Many people dream of turning their passion into their business. One Ceteris tenant, Paul Roberts, owner of Aircooled Engines, has been lucky enough to do just that.
Aircooled Engines builds, modifies, upgrades and reconditions Volkswagen air cooled engines. Many of the engines are found in classic VW vehicles including campervans, Beetles, Karman Ghias, Variants and even Trikes. They’ve even repaired and restored the engines of old aeroplanes! Aircooled Engines is the only company in Scotland specialising in aircooled VW engines, with only a few other companies offering a similar service elsewhere in the UK.
Customers are often VW enthusiasts, classic car owners and restorers and come from across Scotland and northern England. Some garages also pass on the engines for rebuilding or refurbishment rather than tackle the time-consuming job themselves.
The benefits of a Ceteris industrial unit
Aircooled Engines has been a Ceteris tenant for the last five years. Based in an industrial unit in Ward Street, Alloa, Aircooled Engines needs a clean, workshop to provide its specialist services. The space it occupies needs to be flexible to support a range of activities, including:
- A specially equipped separate room to ensure clean engine builds.
- An area for a purpose-built test rig to test rebuilt engines.
- Space to remove and refit engines into vehicles.
- A light engineering and parts manufacturing area.
- An area for sandblasting and powder coating existing parts.
Plus, room is also required to store all the tools needed to refurbish and recondition engines and auxiliaries.
Ward Street – a central location and an accessible industrial unit
Having a unit in Ward Street in Alloa is the perfect location for Aircooled Engines. It’s easy to get to from many areas of central Scotland and beyond. With plenty of room inside and outside the unit, customers (and couriers!) can drop off and pick up engines easily. There’s also plenty of room for all the equipment needed to rebuild and test engines plus space to store parts.
Owner, Paul Roberts, is in a wheelchair. The accessibility of the unit was one of the biggest reasons he chose Ward Street. The unit has level access and an adapted, disabled bathroom. With plenty of space inside, and plenty of parking space in front of the unit, it makes it easy for Paul to get around and get on with his work.
The best thing about Ceteris as a landlord – everything!
When we asked Paul this, he had just one word to say: “Everything!”
He highlighted the great service from the maintenance team when any jobs need to be done, plus the overall responsiveness and support Ceteris offers as a landlord. Having access to free business support services is also a big bonus, with Ceteris looking at how to support Paul with his marketing activity in the near future.
His advice to other business owners considering getting an industrial unit or office space in Clackmannanshire with Ceteris – “just do it!”