Westerleigh Car Centre in Bristol is set to increase staffing levels as it gears up to manage workload in what has been ‘its busiest year ever’.

The independent garage, which employs 10 staff, is owned by Neil Skuse who puts the business’ success down to thinking outside the box when it comes to growth and investment.

After investing a six-figure sum in new premises turnover doubled, but Neil realised he had to mirror that presence online too.

He appointed specialist independent garage website creator, Garage Services Online, which further fast-tracked and facilitated the garage’s growth.

Westerleigh Car Centre now appears in around 75,000 Google results every month for specific garage services – the equivalent of being seen by 10% of the population of Bristol. Of those 75,000, 90 percent were on page one of the search results.

Neil said: “We’ve had our busiest year ever and a big factor in that is the business the website consistently brings in. We’re always working at capacity and are about to employ more staff.

“The website analytics are always impressive but what really matters to us is the amount of enquires we get. Direct calls from the website alone average four per day and then we get at least two online enquiry forms a day too. I’d say we convert 75 percent of all incoming enquiries into bookings so the website pays for itself many multiple times over.

“I can’t see how any business can be without a website these days. You need to be online, there amongst your competitors and the main dealers. I absolutely wouldn’t be without mine. The huge number of referrals it generates it vital to our success.

“It not only enhances the performance of the business; it helps me to employ and retain high calibre staff. In turn, that’s good for business and customers too.”

Jim Lang, founder at Garage Services Online, said: “It’s always satisfying to see the real difference a bespoke website can make to an independent garage.

“We know that 70% of people would rather use an independent than a main dealer, but the problem they have is actually finding one. That’s why it’s imperative that garages are as easy to find online as they are in the street.”