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COURSES RUN BY EURO CAR PARTS’ EURO ACADEMY HAVE PROVED INVALUABLE
Autofirst Network is the key to our future success UCKFIELD MOTOR SERVICES
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ymon Cockill, founder of Uckfield Motor Services, has taught his family well. They never turn business away and there is always room to grow! As part of their ambitious growth strategy, the business joined the Autofirst Network, an initiative backed by Euro Car Parts. The rapidly-expanding garage has eight ramps and two MOT bays and is beginning to take on small volumes of fleet work. Attracted by training, marketing support and technical assistance, the workshop has been an advocate and active user of the Autofirst Network since it joined. The first thing that Uckfield did after joining The Uckfield Motor Services team pride themselves on their reliability the Autofirst Network was to get the 10 technicians ‘You can’t operate in this going to do the best job possible. Part of being that they currently employ industry without technical able to deliver on this promise is investment in to complete the Technical partnerships that give you training and equipment. Being partnered with Assessment, which is available access to the equipment and Euro Car Parts gives us access to expertise and through the Euro Academy. databases you need to complete technical capabilities, allowing us to turn jobs The online assessment asks 75 the job. Training is a vital part of around quickly for customers. questions in 75 minutes assessing this growth because the electronic ‘We have worked closely with Euro Car Parts their electrical, diagnostic and for over a decade, and the team has always been Uckfield Motor Services side of the trade is massive.’ mechanical knowledge. From He continued: ‘Recently, I went approachable. It is one of the few businesses in this, Uckfield Motor Services was able to plan a on the Euro Academy hybrid and electric vehicle the industry with the infrastructure to deliver training schedule for its team. Dozens of courses course because this is a technology that is coming on what is promised, so we see great potential are available, from electrics and diagnostics and for which we need to prepare. Our point in the Autofirst Network scheme. We are already to hybrid vehicle servicing and customer care, of differentiation is incredible service, all the experiencing the benefits, with access to market catering for a wide range of technical abilities. time. By partnering with companies like Euro presence and technical support.’ Speaking about the arrangement and future Car Parts, we can achieve this goal. In addition, A family-run business, Uckfield Motor direction of Uckfield Motor Services, son by belonging to an approved garage scheme, we Services is running out of space for the trophies of Symon, Edward Cockill, emphasised the can attract new customers. This was part of our and bottles of champagne that the family has importance of belonging to an approved garage strategy for becoming an approved Black Circles collected over years of racing. However, it is this scheme. He said: ‘Six years ago, if a car came in fitting centre and we believe that the industry passion and enthusiasm for motor vehicles that with an engine management light on, it would presence of Euro Car Parts, combined with its has been instrumental to its success. be something exciting. These days, there are 65 impressive marketing budget, will also drive new ‘I never imagined that my two sons and control systems on a Mercedes-Benz. business into the workshop.’ daughter would join my wife Melanie and I in There is still a challenge, however, because as the business; it’s terrific,’ says Symon Cockill. repairs become more technical, it is harder for ‘We continue to race Citroen C1s. We might be customers to understand the costs associated dialling back the motorsport but we are keeping with repair jobs. Diagnostics can be a nightmare the race truck for when my grandchildren arrive. with error codes not always accurately identifying They are going to turn up to their first karting the mechanical or electrical issue. To combat this, meetings in a proper truck! Uckfield Motor Services has significantly invested ‘We are creating a business for the next in equipment that speeds up work time and generation of our family. Investing in equipment reduces the end cost for customers. and training guarantees that this business will Edward said: ‘We attract customers who are continue to thrive for many generations to come. looking for an honest and reliable garage that is Any workshop owner would do the same.’
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We are creating a business for the next generation of our family. 34 | WorkShopMagazine.co.uk