Chris Jones, a Dartmouth mechanic, is bringing vehicle skills to the Dartmouth community with the help of a £184,000 loan from the Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF), delivered by SWIG Finance.
Chris Jones began his career at FRL Auto Services, where he spent 16 years honing his skills before moving on. When he later discovered that the garage’s long-time owner, Ian Gobel, was planning to sell after 32 years, the opportunity felt too significant to ignore. Chris stepped in to buy the business, renaming it Jonesy’s Garage, which he now runs alongside his wife, Gemma.
For Gemma, the turning point came when Chris began to feel unfulfilled at his previous work place. “I asked him what would make him happy,” she recalls. “He replied, ‘Running my own business, building a legacy and having my own name above the door.’ Not long after that, we heard FRL was for sale – and after months of hard work, it was ours.”
For Chris, the purchase marked a full-circle moment. “I knew so many people there,” he says. “The owner and senior technician trained me, and I helped train the others before I left. I worked my way up in that garage, learning on the job – and now I own it. It’s an incredible feeling.”
Today, Chris leads the workshop while Gemma manages the business operations. “We’re making ourselves part of the brand,” she explains. “It’s more than just a garage — we want to be part of the community.” Both continue to serve in the emergency services alongside running the business, with Chris working as a retained firefighter and Gemma as a full-time paramedic at a GP surgery.
Since taking over, the couple have focused on modernising the garage while keeping its community spirit at the heart of everything they do. They are introducing online booking and management systems, have invested in staff training to keep pace with evolving vehicle technology, and even added small customer comforts like coffee and cold drinks. “It’s the little things that make the experience better,” says Gemma.
Community engagement is also central to their vision. The garage now hosts regular events, including ladies’ nights and sessions for young drivers, aimed at making car care more accessible and less intimidating. “We show people simple things — like checking tyre pressure or changing oil,” Chris explains. “It helps them understand what they’re paying for and builds trust.”
To make the purchase possible, Chris and Gemma worked with brokers South West Business Finance, who introduced them to SWIG Finance. With support from business manager Rachael Taylor, they secured funding through CIEF – a £10 million fund backed by Triodos Bank and Better Society Capital and managed by Social Investment Scotland. The initiative forms part of a wider £72 million programme supporting small and micro businesses across England and Wales, helping to drive local jobs and economic growth.
“We’d like to say a huge thank you to SWIG Finance — they’ve turned a dream into reality,” says Gemma. “This is something Chris never thought possible, and it’s made such a difference. He’s come home a much happier person.”
She also praised the support they received throughout the process. “Rachael was fantastic. We were juggling everything around work, but she was always available and made the whole process feel straightforward. It can be daunting dealing with lenders, but she made it easy.”
Rachael Taylor added: “It was a pleasure working with Chris and Gemma. Their passion and experience really stood out, along with their clear plans to build on the strong foundations already in place. I’m excited to see how the business continues to grow.”
About SWIG Finance
SWIG Finance is a people-based lender that provides loans and support to help smaller businesses in the South and West Country grow. We base our lending decisions on potential rather than collateral, which means that we can often support businesses when others can’t.
We’re growing every year. In 2024/25, we lent £14.8m to 501 businesses, helping to create and secure over 1,272 jobs and generate £75.7m in social impact.
If you’d like an informal chat about your funding requirements, get in touch with our friendly and professional team to see how we can help. Call 01872 227930 or email [email protected].
About The Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF)
The Community Investment Enterprise Fund (CIEF) is a £10 million facility funded by Triodos Bank and Better Society Capital. It has been made available to SWIG Finance.
Article and images courtesy of SWIG Finance.
