Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs is a UK-based commercial vehicle specialist providing bespoke body building, accident repair, alignment, and vehicle graphics from its Fareham facility. The company serves insurance firms, fleet operators, and vehicle manufacturers across Southern England.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1968
- HeadquartersFareham, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs does
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs Limited is a UK-based commercial vehicle specialist headquartered in Fareham, Hampshire, operating from a single site near Junction 11 of the M27 with coverage across Southern England. Founded in 1968, the company manufactures seven distinct commercial vehicle body types (curtain siders, double deck, traffic management, dropside, box, tipper, and beavertail bodies) across 3.5 to 38 tonne chassis variants, alongside accident repair, cab and chassis alignment (including laser wheel alignment), refurbishment, and an in-house graphics sub-brand (Solent Signs). Technical differentiators include a cab alignment bench with moveable mounting points, chassis jig for severely damaged vehicles, and laser-based wheel alignment equipment.
The company serves three primary customer segments: insurance companies (Aviva, Allianz, QBE, NFU) for accident repair authorisation; fleet operators (Waitrose, Open Reach, Vivid Homes) for maintenance and customisation; and commercial vehicle OEMs (DAF, Scania, Volvo, Mercedes, MAN, Iveco, Volkswagen, Citroen, Isuzu) for body manufacturing partnerships. Additional verticals include construction, clinical waste, and traffic management. The business model is quote-based, project-driven work with a "key-to-key" repair timeline that includes collection and delivery, standard 30-day payment terms, and statutory interest charges for late payment under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts Act 1998.
The business was family-run by the Sainsbury family from its 1968 founding until November 2020, when it was acquired in a management buyout by Jon Whitbread and Greg Heller, both long-tenured employees who had progressed through technical roles. The company holds VBRA and NBRA trade association memberships and has maintained stable operations without external institutional investment, acquisitions since 2018, or disclosed product launches. No AI/ML, digital platform, or technology-adjacent capabilities are evident; the operating model remains traditional manufacturing combined with modern workshop equipment.
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs
- Legal name
- Solent Body Builders & Repairs Limited
- Website
- https://solentbodybuilders.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1968
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs is a UK-based commercial vehicle specialist providing bespoke body building, accident repair, alignment, and vehicle graphics from its Fareham facility. The company serves insurance firms, fleet operators, and vehicle manufacturers across Southern England.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Commercial Vehicle Body Building and Repair
- NAICS
- Motor Vehicle Body and Trailer Manufacturing (33621), Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing (336211), Automotive Body, Paint, and Interior Repair and Maintenance (811121)
- SIC
- Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies (3711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse) (IMACAGAC)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Collision Repair, Bodywork & Paint (Light-Duty) (TLAKAAAK), Fleet De-Fleeting, Reconditioning & Cosmetic Repair Services (TLABAKAD), Body Shop Mechanical & Suspension Repair (Post-Collision) (TLAKAEAH)
Keywords
Where Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fareham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Commercial Vehicle Body Manufacturing: Manufacture of bespoke commercial vehicle bodies including curtain siders, box vans, dropsides, flatbeds, tippers, beavertails, double deck bodies, and traffic management bodies. Custom-built to customer specifications.
- Accident Repair Services: Complete accident repair services for commercial vehicles from 3.5 tonne to 38 tonne, including key-to-key timeline service covering estimate, authorisation, collection, repair and delivery.
- Vehicle Graphics and Signage: Full complement of commercial graphics and signage services including health and safety signs, shop window graphics, shop signs, printed labels, banners, vehicle livery, and complete vehicle wraps.
- Refurbishment Services: Tailor-made refurbishment services from minor refurbishment to complete makeover, including resprays and full livery services using PPG and Sikkens standards.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quotation based on vehicle type and service requirements |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs manufactures bespoke commercial vehicle bodies (curtain siders, box vans, dropsides, flatbeds, tippers, beavertails, double deck bodies, and traffic management bodies) for 5 to 32 tonne chassis variants. The company also provides comprehensive accident repair services for 3.5 to 38 tonne commercial vehicles, including key-to-key timeline management, plus in-house commercial vehicle graphic design, signage, and refurbishment services.
