Deals: NC Auto Services Limited, Unit 10 The Portman Center, 37-45 Loverock Road, Reading, Berks, RG30 1DZ. www.ncautoserviceslimited.com, [email protected], (0118) 996 2742.

The boss: Nick Connor. “The Boss, leader of the fat monkeys and director. I did a traditional engineering apprenticeship from the age of 16 and have always had a passion, sometimes obsessive, for all classic, custom and race cars, motorcycles, engineering and metalwork.

What is it about ? “We maintain, inspect and repair all makes of vehicles, from classic cars to modern times. We strive to provide fantastic five star personalized service every time – we believe this is lacking in most garages / workshops these days.

What products / services do you offer? “Maintenance, MoT repairs, diagnostics, welding, manufacturing repairs, tires / monitoring, general repairs, restoration and preparation of racing / competition cars. ”

How and when did you start your business? “I created NC Engineering in November 2007 by taking a leap of faith and resigning from a job I had held for 20 years and hated.

“The business has been successful and has grown to a point where we now have a fantastic new shop and renamed NC Auto Services Limited in April 2014.”

How many people do you employ? “At the moment we employ three people, but we hope to hire another person for the workshop when we can. ”

Who are your clients ? “Our specialist work attracts clients from all over the south because of our connection to the race tracks and the custom / hotrod scene. However, local customers are our bread and butter. Many new customers come by word of mouth and have been dissatisfied with their previous levels of service provider.

“A lot of our work is ‘mum’s cab,’ the second family car to school, after school clubs and shopping trips.”

What sets you apart from the competition? “Our commitment to the satisfaction of our customers. We will always go the extra mile to deliver on time.

“Tire repairs / maintenance / fitting outside of working hours if that is the only time the work can be done.

“Our fantastic 1950s retro reception is complemented by a jukebox and images of our motor racing and our involvement in the restoration work of the Beaulieu Motor Museum. Free courtesy cars and pickup / delivery service.

How has the recession affected businesses? “The business started at the start of the recession and has grown from the start. We believe we have a winning formula, we have experienced constant growth year after year and we are always looking to expand our customer base.

What do you think of the future? “The future is always a challenge, but we will always strive to grow, to reinvest in new equipment, products, training and to always move forward. ”