TOP MARKS FOR TIMPERLEY SALES MANAGER

A Timperley sales manager is celebrating becoming one of the first in the UK to graduate from a new two year management training programme.

Steve Jones, who works at Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen in Altrincham, recently completed the course launched by Volkswagen’s training academy to retain some of the top talent in the industry.

The 41-¬year-old has almost 25 years’ experience in the automotive industry and graduated with one of the top marks in the country.

He said: “I am delighted to be one of the first people to complete the course and impressed at getting one of the top overall marks.

“The qualification has given me extra knowledge and experience to ensure customers are provided with the service they need from all staff.”

Steve was marked on three sections, role play, interview and 100 question exam to gain the NVQ Level 4 equivalent qualification.

Alister Stones, brand manager at Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen, said: “We believe having knowledgeable staff is paramount to the success of a business.


“The course is designed to equip some of our senior staff with the very best knowledge to deal with customers and pass on to other employees.

“The fact Steve scored the best overall mark in the UK shows we have the best sales manager in the country.”

CHARITY FAMILY WIN TRIP TO THE WILD WEST

A family from Congleton in Cheshire is saddled up and ready to fly out to a Texan ranch holiday after winning a national competition.

Denise Page secured the ‘Wild West’ break for her family after she won a ‘spot the ball’ contest at JJ’s Sensory Play Centre annual charity ball, which was sponsored by Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen in Macclesfield.

The holiday was the main prize of Volkswagen’s national competition to mark the launch of their new Touran and Sharan models.

Denise (below with Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen's brand manager, Nick Ashton) will fly out to Texas in early April with her daughter Francine and partner Guy.

Speaking of her prize, Denise said: “I was a little surprised when I had the call to tell me of my win, as I didn’t really expect all the flights and accommodation to be paid for.

“But once I had confirmation in writing, I was very excited by the choice of holidays on offer and a trip to Texas appealed to all the family – although Francine said she won’t be coming if she has to eat beans around a campfire!”

Nick Ashton, brand manager at Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen, said: “Our congratulations go out to Denise and her family and we hope they enjoy their holiday to Texas.

“We’re also pleased that we’ve helped raise awareness about the work of JJ’s Sensory Play Centre, as we extended an invitation to the charity ball to all of our customers.”

JJ’s Sensory Play Centre, which is located on Snape Road in Macclesfield, is a soft play environment which includes a sensory room. It relies entirely on donations to provide its services.

Their specialist facilities encourage young children, including those with special needs, to play in a safe environment through stimulation and interaction by using multi-sensory equipment.

For more information about JJ’s Sensory Play centre, please visit www.jjsplaycentre.co.uk or call 01625 667872.

ALTRINCHAM WORKERS CYCLE FOR CANCER FUNDRAISER

Two members of staff from an Altrincham retailer have raised thousands for charity after completing a coast-to-coast bike ride with friends.

Steve Bradin, a sales controller, and Tom Carrol, a sales executive, from Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen completed the 131 mile trek from Whitehaven to Sunderland, raising £2,675 for Macmillan Cancer Support in the process.

Reflecting on the journey, Bradin thanked his supporters and highlighted the difference that the money raised would make.

“I want to say a big thank you to everybody who sponsored me and Tom for the coast-to-coast bike ride.

“We managed to raise a huge amount of money and this will make a massive difference to a lot of people’s lives.”

The pair embarked on the journey after Tom’s mother, Kathleen Carroll, recently died from cancer.

Fundraising manager for Macmillan Cancer Support, Grace Higgins, spoke of how the funds raised will go a long way to sustaining the costs of specialist nurses.

She said: “This type of fundraising is vital to us - £2,675 will go a long way to support other families that are affected by cancer.

“It costs £191 to fund a Macmillan nurse for one day - Steve and Tom’s efforts could pay for fourteen days, helping families deal with cancer.”

ROGER’S OFF TO A FLYING START

Three years of hard work and training have paid off for Roger Gibbons after he graduated from his technician apprenticeship with Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen.

The 21-year-old joined the Salford retailer straight from school, but had to wait two years before an opportunity to join the apprenticeship programme, in order to become a fully-qualified Volkswagen technician.

To celebrate his achievement Roger was invited to a national awards ceremony in recognition of his graduation.

He now faces another year of on-the-job training to polish his skills in Gilbert Lawton’s Bridgwater Way after-sales workshop.

Gilbert Lawton’s after sales manager, Steve Keenan, said: “Roger has worked exceptionally hard during his apprenticeship to become a skillful Volkswagen technician; he will be a brilliant asset to the team.”

Roger said: “I’m so pleased to have completed my apprenticeship. All I have ever wanted to do is work with cars and I’m very grateful to have been given the opportunity to become a specialised technician.

“I’m very grateful to Gilbert Lawton and Volkswagen for investing their time and money in me so I can do a job I want to do.”

To date Gilbert Lawton has invested £40,000 training Roger to technician standard and will continue to invest their time and money so he can progress to the next step and become a master technician.

Roger’s next challenge to qualify as a master technician will take approximately six years of further training.

TOP MARKS FOR VOLKSWAGEN PARTS MANAGER

A parts manager at a Macclesfield car retailer is celebrating after passing a new management training course with some of the highest marks in the country.

Martin Pointon, who works for Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen, recently completed the parts managers aftersales qualification programme, launched by Volkswagen’s Training Academy.

The 29-year-old is the first and only parts manager to successfully complete all elements of the course.

Thrilled Martin, who lives in Macclesfield, said: “I am absolutely overjoyed and relieved to have passed the course and really proud to have done so well.

“The course taught me so much that will help me in my role as head of the parts department and for my future development.”

To pass the course Martin had to complete practical and theoretical assessments, take part in an interview and conduct a presentation on a project he was responsible for running over a 12-week period.

Having worked at the retailer on Winterton Way for almost seven years, Martin is now planning to start working towards an aftersales manager position.

Gilbert Lawton’s brand manager, Nick Ashton, said: “We believe that having knowledgeable staff is paramount to the success of a business.

“We are all very proud of Martin and I think the fact that he gained some of the highest marks in the country shows that we have the best parts manager out there.”

Issued on behalf of Gilbert Lawton Volkswagen by Connect PR. For more information contact Natasha Brown on 01902 714 957 or email natasha@connect-group.com