A century-old Bradford garage has marked a major milestone in its history after receiving a national industry award, following a period of significant investment and transformation under new Asian ownership.
Napoleon Garage, based in BD4, was awarded The Motor Ombudsman’s National Star Award, bringing national recognition to the city for the second consecutive year. The honour coincided with the business celebrating its 100th anniversary, a landmark moment for one of Bradford’s longest-established independent garages.
The business has been led for the past four years by Bradford entrepreneur Azhar Mahmood, who took over the historic garage and embarked on a programme of modernisation while retaining its heritage. Since assuming leadership, Azhar has invested heavily in upgraded infrastructure, new diagnostic equipment and continuous staff training, repositioning the garage for long-term sustainability and growth.
Central to that transformation has been a renewed focus on customer care, a factor that ultimately led to the national award. Judges highlighted an incident in which the garage’s team responded late on a cold Sunday night to assist a stranded family whose breakdown provider had failed to attend.
That act of compassion first secured Napoleon Garage the Regional Star Award for the North, before it went on to be named the overall National Star Award winner.
Speaking after receiving the award, Azhar Mahmood said the recognition carried particular significance given the business’s heritage and its place within the Bradford community.
“As a proudly Asian-owned business, it means a great deal to be entrusted with carrying forward a Bradford institution with such deep roots,” he said. “When I took over, the focus was on investing in the future, improving facilities, upskilling our team and putting customer care at the centre of everything we do. To receive a national award in our centenary year is something we are immensely proud of.”
Napoleon Garage had been highly commended in the previous year’s Star Awards, making this year’s national win a notable step forward.
The award was formally presented earlier this month at the CTSI Hero Awards ceremony at the Houses of Parliament, where the garage also received £2,000 in vouchers.
Customer Steve Berry, whose experience prompted the nomination, said the team’s response left a lasting impression.
“They were knights in shining armour that night,” he said. “Their care and kindness stood out, and it’s clear the business has been transformed under Azhar’s leadership.”
Bill Fennell, Chief Ombudsman and Managing Director of The Motor Ombudsman, said the award reflected the values the scheme was designed to highlight.
“The way Napoleon Garage went the extra mile for a customer in their time of need is exactly what the Star Awards are about,” he said. “To mark a centenary year with such recognition adds another important chapter to the legacy of this business.”
Looking ahead, Azhar said the garage was now preparing for its next phase, with plans to expand further into the West Yorkshire fleet servicing market, supporting commercial customers alongside its established local client base.
For a business that first opened its doors a century ago, the award represents both recognition of the past and a signal of confidence in its future, rooted in Bradford, but recognised on a national stage.
