Dave Sargeant – Managing Director, Gemini Accident Repair Centres
- November 13, 2020
- Posted by: Salih Tahir
- Category: Content Updates
Dave began his career straight from school at 16 as an apprentice following his father into the Industry. Dave has a real passion and enthusiasm for cars and particularly the Vehicle Repair industry. He began as an apprentice panel beater and attended college where he earned student of the year. He went on to complete the AMIMI management course and progressing through his career he has had time as in workshop control, parts, estimating, and finally management all in the same Bodyshop.
The 2nd part to Dave’s career started with joining Gemini Accident Repairs in early 1999, and became operations manager, the business quickly grew from one site adding eleven more sites before being sold to Nationwide the largest Bodyshop operator in the UK.
In July 2005 Dave became a territory manager looking after 6 sites. 3 years after selling, Gemini Repairs Ltd was formed again with one site in Birmingham, with Dave now in place as managing director. Over the past 11 years this business has blossomed, rising to the 2nd largest Bodyshop group in the UK with 29 sites – a business that turns over £60 million per year and repairs over 45 thousand cars, with 680 staff. Gemini won the ABP Best Bodyshop Group award in 2015, 2017, 2018 and Dave was awarded Night of Knights in 2017.
Dave is the chairman of AutoRaise, the UK industry charity that aims to solve the skills crisis by the finding and recruiting of new apprentices into the industry, Gemini has risen from none in 2017 to having over 50 serving apprentices, 10% of its workforce.
