Sandown Torque November 2019

Sandown staf f news

WINTER 2019/20

Leading the charge

Doubling up on super service

Rugby star gives Brabus a try

Ricardo clocks up the miles

Torque 13

Welcome

A

warm welcome to Torque, the Sandown team newsletter, which is published towards the end of what has been another busy and momentous year.

There have been many highlights during 2019 – not least our four nominations in the Mercedes-Benz Retailer awards, the successful opening and positive impact made by our seventh retail outlet in Farnborough and the launch of our official Brabus centres at Guildford and Poole.

It’s not only these important achievements that ensure Sandown goes from strengthto-strength but the continued commitment of each Sandown team member to delivering the highest standards of service and customer care in a highly competitive environment. The page opposite features just a few recent examples where colleagues have gone the extra mile.

After posting its best-ever third quarter, Mercedes-Benz remains the world’s leading premium automobile brand and is now embarking on another exciting chapter in the history of mobility.

We’re all eagerly-awaiting the arrival of the first in a new generation of electric cars, the EQC, which combines the know-how from more than 130 years of automobile engineering with the mobility

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Your hard work and commitment is sincerely appreciated and is pivotal to our success; thank you for your valuable contribution.” requirements of the future.

I know that many of you are enthused about this pioneering model having seen it during the various events held as part of the EQ training programme as well as the Retailer tour organised by Mercedes-Benz UK. As a business, we’re now fully prepared in each of our facilities and looking forward to this new wave of ground-breaking cars that will be joined by a host of plug-in hybrid models too. smart’s switch of its entire portfolio to electric drive is also a major development that presents some more fantastic opportunities for our business.

Your hard work and commitment is sincerely appreciated and is pivotal to our success; thank you for your valuable contribution. With the

experience, motivation and dedication of the Sandown team, I have every confidence that our future is bright - I know that I can count on your support as we build on our success in 2019 and finish this year strong with firm foundations prepared for an even better 2020.

I wish you and your families a blessed Christmas and I look forward to our working together to make 2020 an exceptional year for Sandown and each and every member of the team.

Best wishes,

Gavin McAllister Managing Director

Examples of Excellence

Gold star Poole’s Service Team Manager Dan Muncaster has proven to be a golden wonder as far as smart fortwo owner, Ahmed Jama, is concerned.

Mr Jama wrote in to express his satisfaction about the treatment he receives whenever his car is serviced.

“Dan takes the time to explain in detail what is being done, offers me options and ensures the service has been carried out and delivered in a timely manner and to standards I can only describe as ‘Gold’,” enthused Mr Jama. “He is awesome!”

Credit due High praise for Harry Second year apprentice Harry Galloway made a significant contribution to Mercedes-Benz of Basingstoke achieving its monthly warranty hours earlier this summer.

Harry conducted and logged 387 recall updates during two visits in July to BCA’s vehicle storage facility in Thurleigh, Bedfordshire, where he has since returned on several occasions to maintain Sandown’s support with the huge stock of cars on-site.

Angela and Michael Wardroper maintained their 20-year association with the brand, thanks to two members of the team at their local Salisbury Retailer.

Despite always receiving excellent and caring service, the couple admitted that they did consider other options in a competitive marketplace before deciding on a B-Class – a purchase helped by the showroom atmosphere and

how they were looked after by Sales Executive Richard Parker and Star Expert Sean Adams.

“Richard’s patient and professional attitude helped us with our choice and in making the purchase so much easier and a pleasure,” wrote Mr Wardroper. “We are extremely grateful to him and Sean, who spent time introducing us to the technical intricacies of the car – both deserve our thanks and are a credit to Sandown.”

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EQC

Staff empowered by EQC tour Staff have certainly been energised by the arrival in showrooms of the EQC, the first in a new generation of Mercedes-Benz electric cars.

Following the Electrify Your Retailer training programme undertaken by teams at each of our Retailers, the new model has also toured all of our EQ-ready sites and CRC centre where it received an enthusiastic reception.

Staff were particularly impressed by the crossover

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SUV’s interior and the level of technology available with the new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. In addition to voice control features such as radio and climate control, the EQCspecific MBUX enables drivers to display the car’s range, charge status and energy flow, as well as follow EQ-optimised navigation.

Nick O’Leary, Senior Star Expert at Poole and Group Product Trainer, was involved

in delivering some of the Electrify Your Retailer training to colleagues. He described the EQC as a “game changer”.

“The car is so familiar when you see it for the first time – it’s a mix between a GLC SUV and GLC Coupé but with subtle changes on the outside,” he said. “And of course the best bit about the EQC is, when you turn it on, it remains silent and glides silently down the road whilst handling superbly due to the low centre of gravity with its battery located in the floor.”

