observers predict Norwich Union is attempting to create a ‘cradle to grave’ solution for motoring customers. It already owns the RAC, car check provider HPI and Oneswoop.com, an online car retailer.