Walking the walk for Breast Cancer Care

A marketing manager from a Somerset Volkswagen car retailer is stepping up the training for a night time marathon walk, wearing very little other than a colourfully decorated bra, all in the name of charity.

Sharon Mortimore, from Exeter, is taking part in the Playtex Moonwalk on the 15th May and is planning to raise over £1,000 for Breast Cancer Care.

The event, which attracted over 15,000 walkers last year, will see Sharon join thousands of women - and a few courageous men – as they parade through central London in the hours of darkness.

Sharon who normally spends her time promoting Silver Street Volkswagen, is now using her skills to help raise sponsorship for her walking challenge.

She said: “My work colleagues have been very generous and are looking forward to seeing the pictures from the event. I would like to thank the Silver Street Automotive Group who has certainly given my sponsorship total a big boost.

“I have been training hard and walking to work when possible. I am really looking forward to the event. It is such a wonderful and humbling experience that really unites women in the fight against Breast Cancer. “

This year’s theme is ‘Showtime’ which invites participates to decorate their bras in plentiful amounts of glitter, feathers, sparkles and beads creating a razzle dazzle feel to the event.

Andy Russell, Managing Director from Silver Street Automotive Group said: “We are very happy to support Sharon and wish all the Moonwalkers the very best of luck.”

To help Sharon reach her goal donations can be taken into Taunton Volkswagen on Silver Street or by visiting http://www.walkthewalkfundraising.org/sharon_mortimore

SALES EXECUTIVES GRADUATE FROM EXCLUSIVE COURSE

Two sales executive from Somerset are celebrating after becoming two of the first in the country to graduate from a new two year training programme.

Gary Phip (36) and Louis Talbot (29) Silver Street Volkswagen in Taunton recently completed the course launched by the Volkswagen training academy to retain some of the top talent in the industry.

The duo, from Bridgwater and Taunton, had to pass tough exams in law, customer service, product knowledge, coaching and recruitment to gain the NVQ Level 4 equivalent qualification.

Gary, who has worked at the retailer for over three years, said: “I am delighted to be one of the first people to complete the course.

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

The culmination of the course, which was assessed by exams and interviews, was a three month project, presented to a panel of Volkswagen directors.

Paul Harding, sales manager at Silver Street 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.”

Gary and Louis are among a group of only 20 graduates from the Volkswagen Academy scheme in the UK.