A WINSFORD garage helping to develop the next generation of mechanics has been recognised among some of the best in the country.
DC Lomas, based in Road One on the Winsford Industrial Estate, was nominated in two categories in the Top Garage 2025 awards, run by Aftermarket Magazine.
The growing garage, which employs 15 young people, was set up in 2011 by Dean Lomas who himself overcame the challenge of leaving school at 16 unable to read and write.
Now co-owned and run by Dean and wife Samantha, DC Lomas finished as runners up in their award categories – Top Garage with 10+ employees and Workplace Health and Wellbeing.
Dean, 45, said: “It’s been a long journey, but we’re still growing.
“We love working with apprentices, they are the next generation. We have got to make sure that they bring the industry forward.
“The garage is run by me and my wife, with two of our children also working here. All of our apprentices are under 20 years old.
“We need to be at the forefront of showing people it is OK to have an apprentice, and that everyone deserves a chance no matter what their ability or skill is, no matter where they come from, or what their background is.
“I want to thank all of our customers as they trust us and love what we do. People’s vehicles are their family’s lifeline, and they trust us with it.”
Dean and Samantha are focused on making the garage the best business it can be and will continue advocating for young people and apprentices, while helping to bring the standard of the industry up.
Their children, Georgia Gallagher and Kai Lomas, are also part of the team at DC Lomas.
The garage prides itself on being a pillar of the community, as it sponsors a number of football teams and gives an annual donation to St Luke’s Hospital each year.
Dean added: “We just want to be there for the community. This year we have taken on 22 young people for work experience through local schools and colleges.
“We need to be at the forefront of showing people that it is okay to have an apprentice, and that everyone deserves a chance no matter what their ability or skill is, no matter where they come from or what their background is.”
Dean is also keen on trying to change people’s views on garages being seen as a ‘dirty’ place to work or visit, which isn’t the case at DC Lomas.
Dean said: “We make it as clean as possible.
“We can go home and get in our car without getting muck everywhere. We are not a backstreet garage and we have worked really hard to get to where we are today.”
