Aycliffe Today Business Aycliffe Today Business issue 33 | Page 15

The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 15
Gregg Little Testing Centre business
development manager Emma Little and tyre
fitter Paul Bradshaw with the firm’s new
Falken tyres.
Not just a garage... YOUR garage!
By Martin Walker
O
ne of Aycliffe Business Park’s
oldest car repair centres is keeping
thousands of Aycliffe workers
motoring every year.
And thanks to a new deal with Falken
tyres, the sixth-largest tyre manufacturer in
the world, Gregg Little Testing Centre is able
to offer improved tyre services with free tyre
warranties, as well as monthly repayment
plans to cover for unexpected bills.
The family-run firm looks after the cars of
more than 4,000 people, including workers
from a number of Aycliffe employers such as
Gestamp Tallent, Hitachi Rail, PWS, Arlington
Automotive, Tekmar, Innovyn (Ineos),
Husqvarna, Finley Structures, Crafter’s
Companion, Permoid and PTSM.
Not just an MOT garage, Gregg Little
Testing Centre – originally launched in Aycliffe
in 1989 – has been working hard to change
the perception of car garages over the last
three decades.
Their loyal customer base is testament to
that, but they’re continually looking for ways
to improve.
The firm’s business development manager,
Emma Little, said: “Everyone has a bad
perception of car garages, and it’s that image
that we’re always striving to change.
“There’s nothing worse than having to
spend money on your car, it’s the last thing
you want to do and we’re aware of that.
“When your car doesn’t work it feels like a
disaster, especially if you have work to get to
on a morning or somewhere to go, so we’re
saying let us deal with your disaster and ease
the pain. We can come out the same day in
most cases and we have courtesy cars we
can supply.
“We’ll look after the stresses and strains
of repairing your car – whether it’s fitting
some light bulbs or changing an engine –
and we offer the full breadth of car repair
services, tyres, diagnostics and exhausts.
We also look after motorcycles.
“It also makes sense to use a local car
garage closer to where you work than where
you live, especially if you can get your car
repaired while you’re at work, instead of
having to get it done in your own time.
“It’s that added service, which means they
don’t have to leave their workplace. While
they’re at work we’ll pick their car up in the
morning and we’ll drop it off for them in the
afternoon.
“And we always offer fair, honest advice.
We don’t suggest repairs that aren’t needed.”
To help with the cost of running a car,
Gregg Little Testing Centre has two payment
options to spread that cost.
The firm’s Garage Club enables motorists
to spread the cost of servicing, repairs and
MOTs – it includes a service plan which
can be run over a one-to-three-year period.
A typical monthly payment of £40 would
give the motorist an annual budget of £480,
relieving the worry of an unexpected bill.
Gregg Little Testing Centre also has a
separate Payment Assist scheme, which is
an immediate relief for a large repair bill (bills
between £300 - £1000) and can be paid over
a four-month period, with no credit check
required and interest free payments.
Service and MOT packages are also
available from Gregg Little Testing Centre
and they offer all Aycliffe Business Park
businesses and employee a great discount
scheme with 10% off all repair and servicing
work (excluding main dealer parts and tyres)
and MOT’s for just £35.
C