Local van business snaps up industrial site with a view to further expansion

Big Van World, which is the UK’s largest used van supermarket, is celebrating the turn of the year by investing £1.4m in a new industrial site near Swindon.

The business which operates from a 20-acre site at Chelworth Industrial Estate at Cricklade, has now signed a deal to buy the nearby site which was formerly run by Watson Fuels. 

Company boss Michael Austen, who lives near Lechlade, said: “It’s been a good year for us at Big Van World and we’re thrilled to start 2020 by completing the purchase of this site. This will allow us to expand our business over the next year or so. 

“Now that there is more certainty out there we aim to continue to increase our turnover to around £20million and also to look for other investment opportunities.”

Michael is also celebrating 20 years in business personally in 2020. He originally started out buying and selling vans from a caravan when he was just 19 years old in 2010. He grew the business, rebranding it as Big Van World in 2017. 

“We are looking to increase our sales this year as we’re currently selling around 2,000 vans per year. All of our vans come from blue-chip leasing companies and most have had one owner with a full service history. 

“Today we employ about 50 people, many of whom are local to Wiltshire and Gloucestershire and we’re proud of our team. We have also recently invested £1.5 million in the Seven Bridges site on the A419 which will open as a service station shortly. I’m sure many people have seen it when travelling down this major route into Swindon. A date for its opening will be announced soon.” 

Big Van World is based at Chelworth Park, Cricklade. It provides vans for trades people as well as fleets for bigger companies and corporations. For further information visit www.bigvanworld.co.uk