9:19 am, July 15, 2026
Incoming Prime Minister Andy Burnham has spoken at length about his plans to move power to the North of England and now one of the automotive industry’s biggest regulatory bodies has decided to follow suit.
That is because the Motor Ombudsman has opened a new hub in Liverpool after a significant hike in consumer disputes.
The new site will exist alongside the Ombudsman’s existing HQ in London in order to meet growing demand from motorists and businesses for its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) service.
In the first five months of this year, the firm has seen a 22% rise in disputes and is currently handling 23,499 unique consumer cases.
It is hoped that by opening the site, next to the River Mersey, the body will be able to ‘recruit high calibre and experienced staff in a wider geographical area beyond the capital’.
The first phase of that recruitment will bring 17 additional staff members, increasing the Motor Ombudsman’s workforce to almost 90 employees.
Bosses say that the additional staff will allow the firm to bring the ‘operational capacity, capability, and resilience required to maintain a robust and high-performing service’.
Confirming the latest development, Bill Fennell, chief ombudsman and managing director of the Motor Ombudsman, said: ‘The opening of a hub in Liverpool is a significant and exciting step forward for the Motor Ombudsman, and marks another important milestone in our continued growth.
‘As demand for our ADR service continues to rise, expanding our presence beyond London gives us access to a wider pool of talent, supports the creation of new local jobs in Merseyside, and strengthens the capacity and expertise we need to support consumers and businesses across the automotive sector.’
