Transporter specialist creates jobs as it moves to new headquarters

LEIGHTON Vans, the VW transporter customisation specialist, has bought a company headquarters and showroom in Yorkshire as part of its expansion plans.
Mike Leighton, managing director at Leighton Vans.Mike Leighton, managing director at Leighton Vans.
Mike Leighton, managing director at Leighton Vans.

Sheffield solicitors Wake Smith advised on the purchase of the former Bradken manufacturing unit at Dodds Close in Rotherham, enabling Leighton Vans to double its workforce from eight to at least 16 staff and triple its sales and production space.

A £1m funding package from NatWest and Lombard Finance helped Leighton Vans finance the new premises.

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The automotive business was established by Mike Leighton who spotted a gap in the market for a company that could sell and customise VW transporter vans.

Mr Leighton, who is the company’s managing director, said: “Not only do we sell, rent and lease VW transporters but we create unique, high specification vans which can be colour coded, body styled, upgraded and modified to what our client requires. We really wanted to find premises that suited our business needs, and allowed for growth.

“I’ve always had a vision to move to a site which would be a drive-to destination for our customers. I wanted a space to display about 50 vehicles, offer merchandise and have an informal customer area.”

Leighton Vans currently operates from Wharncliffe Industrial Estate in Deepcar and is in its fourth year of trading. It is a spin-off from Mr Leighton’s former used car business, which was set up 10 years ago. The company now has customers nationwide and also supports professional mountain bikers including Sheffield’s Steve Peat, Scotland’s trial cyclist Danny Macaskill and World Cup circuit rider Brendan Fairclough.

NatWest Relationship Manager, Aaron Carter said: “It has been really rewarding to work with the management team to progress their growth plans, which are helping to create jobs locally.”