The local Sheffield area has seen the tough times like any other area of the UK, with business closures and higher unemployment.

Car trading in Sheffield has always been a popular market place, not just for new car dealerships, but also for second hand trading. There have been a few high profile closures, an example being the Dixon Ford garage which closed down right at the very start of the recession.

The past 12 months has seen a bit of a resurgence in trade however, with John Bee Ltd manager Anton saying he has spoken to local dealers who can’t get enough stock: “We have a number of local customers who are second hand traders, and they come to us to smarten up body work before resale. This trade seemed to die down in the thick of the downturn, but things are definitely getting better”.

He went on to add: “Most dealers are now saying they are struggling for stock, even at the auctions. These are the very same auctions that were empty just a couple of years ago, as cash flow was tight for so many small business in the Sheffield area”.