AM repairer of the year Nationwide Autocentres has increased its portfolio of centres to 219 thanks to the acquisition of three garages in the past three weeks.

The acquisition of Arkell in Birmingham, RAS Services in Derby and Scunthorpe Motorist Centre continues Nationwide Autocentres’ strategic growth plans to grow to a minimum of 400 centres in the UK. 

Nationwide is keeping on members of staff at the three sites, all of whom will be undergoing training to bring them in line with Nationwide’s standards.

Duncan Wilkes, CEO of Nationwide Autocentres, said: “We could actually grow to more than 400 eventually.

“We’re growing at about 25 a year so far. At that rate it’s going to be seven more years until we reach 400 centres.”

It is possible Nationwide might add more than 25 new centres this year with deals agreed for eight more sites, which are now going through a review process.Another five greenfield centres are being built from scratch and are expected to be up and running by January.

Wilkes said that he was in talks with many businesses that were looking to sell up, but admitted that not all of the deals would happen.

He said that his network would continue “doing what they do” in the face of the credit crunch.

“We’re not doing anything differently in the face of the credit crunch because I think the aftermarket sector has been largely unaffected., Willkes said.

“Our garages will carry on doing a good job and sending customers away happy.”

Arkell and RAS Services will be re-branded as Nationwide Autocentres, while Scunthorpe Motorist Centre will continue to operate under the same name.