Offering a range of 259 miles (WLTP) as well as an output of 408 hp and 765 Nm of torque, the EQ flagship will be capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds and a top speed of 111 mph. The EQC 400 4MATIC is the launch model and it will be available with a choice of four trim lines plus a pair of special editions – Edition 1 and Edition 1886.

News SQ

Brunch time Tea and toast of a musical variety were provided to customers taking delivery of new cars featuring the new 69-plate registration.

Instead of their usual midnight handover events, Guildford and Poole staged celebratory brunches for around 40 customers on 1st September when the latter serenaded guests in their showroom with the help of local acoustic musician Carley Varley.

Double date Sandown was a regular visitor to the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in August with our attendance at two events in the space of a fortnight.

We displayed a Brabus G800 and GLC Coupé amongst some of the world’s most exclusive and desirable motors at the Supercar Weekend before taking a Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupé and G-Class along to the Simply Mercedes event where hundreds of brand enthusiasts were present.

Big news The stars in Sandown showrooms were certainly sparkling on American Independence Day when the Group united for the start of the Big Event.

Thanks to the hard work of staff, there was a 14 per cent increase in appointments for this summer’s event which ran for four days from the 4th July and resulted in 164 sales across our Retailers.

Movie nights Mercedes-Benz of Guildford took a leading role in a successful local business tie-up that was enjoyed by film buffs.

The Retailer teamed up with Harbour Hotel for outdoor screenings of The Talented Mr Ripley and Crazy Stupid Love and organised social media competitions to win tickets to the events.

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GDPR

SAR you ready for customer data requests?

GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) has now been in force for nearly 18 months but there can be no let-up in ensuring that we remain fully compliant with these stricter data privacy laws.

Everybody now has the right under the Data Protection Act 2018 to make a request to any organisation for a copy of the information held about them. This is known as a Subject Access Request (SAR).

We must acknowledge a SAR as soon as received and provide the information within a maximum of 30 days via email or post.

With this in mind, it is important to recognise this type of request from a customer as they do not necessarily need to be submitted formally in writing – it could be dropped simply into a conversation as: “Please can I see all of the information you hold about me?”

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We must acknowledge a SAR as soon as received and provide the information within a maximum of 30 days via email or post.”

If you receive a request face-to-face or on the telephone, you will need to notify the compliance team by emailing marketingpreferences@ sandown-mercedes.co.uk. Email or postal requests should also be forwarded to this email address for recording and documenting using a formal process.

Golf SQ

On course for success Sandown recorded a successful summer of golf both on and off the greens.

Customers Ian Broom, Young Kwon and Callum Maher represented us at the UK Final of the MercedesTrophy at St Andrews, where they enjoyed three days of golf and Mercedes-Benz hospitality.

The trio qualified from our own golf day at Ferndown Golf Club – a successful event (detailed below) that has paved the way for a more formal business partnership with the south coast’s premier heathland golf course.

The venue will display our models and will host future collaborative events and customer meetings.

The hole story Every year, our marketing team swings into action to ensure our golf day goes off to a tee.

Entry to the MercedesTrophy competition is always over-subscribed following the initial invitation that was emailed to 21,000 customers in April this year.

The marketing team collates the responses, communicates details of the rules and itinerary to the successful 80-plus players and liaises with the host golf club on matters such as timings, positioning of display cars, menu choices and teams so players are suitably matched.

Every customer is contacted 24 hours before to ensure that they’re still attending, whilst on the day itself, members of the marketing

department arrive at the course at 7am to arrange flags, banners and cars.

The golfers start arriving at 8am and each one is welcomed, checked-in individually and presented with a Sandown goody bag. Once their rounds have commenced, it’s time to set up for lunch and the afternoon prize-giving ceremony.

With the awards presented and the participants heading homewards hopefully happy, the displays can be taken down but our golf involvement still has a ‘fairway’ to go as we then have to look after the three customers progressing to the MercedesTrophy national qualifier and then on to the final at St Andrews.

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Partnership

Performance from every perspective Our exclusive partnership with Brabus is accelerating nicely.

Following our appointment as the official representative for the performance and styling brand for the south of England, Brabus centres have been established at Guildford and Poole where dedicated sales and aftersales support is available and growing by reputation.

A concierge service is provided by Carl Winston (Poole) and Tim Cooper-Wren (Guildford) to assist with any enquiry from buying a new or Approved Used Brabus model or enhancing an existing Mercedes-Benz with an

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engine upgrade, full conversion or the addition of after-market products.

