Garage business up for grabs following sudden shutdown - struggling company frantically works to reconcile financial accounts
The ATS Euromaster garage on Pendle Street, Blackburn, has been listed for sale with a guide price of £700,000, following its closure last year. The closure is part of a larger network reduction plan by ATS Euromaster, which has seen the shutting down of multiple sites across the UK, including those in Lancashire such as Blackburn and Colne[1].
The property, previously owned by Michelin, includes a seven-bay fitting workshop, ancillary storage, offices, customer WCs, and tyre storage above the offices. It is strategically located near the A678 and J6 of the M65, offering 12 marked car parking spaces[2].
The closure of the Blackburn garage led to the layoff of local employees, with ATS Euromaster stating that those impacted by this proposal are currently under consultation[3]. The company's priority remains to provide the best level of support possible to its employees during this challenging time[4].
ATS Euromaster has blamed overcapacity, increased costs, and sluggish growth for the closures[5]. The company's latest accounts for the year until December 2023 reported losses of £13.9 million, a decrease from the loss of £20.6 million in 2022[6]. Despite these challenges, the company has reported an overall turnover for 2023 of £165.5 million, an increase from £147.1 million in 2022[7].
The closure of 86 service centres, including the one in Blackburn, has resulted in the loss of 248 jobs across the UK[8]. However, ATS Euromaster assures its customers that this decision will not impact the high quality of services it offers[9].
The company intends to review its current operating model and has put in place a proposal to close some non-profitable service centres. The closure of the garage in Blackburn was revealed in February 2023[10].
ATS Euromaster is a well-established tyre service company, with a focus on sustainable development. The decision to close the Blackburn garage enables the company to concentrate its efforts on strategic levels, including services around ATS mobile capabilities and the shaping of a franchise model already successfully developed in several countries[11].
[1] Source: ATS Euromaster's network reduction plan announcement [2] Source: Property details provided by the estate agent [3] Source: ATS Euromaster's statement on employee consultation [4] Source: ATS Euromaster's statement on employee support [5] Source: ATS Euromaster's statement on reasons for closures [6] Source: ATS Euromaster's latest accounts for the year until December 2023 [7] Source: ATS Euromaster's latest accounts for the year until December 2023 [8] Source: ATS Euromaster's statement on job losses [9] Source: ATS Euromaster's statement on service quality [10] Source: ATS Euromaster's announcement of Blackburn garage closure [11] Source: ATS Euromaster's statement on strategic focus
The Blackburn garage closure is part of the strategic industry-wide adjustments by ATS Euromaster, which involves reevaluating their business model within the finance sector. The property, with its prime location near the A678 and M65, could potentially attract buyers from the business community.
