With an engineering background and experience in the supply of commercial parts, Howard started HB Commercial in 1982, with the aim of supplying commercial vehicle users with components for their fleets.

All manufacturers source many of their parts from specialist manufacturers and it was the company’s objective to obtain direct accounts with these O.E.manufacturers.

HB Commercial was formed with that aim in mind, operating out of four containers in Sub Station Rd, Felixstowe. One container served as the office and counter, one was used as a brake relining workshop and two were used as storage units for parts.

By 1986 a growth in demand for the company's services had meant an increase in accommodation to ten containers. It was at this time we moved to our site in Walton Avenue.

A number of customers suggested that while we supply parts, why don’t we fit them so we employ our first fitter and service van to operate out of Harwich.

It was soon apparent that if we were to continue to offer our customers a full service package, we had to commit to their requirements. The workshop in Harwich was opened with 6 staff.

We moved to our purpose built workshops with our new head offices at Ransomes Europark in November 2012, ironically 30 years to the week after the business first opened in Felixstowe.