Hentons relationship brings success to companies
Behind every successful family business is a story of hard work, loyalty and a spirit of entrepreneurship.
KD Bros first opened its doors in 1971 as a small workshop in Chapeltown, Leeds. It has grown to become a leading garage and recovery business in West Yorkshire.
As the company has continued to expand, it has invested heavily in new vehicles, plant and equipment. The company is a strong supporter of the local economy and is always endeavouring to recruit locally.
The KD Bros brand will be familiar to many who drive the region’s motorways. A fleet of 20 recovery vehicles operates across the region for private cars, LCV and HGV.
The business employs 30 staff and provides a full range of maintenance, servicing, MOT and Diagnostic services.
Two generations of the Singh family now work across the garage business, KD Bros and property development company, KD Properties.
Founded by K Singh and D Singh the garage business thrived as the brother’s hard work saw them pick up a strong commercial customer base as vehicles needed to be serviced overnight. Within three years the brothers were already looking for larger premises and had invested in the latest garage lifts, tools and diagnostic equipment.
As the company’s reputation for reliability grew it picked up recovery contracts from car and commercial motoring clubs which helped to fill the garage. It bought new premises in central Leeds to enable further growth.
Acquiring another new site circa 2.5 acres on Armley Road in Leeds is currently under development to provide secure storage for 400 vehicles and state of the art car and commercial garage. This will be operated 24/7 with a modern control centre and training facilities alongside its current city centre depot.
They are currently recruiting a number of new positions for the Armley Road depot.
The company has a long-term partnership with accountants and business advisors, Hentons. The firm has provided strategic advice that covers tax consultancy, accounts and advice on deals.
Commenting on the business, Simon Gray, a partner at Hentons said: “This is a highly successful business. The diversified nature ensures that growth can be achieved across different sectors. We’ve established a great relationship where we share an entrepreneurial vision and goals.”
The second generation shares the family’s drive and ambition. Harpal Singh now heads up the property company, which operates a large portfolio and his cousins, Hardave and Randeep Singh who manage KD Bros.
A mix of commercial and award-winning residential developments. KD Properties has grown from renovating houses to undertaking its own ambitious projects.
The latest development has taken a long-term derelict site in Oakwood, North Leeds, and turned it into a striking building that will provide the affluent suburb with a new cafe/restaurant.
Harpal Singh said: “As we continue to grow it is important that we surround ourselves with the best talent. The business world is becoming more complex, and the support of trusted advisors allows us to focus on developing the businesses.”
The property business has a diversified portfolio of retail units, supermarkets, banks, business centres and starter units that are designed to support new entrepreneurs.
Commenting on the future, Harpal said: “You have to be innovative in the projects you deliver and understand the market on a hyper-local level. It’s always best to plan long term, and be flexible where necessary. Brexit fears created a blip, and it seems confidence has returned.
