What started as a successful recovery business has evolved into one of the East Midlands’ most capable and trusted vehicle service centres. TRS Vehicle Centre has been keeping the region’s cars, vans, and commercial vehicles on the road to the highest degree for over two decades.
Today, with a reputation for tackling everything from routine repairs to specialist commercial work, TRS stands out not just for what they do, but how they do it. We caught up with Sean Stevenson to learn more about the journey so far, what sets TRS apart, and why Servicesure has become such a key part of their success.
How did TRS begin?
Sean: Trowell Recovery Services (TRS) was originally set up by Colin Kemp in the East Midlands and he built up a successful vehicle recovery business. This was then eventually acquired by a company called Burrows Recovery.
After the sale, We launched TRS Vehicle Centre, which has now been running for around 20 years. Since then, we’re proud to say it’s grown into a one-stop shop for all things automotive. We cover cars, vans, motorhomes and commercial vehicles. Whether it’s an MOT test, routine servicing or repairs, TRS offers the full package.
Does TRS have any specific specialisms?
We don’t specialise in just one thing, we do it all. The real difference is the size and capability of our workshop. We’ve got the space, equipment plus experienced and dedicated staff to handle everything from small cars to large motorhomes and commercial vehicles.
Many of our commercial customers trust us with their personal vehicles too, which says a lot. Not many garages can service a Transit van and a family car to the same standard, but we can.
It’s not just about the range of services, it’s about quality. We aim to provide a dealer-level experience from the moment a customer walks through the door to the moment they drive away. Everything we do is carried out with care, professionalism, and pride.
Does Servicesure help set you apart?
Definitely. Servicesure adds real value. And it’s not just for us, but for our customers.
Just this morning, 30 minutes before you arrived, a regular customer came in with his motorhome. He’s heading to Scotland next week and needed a new EGR valve fitted. We were explaining that because the part came from GSF and we’re a Servicesure garage, if he has an issue on the road, he can go to any Servicesure garage across the country and have it looked at under warranty, including labour.
That peace of mind from the Servicesure national warranty is a big deal for people who travel regularly, and it’s one of the reasons customers keep coming back to us.
Why did you join Servicesure?
We wanted to give our customers that extra layer of confidence. We’re also RAC and AA approved, so we see a lot of vehicles from outside the area – drivers who’ve broken down far from home and been brought in to us.
Being part of Servicesure means that if we fit a part for someone who’s just passing through our area, and they have an issue months later, they don’t have to come all the way back to us. They can go to a local Servicesure garage and get it sorted. That national warranty is a huge benefit – for us and our customers.
Given the type of vehicles we work on – especially commercial vans that are constantly travelling around the UK – it just makes perfect sense.
Are there any specific achievements you’re proud of?
We’re proud to say we pass our RAC and AA audits every year. They’re very strict and that’s a good thing. It keeps us sharp and shows our standards are consistently high.
We also work with other companies who carry out internal audits on us, and again, we meet those standards year after year. It’s not just us checking ourselves – we’ve got external companies reviewing our work regularly, and we always meet the mark.
What’s next for TRS?
We recently opened a second site in Sandiacre, just five minutes from our main location which is on the local high street. That expansion happened in April last year, and it’s going well so far.
Beyond that? We’re keeping an eye on further opportunities to grow. No concrete plans yet, but we’re always looking to improve and expand where it makes sense.
