About us
Autoworks was set up in Benfleet way back in 1973, it was then known as Colbert’s by Colin Henson and Burt Lewis hence the name. Both having served Ford apprenticeships and going on to work within the Ford Dunton Research Centre with the design and problem solving on many new and prototype vehicles.
Burt moved on to set up his own company in Clacton until his retirement. Colin remained with us until his retirement in 2010.
They were later joined by Roy Gibbs (also from Dunton Research Center) who was for many years the Workshop Foreman eventually becoming a partner and remaining with the company until his retirement in 2004.
They are all very well respected and well known Motor Vehicle Engineers.
The current owner Kevin Jones joined the company at just 16 in 1986. Kevin studied under Roy and Colin for many years as well as at college. He has studied nationwide many aspects of automotive repair and in 2004 achieved the CAE AMIMI lettering after his name. Since then he has also successfully studied Automotive Garage Management at Master level and is currently one of a very few people to hold the AAM designation.
He served as a National Panel Member of The Unipart Car Care Scheme representing garages in the southeast and Kent for over 5 years, and as such we were one of the first garages in the UK to achieve the prestigious British Standards PAS 80 Kitemark award.
In 2016 we were awarded the Elite Ethics award for ethically based companies
In 2016 our garages also became AA Approved and now offer a service backed by Trust My Garage and Trading Standards.
In 2010 we opened our sister site then named Westminster Garage, in Westcliff on Sea. In January 2016 both sites were rebranded under our new name Autoworks
Today we still strive for honest, straight forward advice with a friendly experience for our customers.
We carry out Servicing, MOT’s, Diagnostics, Electrical repairs, Free local collection and delivery, Recovery (local), Clutches, Brakes, Timing Belts, Shock Absorbers and we are Air Conditioning and Van refrigeration Experts.
View staff qualifications VIEW
Kevin
Owner & Managing Director
Autoworks
Sue
Senior Service Advisor
Autoworks, Westcliff