DT Autos

DT Autos started in April 2004, and still stands strong as a champion of West Sussex Auto Repair!

After an apprenticeship that lasted 20 years, Dave was stuck in a rut and needed to move on and progress – having no savings behind him and a comprehensive range of tools, he quit his job, sold his car and bought a van to become a mobile mechanic. Due to the success of being mobile, 3 years later he decided that a workshop was long overdue. Within 2 months DT Autos was up and running with 2 extra full time employees.

In August 2013 a devastating fire destroyed the whole workshop and everything that was inside it. All that was left to show for years of hard work was a customer database and a lot of experience. A long and tough battle then ensued, and Dave was constantly chasing insurance companies, loss adjusters, customers and suppliers. He managed to beg and borrow a chunk of help from a friend who let his staff repair cars in a corner of his workshop until Dave found temporary premises in Chichester. Despite not having received a penny from the insurance company, he opened the temporary workshop within 2 months of the fire. Bills and staff wages were paid with his own money! Eventually things started to get sorted out. The insurance company gave the go ahead and rebuilding work started.

After a complete rebuild, the new premises opened in June 2014 – but still to this day the insurance company has not fully paid out. Following that fateful day in 2013, Dave’s business has gone from strength to strength and DT Autos now employs 4 full time members of staff.

Meet The Team at DT Autos

Dave & Tracy Hickford – Proprietors

Dave Hickford – Senior Advisor

Jon Searight– Workshop Manager

Liam Snow – Technician

Fay & Zoe – Garage Helper’s

View our article titled “Resilience in Business” from FBS Sussex here.