Fix Auto has recruited Blade Accident Repair Centre, the Swindon-based bodyshop of the franchised dealer Blade Group, to its network of vehicle repair bodyshops.

The new appointment will trade as Fix Auto Swindon North and will complement the network’s existing Swindon-based repair centre, which will now be known as Fix Auto Swindon South.  

Blade Group managing director Mike Flanagan has recently invested in a second brand new oven for the bodyshop, which is capable of repairing over 30 vehicles a week and has an average key-to-key time of less than five days.

The site has recently attained the BSI Kitemark (PAS125:2011) standard - which is a prerequisite for the Fix Auto Network – and is a Honda approved bodyshop.

Flanagan said: “While the Blade Group has been successfully and rapidly growing over the past 20 years or so, I only established our repair centre in Swindon less than four years ago.

"During that time we have concentrated on building up a highly skilled team and we are extremely proud that our repair key-to-key times are extremely competitive.

“I firmly believe in strength in depth and have long held an ambition of joining a network of like-minded ambitious repairers, but only when our skills and working practices matched the best in the business. That time has now arrived and I am extremely proud and excited to be joining Fix Auto UK.”

Ian Pugh (pictured), managing director of Fix Auto, said: “Bringing the Blade Group’s Swindon bodyshop on board is another major step forward for the business.

"Not only does this appointment provide additional repair capacity in the Swindon area for our insurer clients, it also ensures that we are able to continue to deliver on the key metrics of repair cost control, cycle time and customer service.”