Manchetts Burwell
Manchetts Burwell is a 4th-generation, family-owned UK automotive services group providing vehicle servicing, MOT testing, 24/7 recovery, accident repair, van hire, vehicle sales and fleet management across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire, serving motorists, commercial fleets, breakdown organisations and insurance-referred customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1961
- HeadquartersCambridge, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Manchetts Burwell does
Manchetts Burwell (legal entity Manchetts (Burwell) Limited, group parent Manchetts Group Holdings Ltd) is a 4th-generation, family-owned automotive services group founded in 1961 by George Manchett in Burwell, Cambridgeshire. The company operates an integrated portfolio spanning commercial and passenger vehicle servicing and repair, DVSA-approved MOT testing (Classes 4, 5 and 7), 24/7 vehicle recovery and specialist off-road rescue, insurance-approved accident repair (via the wholly-owned Patersons subsidiary), van and truck hire, used vehicle sales (including electric vans, MAN and Isuzu), and recurring fleet management contracts. Customers include individual motorists, commercial fleet operators, agricultural businesses, breakdown organisations (AA, RAC, Greenflag, Britannia Rescue), and police/insurance-referred recovery work across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.
Core technology is conventional automotive plant rather than software: manufacturer-approved diagnostic suites (Jaltest, Panasonic G1 roadside system), the EasTract radio-controlled vehicle handler for inaccessible recovery scenarios, DVSA MOT testing lanes, Approved Tachograph Centre calibration equipment, and a 100+ vehicle GPS-tracked recovery fleet monitored by a 24/7 control room. IVR-certified mechanics (modules VR13, VR14, VR15, VR16, VR20, VR23) operate specialist kit including a Mercedes Unimog, JCB Fastrac with Syren winch, and Volvo FMX heavy recovery units, with bespoke vehicle builds available through the sales centre.
The business model blends transactional services (unit-priced MOTs from £49.99–£59.55, fixed-price servicing menus, van hire at £102–£126/day) with recurring revenue streams from fleet management contracts and insurance-approved accident repair flows. Distribution is multi-site and direct: workshops at Burwell, Newmarket, Peterborough, Spalding and Sleaford; recovery depots along the A10/A14 corridor; sales via showroom and website enquiry; and channel partnerships with MAN Truck & Bus UK, Isuzu Truck UK and Renault for warranty work. Pricing is largely transparent and published, with deposits on van hire and tiered day/week/month rates. FCA authorisation as a credit broker enables in-house finance introductions for vehicle sales and long-term hire.
Manchetts Burwell firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Manchetts Burwell
- Legal name
- Manchetts (Burwell) Limited
- Website
- https://manchetts.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1961
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Manchetts Burwell is a 4th-generation, family-owned UK automotive services group providing vehicle servicing, MOT testing, 24/7 recovery, accident repair, van hire, vehicle sales and fleet management across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire, serving motorists, commercial fleets, breakdown organisations and insurance-referred customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Manchetts Burwell industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Automotive Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Accident Recovery, Winch-Out & Towing Services (Light/Heavy) (TLAKAFAH)
Keywords
Where Manchetts Burwell is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cambridge
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices9 records
Markets served
Manchetts Burwell business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Vehicle Servicing and Repair: Charges for routine maintenance, repairs, and servicing for cars, vans, HGVs, and specialist vehicles. Revenue generated through labor charges and parts markup. Offers fixed-price servicing menus and transparent pricing.
- MOT Testing: DVSA-approved MOT testing station offering tests for Classes 4, 5, 7 vehicles including cars, goods vehicles up to 3500kg, and heavy goods vehicles. Standard MOT fees charged as per government guidelines.
- Accident Repairs: Insurance-approved accident repair services including panel beating, welding, dent removal, resprays, and restoration. Revenue generated through insurance claims and private repairs.
- Vehicle Recovery Services: 24/7 breakdown and recovery services for cars, vans, HGVs, buses, coaches, agricultural vehicles, and plant equipment. Charges based on service type, distance, and specialist equipment required.
- Van and Truck Hire: Short-term and long-term rental of vans (Renault Trafic, Ford Transit, Peugeot Boxer) and truck hire. Revenue from daily, weekend, weekly, monthly, and long-term rental rates. Deposit required.
- Vehicle Sales: Sale of used vans including diesel and electric options, MAN tractor units and rigids with driveline warranties, and Isuzu trucks. Finance packages available through partnered lenders.
