Hulton: GM Tyres and Autocare to expand following success

Lewis Higham was aged just 19 when he took on GM Tyres and Autocare, off Smethurst Lane, just before the pandemic struck in 2020.

Amid testing circumstances, the garage steadily built a large customer base.

Now aged 22, Lewis is in the process of expanding the garage into the next unit over.

He said: “It’s just got busier and busier.

"We’ve outgrown this place and we are in the middle of going into the other unit as well and joining them both together.

Lewis has run the garage, GM Tyres and Autocare, since late 2019 (Image: GM Tyres and Autocare)

“It was three years a month ago, we’re still here, we have come across a lot of hurdles and there are still a lot of hurdles to get over, but other than that it’s been absolutely fine.”

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Lewis recalls how much the pandemic affected business.

He said: “It was very unknown.

"It came out of nowhere, this Covid thing, it was literally a week after we opened up.

“It was just uncertain, no-one knew what was going on.

"So it was like, right, all I can do is just carry on trying to build what I’ve just started, coming to work every day.

“Then when lockdown hit that was a bit of an ‘oh no, what’s going on’, loads of people slowed down, I didn’t have much business coming in.

He is only 22, having started running the garage when he was just 19 (Image: Newsquest)

“I just kept coming in every day, doing my thing, I stuck with all the guidelines. It was quiet but I made what I could of it, I just kept a positive attitude and just kept it the same way really.”

Lewis, who is originally from Astley Bridge but now lives in Westhoughton, added: “We’ve got a lot of loyal customers.

"I’m into my cars as well, so I’m in the car scene and I specialise in one car (Fords), but I do all cars.

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“So I’ve got a separate customer base who bring in their pride and joys, as well as the day to day sort of stuff – it keeps me busy.

“Built on reputation is my hashtag, for good work, good service and whatnot.

"You get rewarded, I’ve got a lot of loyal customers now from when I started.

“And we’re still growing, we’re still getting more customers coming in through the door.”

Lewis specialises in Fords, but does 'all cars' (Image: GM Tyres and Autocare)

Lewis also about his time with Bolton-based Red Box Training, which helped him get qualifications in the field.

He said: “It’s not easy, I only got three GCSE’s. While I was at school I struggled a bit, but I went to this company during Year 10 and 11 at school.

“It was a day release every Friday, we’d go and we’d learn something. I’m better with my hands than I am with paper.

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“I’ve always been around cars, but I took it on and I was building up NVQ’s.

“By the time I’d left school, I already had NVQ level two, so I only had one level of NVQ to go, then I’d be fully qualified.”

The garage is currently in the process of expansion (Image: GM Tyres and Autocare)

He added: “They don’t just do mechanical repairs, they do a construction side and a hair and beauty side as well.

“I went through college and ended up getting an apprenticeship, which lasted about three years.

“I did a bit of job hopping, and then the opportunity came where I saw the place and I thought ‘is it time to jump.’

“It was 100 per cent the best thing I did.”

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If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at zach.harrison@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @zachhjourno.