Solus has launched a new car repair centre in Sunderland, creating around 30 jobs.
- The facility at Hillthorn Park is Solus’s first in the North East of England.
- Positions range from management to technical and customer care roles.
- This expansion aligns with Solus’s plans for additional sites in Sheffield and Exeter.
- Hillthorn Park is part of a significant regional industrial development backed by multiple organisations.
Around 30 new jobs will be introduced in Sunderland as Solus opens a fresh car repair centre. Part of Aviva’s insurance operations, Solus already commands a network of 22 vehicle repair centres throughout the UK. These centres specialise in handling vehicle damages post-accidents and manage a substantial portion of Aviva’s motor damage claims. The newly established centre situated at Hillthorn Park, Washington, marks Solus’s inaugural venture in the North East.
With the new facility, Solus will generate job opportunities spanning management, repair consultants and technicians, assessors, alongside customer care roles. This expansion is a clear reflection of Solus’s broader strategy to increase their footprint, with plans to also establish new centres in Sheffield and Exeter in the near future.
Simon Smith, managing director at Solus, expressed pride in the strategic expansion. He remarked, “We are extremely proud to open our new branch here at Hillthorn Park – the first site in the North East of England. By opening this centre, we can continue delivering great outcomes for our customers across the region, helping them to get back behind the wheel as quickly and as safely as possible.”
Hillthorn Park is a pivotal component of a £60m development project spearheaded by Legal & General. This extensive development is bolstered by Government investment, the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, and the European Regional Development Fund. Upon completion, the site aims to provide 620,000 square feet of industrial space encompassed within 11 commercial buildings.
Councillor Kevin Johnston, portfolio holder for business, housing, and regeneration at Sunderland City Council, heralded the decision by Solus to inaugurate their North East hub at Hillthorn Park. He elaborated, “Solus choosing to open its first North East hub at Hillthorn Park is brilliant news for the city. Creating high quality, skilled jobs for local people, it further drives home the strength of the city’s automotive industry and the appealing proposition we are able to offer businesses seeking to grow their operations in the North of England.”
The opening of Solus’s car repair centre at Hillthorn Park signifies a strategic expansion, contributing significantly to regional employment and industrial development.
