The national network unites more than 120 high quality independent garages – with up to 200 expected on board by summer 2015 – led by a management team that has almost 100 years of working in or with the independent garage sector.

The management team and business development partners are supported by IGC honorary president Geoffrey Bray, who founded Fleet Support Group (FSG) in 1987 and oversaw its expansion prior to its acquisition by United States headquartered ARI in December 2011. 

The Independent Garage Cooperative (IGC) has divided the UK into 11 regions with each area represented by one of the business development partners operating as the “eyes and ears of the network” in their territory. 

Chief executive Steve Wadlow says that both fleet operator users and the garages themselves benefit by cutting out the “middle man” through the creation of a co-ownership company in which each individual garage is a shareholder.

He explained: ‘With common aims and objectives relating to standards and service levels and, above all, an absolute desire and commitment to deliver direct to the end-user a genuinely high value for money vehicle maintenance service it means fleet customers always deal directly with the garage owners who deliver the service.’ 

Wadlow added: ‘To compete for business in the retail and medium-to-large fleet market, strength and scale can be the deciding factor. IGC is a national brand that promotes high quality leading-edge service.'

At the core of the co-ownership company is the launch of ServiceLink, IGC’s own maintenance programme, which includes:

• Nationally set rates for labour parts and oil
• Free vehicle collection and delivery
• Free vehicle wash and vacuum
• Free top-ups between services as well as free tyre and vehicle winter and safety checks
• A national guarantee 

In the future IGC anticipates launching other initiatives under the “Link” brand such as TyreLink. It also plans to establish a network of independent garages capable of providing service, maintenance and repair to truck fleets and a network of “associate partner garages” that will service corporate and private customers located in more remote areas of the UK.

IGC launches with customers having the choice of how they manage their accounts and arrange vehicle bookings:

• The core service sees customers accessing the IGC website – www.igcltd.co.uk – to find their nearest network garage and then arrange their own booking
• IGC+, which is specifically targeted at fleets, provides access to IGC’s Wiltshire headquarters’ call centre which will handle vehicle bookings and manage centralised invoicing. 

Furthermore, April 2015 will see the launch of an enhanced IT platform with an in-built authorisation process and specific rules engine.

Wadlow concluded: 'IGC brings together the skills, talent, expertise and capabilities that represent a national garage partnership, delivering a personal, exclusive experience that demonstrates exceptional value and service to customers.'