Tech firm on track ‘thanks to Rochdale’
AN entrepreneur has said Rochdale is critical to his company’s success, helping put it on track to hit £100m turnover in five years.
Lee Collins founded Bridgefold Road-based Revilo Automotive, specialising in buying highend cars, in 2016 – just two years after selling his car dealership.
The 51-year-old businessman’s planned retirement lasted only 69 days before he launched his new business – Revilo Group, which is his oldest son’s name Oliver spelt backwards.
“I rented an office on the outskirts of Rochdale with a briefcase, laptop, one desk, a landline and no idea of what I was going to do,” he said.
A chance meeting with Joe Greenwood ended with
the pair launching Revilo Automotive.
“I knew the appetite was there and the challenge was making sure we had enough retail stock,” said Lee. “You can’t sell it if you haven’t got it!
“We look at ourselves as a technology company and not a car company. We are developing the tech ourselves. We’re investing in systems and processes that most businesses buy off the shelves.”
Employing more than 50 people, Lee said Rochdale was critical to the company’s success.
He said: “What you essentially have is a location centrally located between some of the great northern powerhouses in Manchester and Leeds, fantastic transport links to all areas of the country and some of the largest manufacturing businesses in the UK. What’s not to like?”
Born and raised in a council house in Oldham, Lee’s mum still lives in Rochdale - as does Lee with his two sons and wife, who also works in the business.
Leaving school at the age of 16 with just two O-Levels in maths and English, Lee says the key is working alongside similar-minded entrepreneurs.
His big break came at the age of 19 when he got a job as a salesman for Lookers in Rochdale, where he quickly worked his way up.
After being made managing director, he oversaw a management buyout of the dealership, which rebranded as Hillendale Land Rover in 2006.
He sold the business in 2014 but ended his planned retirement after just two months.
The self-confessed ‘petrolhead’ reached £5m within six months of launching the business and is expected to hit £30m this year - but said it was on course to reach £100m in the next five years.
Lee said: “When you look at specialist cars, particularly cars where people have added specifications, there is a better way to maximise the value of the car and that’s where we believe we come in.
“We’ll travel at our expense to their home or office to inspect the vehicle and the owners will get a better price from us the majority of the time.
“All we expect is for the customer to describe the car accurately. The next decade promises to be very exciting.”