AN entrepreneur with the motor trade "in his blood" has continued a family dynasty with the launch of a new vehicle repair centre.

Ben Darcy has opened Darcy’s of Durham, a new vehicle repair, servicing, MOT and diagnostics outlet.  He says it will combine what he views as traditional service values with the most up-to-date new analysis and equipment.

Mr Darcy, 34, has invested more than £350,000 in the new venture, creating four jobs in the process, and he has plans to open more branches across the region.

The former Teesside University business studies student is the grandson of Netta and Fred Darcy, who opened their first North Eastern Tyre and Exhausts garage in 1970 in Brotton, near Saltburn. The business expanded rapidly across the North East and consisted of 22 outlets when, in March 2011, it was sold to Stapleton’s for an undisclosed sum.

Mr Darcy, who until November 2011 worked as director of sales and marketing at North Eastern Tyres, said: “I’ve had a long-held ambition to operate my own garage. I suppose it’s just in the blood. I’ve been getting a lot of very useful advice from a number of family members. 

“I have some very specific ideas on what I think customers look for. I’ve worked in the industry for almost 15 years, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who actually looks forward to getting their car serviced. There is, however, a way to make these necessary purchases inexpensive, informative and pleasurable.”

The team at the Pit Lane in Durham City includes apprentice in Mike Cummings.

 

Mr Darcy explained: “Working with cars is all I ever dreamed of as a boy and I’d love to try to inspire new generations into the same thing. Cars have changed immeasurably and the workshop floor is akin to a hi-tech computer lab. I believe that there is a rich vein of young, untapped technology-savvy talent out there who could have wonderful careers in the vehicle industry.”