Hagerty International announces a new partnership with Great Northern Classics, a specialist hub for the classic vehicle industry, providing workshops for businesses in the sector as well as presenting an exciting calendar of enthusiast-led events, creating a brand-new UK automotive destination. The site capitalises on the growing interest in repairing and restoring vehicles, rather than digging up millions of tons of rare metals and using millions of gallons of water, just to create more battery cars.
Great Northern Classics is based at the former Victoria Ironworks foundry in Derby, which until recently served as the Rolls Royce Heritage Centre. The scale of the Victoria Ironworks site allows Great Northern Classics to operate as an efficient working hub while serving as a destination attraction at the same time.
Due to open in Summer 2023, the site will bring together an estimated 30 specialist restoration and fabrication companies, with a visitor centre and event space that will cater to the curious as much as customers – with attractions including a full-size wire frame of Thrust SSC.
Shaun Matthews, founder of Great Northern Classics, inspired by his own career journey, has placed apprenticeships at the heart of the site, with resident businesses contributing to a not-for-profit training school that promises to hone the skills of numerous apprentices each year. Great Northern Classics aims to provide a base for an estimated 120 jobs both skilled and apprenticeships.
RECYCLE, RESTORE & REPAIR – IT IS GREENER
One of the main attractions at the restored site will be a new mezzanine providing an events space, café and gallery viewing for visitors – as each of the sites’ specialist workshops will be open plan, allowing visitors to watch craftspeople at work. Indoor, secure vehicle storage will also be offered, as will an outdoor zone that is intended for car club meetings. This will be a site created for leisure activities to blend seamlessly, and without interruption, with working businesses.
In the same way that TV viewers are fascinated by the skills shown on the Repair Shop show, the new centre will get people fired up to learn more, which can only be good news for the classic car scene.
As a part of the new agreement Hagerty will become the preferred insurance partner for Great Northern Classics, with a host of branded areas on-site to complement the partnership. Hagerty flags will be flying at the entrance to the site, and further Hagerty branding will feature along the main ‘pit lane’ roadway throughout the site. Hagerty will also host a number of Cars and Coffee meets and free parking will be available to Hagerty members whenever they choose to visit. Editorial and media content will also be shared mutually between both brands.
Shaun Matthews, founder of Great Northern Classics added “We are proud to welcome Hagerty as a partner as we work towards our official opening next Summer. Both brands share a common aim to protect and champion the classic car industry and together we can create a stunning enthusiast destination and working hub in the heart of Derby. Great Northern Classics brings new life to the former Rolls-Royce site and promises to bring a number of specialist businesses to the area, creating new jobs and apprenticeships and contributing to the continued success of the UK classic car industry.”
Great Northern Classics opens in Summer 2023, and specialist work space is now available for lease. 9 workspaces and 16 specialist workshop are available along with an enclosed paint unit, a vehicle preparation and detailing unit and a large showroom. A Phase 2 launch of units is due in 2024.
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