Last updated 17:50, Thursday, 27 March 2008

Darren Dawson: ‘There are three of us at Custom Cars, and between us we can do pretty much anything with a vehicle’

WORKINGTON’S only custom car workshop recently opened for business. Custom Cars is the brain-child of Darren Dawson, who, through his own vision and determination, built the business from scratch and is now enjoying the fruits of his labour.

But the Adams Road workshop was a mere dream for Darren when he began his career as an apprentice mechanic.

“I spent my first three years as an apprentice training at Lennon’s Garage, where I would learn practical skills from general repairs to bodywork, and then develop my skills through theoretical work at Workington College,” he told Futures.

“I had always had a huge interest in cars from a young age – my dad worked in body repair so I think his influence had an impact on me when it came to choosing a profession. So when my course and apprenticeship ended I went to work with him at Cumbria Commercial Bodies.

“There I really got to develop my skills and learned how to re-spray new vehicles and cars. That’s where my passion for customising began.”

Darren, a former pupil of Southfield Technology College, continued at the workshop for a further two years after which he left. During this time he struggled to find work and relied on the income from his hobby as a DJ in local pubs around the town.

It was only then that Darren realised the time was perfect to pursue his ambition of owning his own business.

“I was going to make the work come to me and start-up in business myself. I found the premises on Adams Road at Derwent Howe and put everything I had into setting up the workshop.”

The workshop was set up without any financial support and after only a few weeks in business Custom Cars now has major commercial contracts with some of West Cumbria’s largest car dealers and private transport firms.

Darren went on: “Our business has steadily gone from strength-to-strength but I think that’s probably because we offer a specialist service to our customers.

“In the short time since we have opened, we now have contracts with the likes of John Hoban Travel, J Edgar and Son, Lennon’s Garage and J & H Motors.

“There are three of us who work here and between us we can do pretty much anything with a vehicle, from massive bodywork jobs to knocking out small dents and huge repairs to minor adjustments.”

The team’s skills in customising vehicles have also proved popular thanks to the likes of MTV’s hit show Pimp My Ride where standard motors are adapted to clients’ requirements.

“We have had quite a few customising jobs where clients have wanted a re-spray or a body kit fitted making their motor completely unique.

“And it’s this specialist service that attracts our clients. We try to offer things that no other workshop in the area does. We have introduced new services to develop the business, such as valeting.

“Our small team means the service to our customers is even more expert and personal.

“But it has taken a lot of hard work to get where we are and running your own business is not easy; I’ve had to adapt my role to cover every aspect of the business, from the mechanical aspect to the admin side of things.

“For anyone thinking of starting their own business you need to be prepared for ups and downs; it’s not easy but if you stick at it and are ready to work hard then you can be successful.”

At only 26 years-old Darren’s gutsy business venture has paid off and he already has hopes to expand by developing the unit upstairs into a car audio, accessory and entertainment system showroom.

• For more information call Custom Cars on 01900 61111.