Farmer Autocare, a Scottish car maintenance and servicing business, was founded by Sir Tom Farmer in 2003. The Company has grown rapidly over recent years and now operates 21 sites across Scotland, employing almost 200 people, many of whom have been with the company since its beginning.

Strong staff retention, coupled with Farmer’s major focus on training and development, has created one of the most talented teams in the sector.

Farmer Autocare will continue to operate in Scotland under its existing management team, led by Managing Director, Colin McNeill, providing stability and continuity for both colleagues and customers.

Kerr’s Tyres Group was founded in 2002 by Norman Kerr in Antrim and has grown to be a trusted business with over 27 retail sites, a large commercial tyre business and a successful tyre distribution group. The retail business has a strong customer service focus providing tyres, services, maintenance and repair across Ireland.

Over the next five years Kerr’s Tyres Group plans to expand to 250 sites throughout the UK. Backed by its investors, Chiltern Capital, this expansion will be achieved by further acquisitions of industry businesses, like Farmer Autocare, to create a national chain of centres.

A spokesperson for The Farmer Family said: “The Farmer Autocare business has been built and grown on the key principles that Sir Tom Farmer brought to the car maintenance and servicing sector over his sixty years in the business. Look after your customers by offering good value with excellent customer service and look after your people by giving them quality jobs and great opportunities.

“When Kerr’s Tyres Group approached us we quickly recognised a shared belief in how our businesses should operate and a natural fit between the two organisations.

“We also saw an opportunity to accelerate the expansion plans that were already in place for Farmer Autocare.

“There are tremendous prospects ahead for Farmer Autocare under the guidance of an experienced owner such as Norman Kerr with ambitious plans.

“This will be good for Scottish motorists and good for all colleagues at Farmer Autocare.”

Norman Kerr, founder and CEO of Kerr’s Tyres Group, said: “Farmer Autocare is an exceptional business, built on genuine care for customers and colleagues, values that very much mirror our own.

“We aim to continue delivering what makes Farmer Autocare so successful and share those best practices across Kerr’s Tyres Group, whilst providing operational scale to both businesses.

“Our growth and investment plans will create new opportunities for colleagues, while ensuring the Farmer Autocare standards and ways of working, are embedded as we expand.

“Together, we will help the business move forward without changing what makes it special.

“Having worked for Sir Tom Farmer much earlier in my career, it is an absolute privilege to build on what he created and help the team thrive for decades to come.

“Community matters to both of us and we understand the responsibility that comes with serving customers who rely on us every day.”

Looking ahead to the future, Colin McNeill, Managing Director of Farmer Autocare, said: “This is an incredibly exciting day for us all in Farmer Autocare.

“The Kerr’s Tyres Group investment creates tremendous opportunities for our people.

“Their ambitious growth plans for our already successful business, will mean we expand our centres even faster and offer our great value for money service to even more Scottish customers.”