Car retailers could save up to 25% on refurbishment and construction costs following recent tender submissions.

Keir Edmonds, managing director of motor retail construction company MCS, said recent tender returns from sub-contractors are showing the effects of reduced demand across all industries. 

“This time last year sub-contractors had more work than they could cope with which inevitably led to increased margins being applied to tender returns. 

Projects that have been tendered recently have received much more interest with the numbers of companies making returns almost doubling. 

“Those keen for the work are visibly reducing margins and labour costs,” said Edmonds.

Further reductions are anticipated in the next few months as prices for all metal-based components start to fall due to the worldwide downturn.

“MCS submitted a return of just under £1.5 million against an automotive client’s budget of £2 million - proof indeed that there has never been a better time to upgrade,” he said.