Back in 2003 Guide Bridge MOT and Service set up shop in Audenshaw and now they are as strong as ever. Always a family business with a focus on customer service the team have won numerous awards including Family Business Of The Year. Early in 2012 BBC 2 viewers found themselves enthralled by the documentary series ‘The Fixer’ starring Alex Polizzi which followed the trials and tribulations of the business. At the beginning the business was managed by Jan and Derek Lord, along with their children Gareth, Nicola and Adam. Now under the guidance of Adam he explains how it started for him. “It started for me when I left school, my dad bought it from the previous owner, and I came in June 2003 so practically I have been here from day one. I’ve grown with the business as it developed and moved through various roles but we have evolved as a business to keep with the times.  This industry moves at a fair pace, and we’ve invested a lot of money into new equipment, diagnostic machines and upgraded our MOT area so we can keep up to date with technology. Most of our technicians have also had electric car training but although there’s no combustion engine you still have brakes, suspension, tyres, cooling system so it’s important not to neglect the servicing requirements.”

We also caught up with Jan Lord and asked her thoughts on the 20^th anniversary of the business. “ Highs and lows there are so many and we have done so well, in particular helping so many charities over the years including Pancreatic Cancer when we organised The Purple Ball. We have a really loyal customer base and to be able to stand here 20 years later surviving economic challenges, the pandemic and cost of living crisis it’s thanks to our customers supporting and trusting us.”

Last month Guide Bridge MOT were also delighted to support local charity Our Kids Eyes with a presentation of £6411.63 in association with Holman and the Masterserve Foundation. We asked Jan why they chose that particular charity, “We were given the opportunity to nominate a local charity and the reason we chose Our Kids Eyes is because they have done some amazing work with my daughter and granddaughter and the charity supports children with special needs and for us that is really, really personal at the moment.”

Another parent who praises the work of Droylsden based Our Kids Eyes is Tanya Ladley from Ashton. “We’ve used the charity since my son was 2 years old and he’s now 10. The help we’ve had has been phenomenal, they assisted with referrals, paperwork to help my son get the correct support, organise parties and days out too, children just be themselves.” For more details about Our Kids Eyes you can visit www.ourkidseyes.org