SMH Fleet Solutions new £10 million operations centre in St Helens is set to open in July.
The 20-acre development, based near Ravenshead industrial area, will provide comprehensive workshop and refurbishment facilities, as well as secure storage, vehicle inspection, a logistics management base as well as a state-of-the-art imaging studio to support its online auction operation.
SMH provides comprehensive fleet management services such as demonstration management, company car management, pool fleet management, vehicle movement and secure vehicle storage to car manufacturers, contract hire and leasing companies, motor dealers and major fleet operators.
Once open the facility, which can store in excess of 3000 vehicles, will allow the Group’s auction company CD Auction to offer a processing point for its northern customers, rather than move cars to its Midlands head office.
Vehicles will be processed and imaged, then be sold online from CD Auction’s Corby headquarters and then delivered out to the buyer from the new facility, saving on transport costs for clients.
And, the development expands upon SMH Fleet Solutions footprint across the UK with sites in Bedford, Corby, Gloucester and Worcester; the Bedford site opened in 2017 with a £20m investment in upgraded facilities.
Martin McAuley, managing director at SMH Fleet Solutions commented: “The opening of this site is another significant milestone in our ambition to be the leading supplier of comprehensive services to the UK fleet industry.
“Housing the latest efficiency-saving technologies and a full range of tailored support services, the new site in St Helens demonstrates our commitment to consistently innovate and deliver excellence for the benefit of our entire customer base.”