Blog
17. December 2025

bott 2025 Review: Key highlights

As 2025 draws to a close, it’s been a standout year for bott - one defined by growth, innovation, and strong connections. From showcasing our market-leading solutions at key industry exhibitions across the UK, to welcoming Van Guard Accessories into the bott family, this year has marked an exciting new chapter in our journey. We’ve continued to invest in the future of our operations, with plans announced for a brand-new conversion centre in Exeter, set to enhance our vehicle solutions and support even more customers.
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Alongside these developments, our teams across the UK have come together to celebrate success, enjoying food, barbeques, and team events that reflect the strength of our workplace community. Beyond our day-to-day work, we’ve remained committed to giving back. Throughout the year, we’ve proudly supported charitable and sponsorship initiatives - from the Bude Lifeboat Run to our partnership with Team BRIT, including a memorable visit to our Ashby site. From industry recognition to community spirit, 2025 has truly been a year to remember at bott.

In the first quarter of the year, we unveiled our manual assembly range, bott avero, at the Southern Manufacturing & Electronics Show 2025. Designed with the workplace of the future in mind, the avero workstation enhances efficiency, ergonomics, and safety - supporting businesses in creating smarter, more productive environments.

Alongside our workplace storage solution, bott cubio, the event provided the perfect platform to demonstrate our tailored solutions to a wide range of businesses. There’s nothing more valuable than speaking directly with customers - both current and future - to understand their challenges and gain insights that help drive the ongoing innovation of our product range.

Q1: bott avero

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In February, we proudly celebrated National Apprenticeships Week, reinforcing our commitment to supporting the future workforce. At bott, we regularly open our doors to young people, offering guidance and insight as they begin shaping their career paths.

Our Career Open Evenings welcomed a number of enthusiastic visitors to bott HQ, eager to learn more about our Level 3 Engineering and Business Administration Apprenticeships, work experience placements, and wider career opportunities. Many of our key team members started their bott journey in exactly this way - making these sessions an important investment in both individual futures and the long-term success of our business.

Q1: Celebrating apprenticeships

Our third Q1 highlight was the conversion of 65 game-changing vehicles for Budweiser Brewing Group. Designed for performance, the project delivered a seamless, one-stop conversion solution - from cutting-edge racking systems to eye-catching vehicle graphics.

Our in-house graphics team created bold, impactful designs that showcase both Budweiser Brewing Group’s most iconic brands and its emerging names. Each vehicle was purpose-built to support service engineers, with ultra-lightweight racking that maximises storage, functionality, and efficiency on the road.

Q1: 65 game-changing vehicle conversions

At the start of our second quarter of the year in April, we announced our highly anticipated acquisition of Van Guard Accessories. As a long-established British manufacturer specialising in high-quality van accessories, security and storage solutions, the partnership couldn’t be more fitting.

We can now service our customers further, combining expertise and innovation to deliver even greater value.

Our CEO, Nick Smith, said the following: 

We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Van Guard Accessories into the bott family! This acquisition will not only strengthen our market position but also enhance the value we provide to our customers, creating exciting opportunities for innovation and collaboration.

Q2: Bott Group acquires Van Guard Accessories

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In the same month, we also exhibited at the CV Show - where we were able to showcase the full bott experience. Visitors to our stand were able to learn more about our lightweight, crash-tested tacking, EV installations and vehicle graphics. We also demonstrated our advanced electrical integration capabilities, featuring power, heating and safety systems - as well as digital solutions designed to improve efficiency.

In June, we were proud to support the Bude Lifeboat Run as the main sponsor. Over 450 runners took on the challenging 10km course, including some of our bott team! All funds raised from the event went directly to the RNLI - a fantastic organisation dedicated to saving lives at sea.

Q2: The Commercial Vehicle Show & supporting the RNLI

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bott Smartvan is evolving! In the third quarter of the year, we launched a brand new-look bott Smartvan website, with a smarter and easier configurator experience. The website now boasts: smarter, faster shopping, a more visual 3D configurator, more ways to pay and improved security.

In August, Team BRIT visited bott at our site in Ashby. We loved reconnecting with our valued partner - the world’s only competitive team of all-disabled racing drivers. Supporting people with physical and psychological challenges, the Team BRIT team provide access to motorsport, through technology and expertise.

Q3: Rebranding bott Smartvan & Team BRIT

In September, we revealed our plans for a new Vehicle Conversion Centre in Exeter - set to support the whole of the South-West.

This is an exciting step in our strategic plan to widen our footprint across the UK, complementing our existing national fleet infrastructure in Ashby de-la Zouch and Cumbernauld, where we have been a leading UK provider of fleet solutions for 40 years. We’ll be officially opening the doors in Q1 next year.

Q3: bott announces a new Vehicle Conversion Centre in Exeter

In the final chapter of the year, we wanted to establish a new vision statement: bott. mastering space and time.

More than a slogan, this is a promise to support our customers in using space and time wisely. When this is done, great things can be achieved! We’re committed to helping companies who understand that efficiency can increase both productivity and employee satisfaction. And as a one-stop-shop for all things vehicle equipment, workplace storage equipment, workspace systems, laboratories, training and test systems - we’re perfectly positioned to support your operations.

Q4: bott. mastering space and time

In November, we were crowned Exporter of the Year at this year’s Cornwall Manufacturers Group Awards. It was an honour to be recognised among so many outstanding manufacturers from across the county.

This award reflected the hard work, dedication and experience of our team as we continue to grow our international presence while maintaining high-quality and innovative design and production.

Q4: Exporter of the Year!

Lastly, we wanted to give a special shoutout to Nathan Powell, winner of the Make UK Engineering Apprentice: Rising Star Award 2025 for the South region. Nathan is dedicated, talented and committed to delivering excellent work - a very worthy winner!

We would also like to congratulate Matt Isaac, our Lead Manufacturing Engineer who was shortlisted alongside Nathan - a fantastic team player at bott HQ.

Q4: Make UK Engineering Apprentice

As we look back on 2025, one thing is clear: this has been a year shaped by ambition, collaboration, and progress. From launching innovative new products and expanding our national footprint, to welcoming new colleagues, partners, and customers into the bott family, every milestone has been driven by the passion and expertise of our people.

We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together - not just in terms of growth and recognition, but in the way we continue to support our communities, invest in future talent, and deliver real value for our customers. These successes are a testament to the dedication of our teams across the UK and the trust our customers place in us every day.

As we move into 2026, we do so with momentum, clarity, and excitement for what lies ahead. Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey this year - we look forward to building on this success and continuing to master space and time together.