Auto Services Perth is looking to the future

Auto Services Perth Ltd is a family-run garage business situated in Perth, Scotland, known as the gateway to the Highlands. It has three sites within the Inveralmond Industrial Estate, and in November 2021 celebrated 40 years in business.

Stephen Crozier started the business in 1981 with his father Jim, now deceased. They initially worked from a rented lock-up in Perth town centre. Stephen, his wife Elaine, and their son Mark are the current company directors with Mark being the driving force behind the recovery side. They now operate 14 recovery trucks and five roadside service vans, and hold contracts with the AA, Green Flag, RAC and Call Assist as well as working for the Police, and all the main dealers in the area. Have a look the website, at www.asp.scot

Stephen purchased the first property in Ruthvenfield Place, Inveralmond Industrial Estate, in 1992. Moving from a town centre out to an industrial estate was a huge move – and they wondered if their customers would follow them. Fortunately, they did, but it was challenging times. By 2008 Auto Services Perth Ltd had outgrown its base in Ruthvenfield Place despite being extended, and so a purpose-built workshop was added at Bertha Park View, but 12 years later it too was bursting at the seams, so a third site at Ruthvenfield Way has been added, with planning permission for another new workshop.

Over the years the workforce has increased and its recovery operation expanded and diversified. The company currently has over 60 employees, and its workshops are open from 7am-midnight, Monday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on Saturday. These hours are obviously beneficial to commercial vehicle drivers who need their vans during the day. They can drop off their vehicle when they finish work and collect it, serviced and/or repaired, at 7am the next morning, with no downtime. Recovery is 24/7, with drivers working a shift pattern.

Steve has always been a believer in not having all his eggs in one basket and moved from mainly car repairs to specialising more on commercial vehicles, and has expanded into vehicle sales and rental. Auto Services currently has sales and service Franchises for Isuzu pick-ups and Maxus, as well as aftersales servicing and repair for Iveco, Mercedes Benz vans, Fiat Professional, VW Commercial and Vauxhall Light Commercial. A Mercedes technician based in Inverness provides cover as far north as Wick and over to Orkney, Shetland, Skye and the Western Isles for Mercedes Service 24.

Mark, now 33, has worked in the garage since he was 14 and gained his HGV licence aged 18. Despite having an honours degree in Civil Engineering, he decided working in the family business was more exciting. He is driving the recovery operation, and has trained two apprentices in-house, as there is currently no training scheme available.

Things are also changing with more electric vehicles on the road and Auto Services is investing in training for its technicians, to enable them to service and repair these vehicles. Three charging points have been installed at Bertha Park.

40 years is a remarkable achievement and Auto Services Perth is already planning for its 50th anniversary. It has bought its own barrel of whisky which is currently maturing, ready for 2031 when it will bottled for staff, customers and franchise associates as a way of celebrating 50 years in business.