Product overview
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs is a commercial vehicle body building and repair company offering a comprehensive range of products and services. The core product portfolio consists of seven distinct vehicle body types: Curtain Sided Bodies, Double Deck Bodies, Traffic Management Bodies, Dropside Bodies, Box Bodies, Tipper Bodies (3.5 tonne), and Beavertail Bodies. These are complemented by an in-house sub-brand called Solent Signs which provides graphics and signage services. The company also offers repair and maintenance services including accident repair, cab alignment, chassis alignment, wheel alignment, refurbishment, and manufacturing. Founded in 1968 and now operating from Fareham, Hampshire, the company serves sectors ranging from insurance and fleet management to construction and clinical waste transportation.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Solent Signs: In-house graphics and signage department providing commercial vehicle graphic design, sign writing, health and safety signs, shop window graphics, shop signs, printed labels, banners, and vehicle branding services.
Products and services
- Curtain Sided Bodies
Quantifiable outcome
- Vehicle repair 'key to key' timeline with collection and delivery service
Companies that use Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Southern Mobility VehiclesminorReferral partnership with Southern Mobility Vehicles website linked from Solent Body Builders site, suggesting cross-referral relationship for complementary vehicle services
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights3 records
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- NRG Vehicle Services: UK commercial vehicle accident repair and bodywork specialist serving fleet and insurance markets. Comparable as a commercial vehicle body repair provider operating in similar insurance-driven service segments.
- EM Roberts & Sons: Bristol-based commercial vehicle bodybuilder offering truck body manufacturing, repairs, and refurbishment services. Comparable as a long-established regional UK commercial vehicle body shop with similar bespoke build and accident repair capabilities.
- Marshall Commercial Products: Cambridge-based provider of commercial vehicle bodywork, repairs, and conversions. Comparable as a UK commercial vehicle body manufacturer and repairer serving fleet operators with similar product/service mix.
- Cartwright Conversions: UK-based commercial vehicle bodybuilder producing box vans, curtainsiders, and specialist vehicle conversions. Directly comparable as a UK commercial vehicle body manufacturer serving fleets, with similar product categories and bespoke build capabilities.
- SM Trailer Engineering: UK-based commercial vehicle bodywork specialist producing bespoke vehicle bodies and repairs. Comparable as a regional UK commercial vehicle body builder with similar scale and bespoke capabilities.
Broad incumbents
- Paneltex: Hull-based manufacturer of commercial vehicle bodies, particularly refrigerated and insulated bodies. Overlaps with SBB's body manufacturing activity but at a larger scale and with a more specialised product focus.
- SDC Trailers: UK-based trailer and commercial vehicle body manufacturer. Overlaps with SBB's body manufacturing category but focuses primarily on trailers rather than rigid bodywork.
- Montracon: UK trailer and commercial vehicle body manufacturer producing box vans, curtainsiders, and specialist trailers. Comparable as a UK commercial vehicle body manufacturer with overlapping product categories.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs social profiles
Digital presenceSolent Bodybuilders & Repairs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs
What does Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs do?
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs manufactures bespoke commercial vehicle bodies (curtain siders, box vans, dropsides, flatbeds, tippers, beavertails, double deck bodies, and traffic management bodies) for 5 to 32 tonne chassis variants. The company also provides comprehensive accident repair services for 3.5 to 38 tonne commercial vehicles, including key-to-key timeline management, plus in-house commercial vehicle graphic design, signage, and refurbishment services.
Is Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs a public or private company?
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs founded?
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs was founded in 1968. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs based?
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs is headquartered in Fareham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Commercial Vehicle Body Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are accident Repair Services, vehicle Graphics and Signage and refurbishment Services.
Who are Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are NRG Vehicle Services, EM Roberts & Sons, Marshall Commercial Products, Cartwright Conversions and SM Trailer Engineering. Broad incumbents are Paneltex, SDC Trailers and Montracon.
Does Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs.
What industry is Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs in?
Solent Bodybuilders & Repairs's product category is Commercial Vehicle Body Building and Repair. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMACAGAC, Truck Body & Upfit Manufacturing (Box/Dump/Service/Refuse), with a secondary code of TLAKAAAK, Collision Repair, Bodywork & Paint (Light-Duty). Its NAICS code is 33621 and its SIC code is 3713.