Since starting their business in 2019, Paul Gravell and Matthew Davies’ meteoric rise within the world of car repairs was recently capped off when Bodyshop Magazine, the industry’s leading publication, named their operation as the best performing medium sized repair centre in the country.
The duo have every reason to celebrate. Whilst they were well respected for their skills having originally teamed up working for the same company, during the height of Covid lockdown they started repairing key worker vehicles from a make-shift single car lock-up.
As their reputation grew, Paul, a panel technician by trade and Matthew, a spray painter decided to form their own business originally called Killashine when restrictions were lifted.
Their rising reputation caught the attention of Fix Auto UK – Britain’s leading network of independently owned repair centres – which they joined during the summer of 2023 and transitioned into Fix Auto Swansea West.
Forward to today, the business in Fforestfach, has been named as the best performing medium sized repair centre in the country.
Having grown rapidly, the duo now employ 35 people having expanded their business during the summer. The business has added an existing repairer near Porth which has since rebranded as Fix Auto Pontypridd and across the two sites an average of 110 vehicles a month have been repaired with scope for more.
In front of a packed audience attended by the vehicle repair sector’s leading lights, Paul and Matthew stepped up on stage at the Metropole Hotel, Birmingham, to receive their honour.
Shortly after stepping up on stage, Matthew said:
“It really is an incredible moment. We are having to pinch ourselves when we step back and think about what we have achieved in such a small amount of time.
“Five years ago, the two of us were literally repairing one car at a time really to fulfil our time during lockdown and here we are, today, now considered among the best in the business.”
Commenting on Matthew and Paul’s success, Simon Wait, Bodyshop Magazine Editor, said:
“What those guys have achieved, and indeed continually achieve, in such a short space of time is nothing short of inspirational. It is evident just how much they care not just about their business, their ability to repair vehicles to the highest calibre but also about this industry of ours. They truly are worthy winners.”
Ian Pugh, Managing Director for Fix Auto UK, said:
“What an incredible journey Matthew and Paul have been on since those dark days in Covid when they started out! Their ambition is only matched by their ability to deliver.
“What they have built up in such a short timeline really is a credit to them and the team around them.”
[Lead image: Fix Auto Swansea]
