Rye Motors was conceived and began trading in 1973 after Les Turner-Laurent had finished his apprenticeship. He had qualified as a fully trained mechanic and he began repairing cars, vans and trucks in a small tin garage behind his house. After a time he moved location of his small repair business into Ryecroft Farm (hence the name Rye Motors) which was situated in Ashton in Makerfield, close to Wigan. As soon as Les had cleared out all of the chickens and pigs he turned the farm into a garage! After seventeen years of successful trading Les needed larger premises to be able to handle the amount of business coming his way. Les moved out of the farm and into a purpose built vehicle maintenance facility with a seven bay workshop and offices on two levels. This is now Rye Motors head office at Ashton.
When the depot was fully equipped the company began to specialise in commercial fleet maintenance of vans, trucks and trailers. From such humble beginnings the company has gone from strength to strength and is now expanding on a national basis.
Louis Turner-Laurent
Over the last 30 years the Rye Motors Group has expanded into the largest independent vehicle maintenance services provider in the UK, currently maintaining in excess of 8000 cars, vans, trucks and trailers for a wide range of fleet operators and commercial customers, both in our own facilities and also operating the clients workshops as required.
We currently have three principal operating centres in Ashton (Wigan), Earlestown (Warrington) and Trafford Park (Manchester).
At Ashton we have a purpose-built seven bay workshop on a one-acre site providing vehicle maintenance services to a customer base of approximately 80 small and medium sized fleet operators. This facility is also a Bosch service centre, offering full car MOT, diagnostics and service facilities.
At Earlestown we operate a ten bay commercial vehicle workshop facility on a 4.5 acre site. Providing a full service facility to a wide range of commercial vehicle customers. DHL trailers are maintained from this facility as well. As a part of the workshop, we also operate a bodyshop and painting facility for car and commercial vehicles. Operating from these premises are also three mobile workshop vans offering roadside attendance and onsite servicing if required.
At Trafford Park we operate a five bay workshop on a 24 hour, five and a half days a week basis and maintain the distribution fleet for Wincanton, Argos, DHL, Maxilead Metals and a wide range of commercial fleet operators at this site. This facility also maintains third party vehicles on a retail basis, as required by other customers in the Greater Manchester area. The site is a 'class 4 & 7' (car & van) MOT station. We also offer 24 hour roadside assistance and breakdown service, as well as onsite servicing as required.
Our other facilities are located at Liverpool, Nottingham and Cheshire.
The Group currently enjoys a customer base of approximately 600, ranging from small independent operators to large blue chip companies, operating fleets in excess of 2000 vehicles and trailers. We have various pricing/charging arrangements according to individual requirements and adopt a flexible approach to all our customers needs.
Rye Motors (Van & Truck) Limited is registered in England and Wales with company number 03146477. The registered office is South Lancs Industrial Estate, Redgate Road, Ashton In Makerfield, Wigan, Lancashire, WN4 8DT. VAT No. 659 7554 76.
