Our History
Nationwide Accident Repair Services (NARS) - formerly Perrys - has been operating in the motor industry since 1908 when the founder Harold Perry started the Capital Screen, Hood & Motor Accessories Company. Twelve years later, Perrys became a public company, quoted on the Stock Exchange.
In 1994, Perrys introduced its Nationwide Crash Repair chain of bodyshops, with accident and repair facilities throughout the UK. In the five years that followed, both Perrys and its Nationwide chain developed within their respective markets. By 1998, Nationwide had increased its bodyshop network to 50.
Perrys entered into a management buyout of the Motor division in 2001 and the Group changed its name to Nationwide Accident Repair Services plc (NARS).
In 2002 a successful take over by venture capitalists Guinness Peat Group plc and JO Hambro Capital Management Limited resulted in the company becoming a private company once more. Michael Wilmshurst, was appointed as Chief Executive and the Head Office moved from Hertford to Witney, Oxfordshire.
Considerable investment in staff, training, equipment and premises has allowed the company to constantly improve capabilities and capacity. With a total of 71 bodyshops Nationwide Accident Repair Services is by far the largest group of accident repair centres in the UK and is recognised as the market leader in the UK accident repair market.