- Fleet Management Services: Contract maintenance packages for business fleets including servicing, MOT preparation, roller brake testing, and tachograph calibration. Predictable cost structure for fleet operators.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Renault Trafic L1 H1 Van - Small van for basic transport needs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Renault Trafic L1 H1 Automatic - Automatic van for ease of driving |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ford Transit L3 H2 - Larger van for increased cargo capacity |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Peugeot Boxer L4 H2 - Large van for heavy cargo |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MOT Class 4 (Cars up to 8 passengers) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MOT Class 7 (Goods vehicles 3000-3500kg) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | MOT Class 5 (Private passenger vehicles 13-16 seats) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Renault 25,000 Mile Service |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Renault Brake Pads and Discs |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Renault Cambelt Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Renault MOT |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Van Hire Deposit |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Manchetts Burwell product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Manchetts Burwell is a multi-service automotive company providing vehicle servicing, MOT testing, accident repairs, breakdown and recovery, van and truck hire, and used vehicle sales. The company operates multiple workshop locations across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire, with official dealer partnerships for MAN Truck & Bus UK, Isuzu Truck UK, and Renault. Core revenue is generated through professional services including vehicle maintenance, recovery operations, and rental fleet services.
Product overview
Manchetts Burwell is a diversified automotive services company offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected services spanning vehicle maintenance, repair, recovery, sales, and rental. The core offerings include car and van workshops (Burwell and Newmarket), commercial vehicle servicing for HGVs and trucks (MAN Truck & Bus UK Service Dealer), 24/7 vehicle recovery services, accident repair through Patersons, MOT testing, van and truck hire, vehicle sales, fleet management packages, and manufacturer-approved aftersales for Renault and Isuzu. The company operates multiple strategically located workshops across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire, serving both commercial and private customers. Manchetts also offers specialist services including tachograph calibration, roller brake testing, and bespoke vehicle builds, positioning itself as a 'Everything Automotive' provider since 1961.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Manchetts Burwell Car Workshop
Quantifiable outcome
- Quick recovery response times across East Anglia with strategically positioned sites
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Manchetts Burwell
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments7 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
Manchetts Burwell technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Manchetts Burwell partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- MAN Truck & Bus UKcoreOfficial MAN Truck & Bus UK service dealer with award-winning workshops in Peterborough, Spalding, and Sleaford. Offers MAN servicing packages including Euro 6 costs with flexible rentals. MAN branded workshops recognized for service excellence.
- Isuzu Truck UKcoreAuthorized Isuzu Truck UK service and parts dealer in Peterborough. Specializing in commercial vehicles including 3.5 tonne Grafter range and Forward range (5.5 to 13.5 tonnes). Access to complete OEM parts catalogue.
- RenaultcoreRenault Cars and Trucks Approved Repairers in Newmarket. Undertakes all Renault warranty repairs including EasyLife Pack contracts. Factory-trained technicians with latest Renault diagnostic equipment.
- AA (Automobile Association)coreAA breakdown organization partnership for vehicle recovery services. AA approved garage status for workshop services. Jaltest diagnostic equipment backed by The AA for roadside diagnostics.
- RACcoreRAC breakdown organization partnership for vehicle recovery services. RAC approved garage status for car workshop services in Burwell. Network partner for breakdown referrals.
- GreenflagminorBreakdown organization partnership for vehicle recovery services. Part of the major insurance-backed organizations network for recovery referrals.
- Britannia RescueminorBreakdown organization partnership for vehicle recovery services. Part of the major insurance-backed organizations network for recovery referrals.
- Cambridgeshire and Suffolk Police ForcescoreService provider for police and fire department contracts in Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Secure storage facilities for vehicles including Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) forensic examinations.
- DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency)coreDVSA approved MOT test centre and VOSA approved tachograph calibration centre. Authorized for testing multiple vehicle classes including HGVs and PSVs.
- Search Impex LtdminorExclusive partnership for 1:50 scale model truck merchandise. Limited edition Volvo FMX model produced to mark Manchetts Recovery's 60th anniversary in 2021.
- BVRLA (British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association)minorBVRLA member providing dispute resolution service for car rentals. Consumer protection for van hire services.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Manchetts Burwell competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Halfords Autocentres: National UK chain of service centres for car servicing, MOT testing, and repairs, owned by Halfords Group. Overlaps with Manchetts' Burwell car-workshop offering, MOT classes 4/7, and fleet servicing, but at substantially larger national scale.
