The Workshop in Alton has acquired neighbouring business Keith Gott Partners - a name synonymous with Land Rover servicing for nearly 50 years. The team is now focusing on modernising the entire business - from new technology systems to an improved online presence and plans to introduce apprenticeships to help train the next generation of automotive engineers in the area.
The team is now driving a full transformation of the business — introducing new technology systems, enhancing its digital presence, and launching apprenticeships to nurture the next generation of automotive engineers. “Our goal is to honour the Keith Gott name and its 50-year heritage while steering the company into a new era,” Paul Greenwood, one of the business owners, explains. “We’re also exploring retail opportunities with the INEOS team and we are forecasting a turnover of £5 million by 2026.”
Casalee Ltd, which trades as The Workshop in Alton, was founded in 2019 by business partners Paul, Tyrone and Ian who share decades of experience in the vehicle leasing industry and automotive sector. Since taking over The Workshop, they have transformed it from a smaller operation with a £400,000 turnover into a thriving £1.2 million business since Covid.
The combined business now operates across two sites, employing 28 staff - up from 24 just a year ago - and offers specialist servicing for both Land Rover, Range Rover and the new INEOS Grenadier vehicles. Becoming an official INEOS Automotive Service Partner has already created new opportunities, including additional technician hires and new customer demand from across the South of England.
“People travel from as far as Northampton to get their vehicles serviced with us,” says Tyrone Gericke. “The INEOS partnership means we’re now one of the few service centres in the South supporting these vehicles, so demand is strong and growing.”
When the opportunity arose to purchase Keith Gott earlier this year, the team moved fast. “We knew we couldn’t let it slip,” explains Tyrone. “Keith Gott is a respected name in the Land Rover world, and the chance to acquire a business like that - it doesn’t come around very often! Because it was a time-sensitive deal, the team had to use a blend of their own investment and short-term finance to get the deal over the line. But as the business continued to grow, a new facility was needed to help the business to scale.
Tyrone says. “That’s when we started looking for a more sustainable long term funding solution.”
By refinancing with challenger business bank Allica through the Government-backed Growth Guarantee Scheme (GGS), the business was able to replace the short-term borrowing with a more manageable structured loan – this enabled the business to invest in recruitment and new technology. With the right finance in place, the business now has the freedom to focus on long-term growth.
“The support from Adrian and the team at Allica has just made all the difference. It’s the first time in six years of running a business in the UK that I’ve worked with a bank that truly listens. Having the modern way and flexibility of a digital bank, but with the personal approach of traditional banking, was the combination that proved truly invaluable to us.”
“This is a fantastic example of what can happen when an ambitious management team is given the right support,” says Adrian Eady, The Workshop’s Relationship Manager at Allica Bank. “The Workshop isn’t just growing a business - they’re investing in people, skills, and the future of the local automotive trade. Their plans to launch an apprenticeship programme shows real commitment to helping the next generation of engineers build their careers right here in Hampshire. It’s been a privilege to support them on this next phase of their journey.”
