Jobs saved as motorbike dealer rescued

An acquisition deal has saved 14 jobs at a motorbike dealer after it fell into administration.

All 14 staff at the dealership will transfer to the new owners under the deal. Picture: contributed.

Ducati Manchester Group (DMG) has acquired the business and assets of the R3 Group that operated the Ducati Glasgow & Triumph Glasgow dealerships in the city.

Business advisors at Grant Thornton had been appointed as administrators of the R3 Group at the end of November.

DMG has been part of the Ducati dealer network since it was founded in 2002. It currently has four dealerships – in Preston, Manchester, Stoke and Worcester.

Chris Booth, the owner and managing director of DMG, said: “It made total sense for us to include Glasgow in our group and we can now offer the customers of Ducati Glasgow the benefits of our huge stock of everything Ducati. I am proud to be serving Scotland with all that DMG can offer as well as welcoming all existing and new customers to our family.”

Booth said the Scottish dealerships will remain at the current Hillington address for the next few months, but a location is being planned for later in 2021.

Julie Tait, director in the restructuring team in Grant Thornton Scotland, said the sale of the R3 group as a going concern will ensure that 14 jobs will be retained and that customer orders will continue to be serviced as normal.

Mike Robins, the former owner of the R3 Group, has invested alongside DMG in the new venture. He said it was “exciting times ahead” following the acquisition deal.

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