Unipart Automotive collapses with loss of 1,250 jobs

Unipart  Automotive directly supports more than 700 independent owner-operated garages through its Car Care Centre programme
Unipart Automotive directly supports more than 700 independent owner-operated garages through its Car Care Centre programme
GETTY IMAGES

Almost 1,250 British jobs were lost today as one of the largest independent suppliers of car parts, workshop tools and garage equipment was plunged into administration.

Unipart Automotive, which operates a network of 180 branches and distribution centres but has been battling to secure an emergency cash lifeline for weeks, finally gave up the ghost and called in adminstrators at KPMG.

The parts supplier was sold off by its parent to a private equity bidder three years ago. It employs 1,813 people and also trades under the Partco Autoparts and Express Factors brands.

Immediately after it was parachuted in, KPMG offloaded 33 of the branches to two separate buyers: Andrew Page, the parts distributor, took 21, while The Parts Alliance, picked up 12.

That move