SMART repair centre chain Scuffs, co-founded by former BCH Vehicle Management chief executive Richard Pepper, is to open eight new sites in Britain this year after securing £7.8 million in venture capital.

Established in March 1999, the company operates a total of five centres in Bristol, Reading, Cannock and Enfield and has said it intends to operate 100 sites within three years.

Now with funding from European Acquisition Capital, whose director Paul Downes will become chairman of Scuffs, new sites will be opened in Ipswich, Cardiff, Gloucester, Taunton, Exeter, Newbury, Lincoln and Peterborough during 2000. A Plymouth centre is scheduled to open early in 2001.

The Scuffs operation offers fleets, lease operators and car supermarkets a same-day vehicle refurbishment service designed to maximise resale values.

Pepper said: 'We believe Scuffs has the opportunity to develop a strong brand across the UK to become the 'Kwik-Fit' of the car repair business.'