Fix Auto UK reaches 150 repair centres as founding franchise partners Stephen and Sam Smith expand their portfolio to five sites with a new Lancashire facility.
Fix Auto UK’s latest network milestone coincides with a new investment by one of its longest-standing franchisee families. Stephen and Sam Smith, who joined the network in September 2005, are preparing to convert a former cotton mill in Darwen, Lancashire, into a 12,500-square-foot vehicle collision repair facility operating as Fix Auto Blackburn.
The new centre will add to the father-and-son team’s existing locations in Bradford, Keighley, Leeds South and Leeds North, extending their presence across the region and highlighting the role of multi-unit franchise partners in the network’s expansion.
The development highlights the contribution of multi-unit franchisees to the network’s growth, with established partners reinvesting in additional locations to extend their geographic reach and repair capacity.
Ian Pugh, Managing Director of the Advantage Group of Companies, which includes Fix Auto UK, said the 150-centre milestone was particularly meaningful because it had been achieved by two of the network’s longest-standing franchise partners. He praised the Smiths for their continued investment and entrepreneurial commitment, describing their expansion as an example of the opportunities available within the franchise network.
Sam Smith said the family was proud to reach the milestone after more than two decades with Fix Auto UK. He highlighted the support and relationships developed through the network, adding that its franchise model enables independent repair businesses to retain their local identity while benefiting from the strength of a wider organisation.
The new facility will occupy a former late-19th-century cotton mill that previously operated as a roller-skating venue. Its redevelopment will bring the property into use as a modern collision repair centre, strengthening the franchisees’ presence in the Lancashire market.
Founded in Canada in 1992, Fix Auto has developed an international franchise network connecting independently owned collision repair businesses under a common brand. Its model combines local business ownership with access to operational support, technical training, repair processes and relationships with insurers and vehicle manufacturers.
Fix Auto UK began its operations in March 2005, when Fix Auto Dagenham became its first franchise partner. The network has since expanded across the country, providing collision repair services to insurance companies, fleet operators and retail customers.
The UK business is part of Fix Network, whose wider portfolio includes automotive mechanical repair, glass services and property restoration brands. The international group operates across multiple markets, including Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Middle East.
Fix Auto UK’s expansion comes as collision repair businesses face growing technical demands linked to increasingly complex vehicle systems, changing repair requirements and insurer expectations. For independent operators, joining a franchise network can provide access to established business processes, technical resources and commercial relationships while preserving local ownership.
The Smiths’ fifth centre demonstrates how long-standing franchise partners can drive network expansion through reinvestment and multi-site ownership. With its 150th repair centre milestone, Fix Auto UK continues to build its national footprint through a combination of franchisee development and local market expansion.