- Vertu Motors (incl. Bristol Street / Ford Retail / Vansdirect): UK listed automotive retailer operating multi-brand car and van sales plus service/MOT workshops. Comparable to Manchetts on used and new vehicle sales (Renault, Isuzu, MAN TGE), aftersales service, fleet supply, and MOT testing, but at materially larger scale and public-company governance.
- Volvo Trucks UK Dealer Network: Volvo Trucks' UK dealer network handles heavy-truck sales, servicing, repairs, and fleet support. The same operating model applied by Manchetts as a MAN/Isuzu/Renault aftersales dealer (servicing, MOT, tachograph, fleet contracts) makes this a comparable manufacturer-aligned commercial-vehicle service business.
- Kwik-Fit: UK's largest national chain of automotive service centres, providing MOT, tyres, servicing, and repairs across a much wider geographic footprint than Manchetts. Overlaps on consumer car servicing, MOT testing, and fleet maintenance but does not focus on HGV recovery or 24/7 heavy rescue.
- ATS Euromaster: UK commercial-tyre and fleet-services network with strong HGV, LCV, and fleet-operator presence. Comparable to Manchetts' commercial-vehicle servicing, fleet management contracts, roller brake testing, and tachograph calibration services, but with a national branch network.
- Scania (UK) Dealer Network: Scania UK's authorised dealer/service network provides HGV sales, servicing, MOT preparation, and warranty work — directly comparable to Manchetts' MAN and Isuzu commercial-vehicle dealer operations on heavy truck aftersales and fleet contracts.
Direct peers
- Green Flag: UK breakdown and vehicle recovery provider partnered with Manchetts as part of their referral network. Operates the same accident-recovery, towing (light and heavy), and roadside-assistance lines of business across a wider geography than Manchetts.
- The AA (Automobile Association): UK national breakdown, recovery, and roadside assistance provider with approved-garage network. Directly comparable to Manchetts on accident recovery, winching/towing, and consumer car servicing (Manchetts is an AA-approved garage via Jaltest diagnostics). AA is one of the highest-volume referrers into Manchetts' recovery operation.
- Britannia Rescue: UK breakdown and recovery specialist and a named referral partner of Manchetts Rescue & Recovery. Operates directly in the same accident-recovery and roadside-assistance category, including heavy and specialist vehicle work.
- RAC: UK national breakdown and recovery organisation with an approved-garage network. RAC refers recovery jobs to Manchetts (RAC-approved garage in Burwell) and operates overlapping roadside-assistance and car-servicing capabilities, making it the closest large-scale peer in Manchetts' core recovery + workshop model.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Manchetts Burwell social profiles
Digital presenceManchetts Burwell compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance8 records
Manchetts Burwell financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Manchetts Burwell leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Manchetts Burwell subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Manchetts Burwell funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Manchetts Burwell 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 Manchetts Burwell
What does Manchetts Burwell do?
Manchetts Burwell is a multi-service automotive company providing vehicle servicing, MOT testing, accident repairs, breakdown and recovery, van and truck hire, and used vehicle sales. The company operates multiple workshop locations across Cambridgeshire, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire, with official dealer partnerships for MAN Truck & Bus UK, Isuzu Truck UK, and Renault. Core revenue is generated through professional services including vehicle maintenance, recovery operations, and rental fleet services.
Is Manchetts Burwell a public or private company?
Manchetts Burwell is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Manchetts Burwell founded?
Manchetts Burwell was founded in 1961. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Manchetts Burwell based?
Manchetts Burwell is headquartered in Cambridge, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Manchetts Burwell make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Vehicle Servicing and Repair is the primary driver. The others are MOT Testing, accident Repairs, vehicle Recovery Services, van and Truck Hire, vehicle Sales and fleet Management Services.
Who are Manchetts Burwell's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Halfords Autocentres, Vertu Motors (incl. Bristol Street / Ford Retail / Vansdirect), Volvo Trucks UK Dealer Network, Kwik-Fit, ATS Euromaster and Scania (UK) Dealer Network. Direct peers are Green Flag, The AA (Automobile Association), Britannia Rescue and RAC.
Does Manchetts Burwell have an API?
No public API is recorded for Manchetts Burwell.
What industry is Manchetts Burwell in?
Manchetts Burwell's product category is Automotive Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAKAFAH, Accident Recovery, Winch-Out & Towing Services (Light/Heavy).