More than 700 UK workers are facing an uncertain future after ATS Euromaster confirmed it will begin a structured wind-down of its operations following sustained financial losses.
The announcement places 703 roles at risk of redundancy across the company’s Aston-based head office, call centre, and 103 remaining service centres, marking one of the most significant restructurings in the UK automotive servicing sector this year.
For UK workers and their families, the implications are immediate and profound.
What Is Happening At ATS Euromaster?
The company, a long-standing name in tyre fitting and vehicle servicing, had already closed 86 of its least profitable centres last year. The latest move signals a deeper retrenchment.
Two potential buyers have emerged in an effort to preserve parts of the business:
- Formula One Autocentres is proposed to acquire 35 sites.
- Elite Garages is exploring the purchase of 14 locations.
If completed, 216 employees across 49 sites are expected to transfer to the new owners under TUPE regulations, protecting their continuity of employment.
However, the remaining workforce faces redundancy consultation if the proposals proceed.
Nick Harley, group managing director of Euromaster UK, described the announcement as “an extremely sad and difficult moment,” acknowledging the toll on colleagues, families, and local communities.
He cited intense market competition, sluggish sector activity, and rising operational costs as key pressures. Despite internal efforts to reshape the business, he said the company could find “no viable path forward to a break-even position.”
Why This Matters For UK Workers
The automotive servicing sector has been under mounting strain:
- Rising energy and property costs
- Increased parts and supply chain expenses
- Changing vehicle technology and electrification
- Competitive pricing pressures
For workers, this is not simply a corporate restructuring story. It is about livelihoods in communities where ATS centres have operated for decades.
If the wind-down proceeds in full, hundreds of skilled technicians, call centre staff and administrative workers will be entering a competitive labour market at a time when economic confidence remains fragile.
At The Workers Union, our focus remains firmly on UK workers navigating redundancy risk, TUPE transfers, and workplace consultation processes.
Understanding TUPE And Redundancy Risk
Under TUPE regulations, employees transferring to new ownership retain:
- Existing terms and conditions
- Length of service
- Continuity of employment
However, for those not transferring, redundancy consultation obligations apply. Employers must:
- Engage in meaningful consultation
- Explore alternative employment
- Apply fair selection criteria
- Provide statutory redundancy pay where applicable
For workers in affected ATS locations, clarity and communication will be essential in the weeks ahead.
A Wider Trend In The UK Automotive Sector?
The ATS decision reflects broader structural change across UK automotive services. As vehicle technology evolves and consumer behaviour shifts, some legacy networks are struggling to maintain geographic scale and profitability.
For UK ATS workers searching terms such as:
- “ATS Euromaster redundancy”
- “703 jobs at risk UK”
- “TUPE transfer rights UK”
- “car servicing jobs UK redundancy”
The Workers Union Perspective
A spokesperson for The Workers Union said:
“Today’s news will cause understandable anxiety for hundreds of UK workers and their families. When large employers restructure, the human cost must not be overlooked. It is essential that every affected employee receives clear information about their rights, whether transferring under TUPE or entering redundancy consultation. We will continue to support working people through this period of uncertainty.”
What Happens Next?
The proposed sales to Formula One Autocentres and Elite Garages remain subject to completion. Consultation processes are expected to begin across affected sites and head office operations.
For now, more than 700 ATS workers face weeks of uncertainty.
In a sector already navigating technological and economic transformation, this moment underscores the fragile balance between commercial viability and workforce stability.
UK workers deserve transparency, fairness and dignity throughout this process.
