Bath entrepreneur Nick Child, whose previous businesses have spanned electric vehicles, communications and electrical goods, is turning his talent to a revolutionary underground parking system.
Mr Child, pictured, has taken on the role of managing director of Cardok UK, an arm of the Swiss firm behind the innovative Cardok hydraulic lift system which allows car owners to make more effective use of limited parking space on their property. 
The system can accommodate one or more cars below ground with more vehicles parked on the surface. As well as doubling the amount of home parking space, the Cardok offers far greater security than a conventional garage.
It is operated by an energy efficient electro-hydraulic system – which uses about the same amount of power as boiling a kettle of water- and also has a back-up generator.
Mr Child, who has considerable sales and marketing expertise, joins Cardok having run several successful businesses in and around Bath. He will be based in the firm's new UK office in Queen Square Place. His previous businesses have included satellite TV and consumer electrics group Longreach and Powabyke, the electric bike manufacturer.
He will be responsible for developing UK sales of Cardok and the company’s other parking systems which include the CarTurn turntable for manoeuvring vehicles in limited spaces. He is also seeking to build mutually-beneficial relationships with local architects who are looking to maximise design space.
Mr Child said: “By installing a Cardok in the driveway, homeowners can double their parking space and maximise the value of their properties. It’s also an ‘uber-cool’ piece of kit.
“Once your vehicle is parked securely underground passers-by won’t even know it’s there. Cardok therefore offers the ultimate protection against vandals and thieves.”
He said the system offered a number of benefits to architects who can utilise valuable extra space in their building designs that would otherwise be taken up by parked or turning cars. 
“We already work closely with architects across Europe and are now looking to team-up with building designers here in the South West of England,” he said.
One customer in the South of France recently installed a Cardok to access his five-space garage under a new build luxury villa and incorporated a 5m turntable to make access easier – saving around 2,500 sq ft of space that could be used for living accommodation.