Supporting Carl and Tim in their respective locations are technicians James Johnson and Mark Blay, who look after any workshop requirements and are enjoying the assortment of work that can vary from engine tuning and bodykit fitting to the upgrading of wheels and the installation of special interior finishes.

“I worked with Vauxhall for many years and undertook

some retrofits but these were nothing like Brabus,” said Mark.

“Every single vehicle upgrade is different which means that each job presents a new challenge especially as the instructions are for left-hand drive cars.

“James and I liaise closely and we’ve taught ourselves the specifics but we are still learning and the variety means our training will never stop which is great as I love learning new skills.”

Echoing those sentiments, James added: “Working on Brabus makes me feel that I’m working on something different and I like the fact that you can move from a simple fitment to a very complex job.

“An early highlight has been the opportunity to work on the Brabus Bullet, which is based on the 204 C-Class and is one of my favourite cars.”

G force blows customers away Our Brabus operations have gained a powerful reputation in recent months with the help of an array of marketing activity.

The Group’s striking G800 demonstrators were the focus of attention at various summer events and the interest generated on-site has been matched online.

We now have approaching 1,700 followers on our dedicated Instagram account, where our formidable 4x4s have been snapped with a host of well-known faces, including rugby stars James Haskell and Matt Symons plus automotive vlogger Tatbels.

Our online presence has been further strengthened with the launch of a standalone website featuring the latest models for sale and information on the conversion packages available. Take a look for yourself at www.sandown-brabus.co.uk

Clockwise below: Our Brabus G800 with Tatbels, James Haskell with Chloe Madeley and Matt Symons

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Staff offers

Special rates for Sandown staff A selection of our business partners offer discounts to Sandown staff – from bed and breakfast to beauty treatments – so why not take advantage?

Aruba, Bournemouth 25% off dinner^

West Beach, Bournemouth 25% off dinner^

Champneys Forest Mere Discounts on stays, day trips, treatments and much more*.

Tylney Hall Hotel, Hook Corporate B&B rate of £120+

^Staff member must hold a discount card to be eligible for discount - please contact HR to obtain a card. *Please speak to a member of the Sandown marketing team for a bespoke discounted quote. +Best available rate is £230 (subject to change). Including 20% off all food and beverages during stay. Per room per night rate – single occupancy. Subject to availability. Please contact Sandown marketing team for discounted reservation link and full terms and conditions.

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Park life and recollecting royal orders Mercedes-Benz of Basingstoke’s Car Park Attendant Geoff Clay reveals the love for his family and a brush with the royal one.

How long in motor industry? 20 years.

What does your job entail? Ensuring all customers have space to park and that the car park is kept clear and manageable.

What do you enjoy most about your job?

Welcoming customers to Sandown and getting the chance to talk to them.

What do you do in your spare time? Very family orientated, spending time with my wife, two daughters and my gorgeous grandson.

QUICKFIRE Favourite Merc: C-Class Estate and V-Class Nickname at school: Yogi (as in Yogi Bear) Favourite holiday destination: City! Mexico or Hong Kong Which 3 people living or dead would you invite for dinner? Genghis Khan, Ann Widdecombe and Meatloaf Your ultimate 3-course dinner would be: Duck Pâté, Lamb and Apple and Blackberry Crumble Favourite tipple: Cider or malt whiskey What would you do if you won the lottery: See my family were ok and visit China Tell us a fun fact about yourself: Once had to tell Prince Philip to hurry up because the Queen was ready to leave and she doesn’t like to be late for anyone!

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Marketing

Mailer on target with offers message During our Stock Sale in September, over 80,000 Retailer-specific offer brochures were mailed to carefully A-Class.

HAM PSH IRE MOTABILITY OFFE targeted homes in our dealership areas.

Advance Payment R from £299* Response to the mailing was positive and, due to our increased efforts in automated marketing tracking, we’ve even 01256 670019. been able to trace several sales directly to the campaign.

Huge thanks to all those who helped push the Stock Sale message.

For details on thes many more smar e & t call 01256 670019.offers, 1. Finance offer based on a Mercedes-B Vehicle condition, enz Agility agreement. payable. 2. Payable excess mileage and other charges may 3. Includes optionalif you exercise the option to purchase be and retailer deposit purchase payment, purchase activationthe car. contribution (where fee credit approvals on selected EQ fortwo applicable). *Orders/ 1 July and 30 September coupe models between 2019 registered Guarantees may by 31 December be required. Offer 2019. with any other offer. cannot be used in conjunction Some combinatio not be available. ns of features/options Subject to availabilit may is subject to status y. Over 18s only.

Finance 8BA. Sandown Group and provided by Mercedes-Benz Finance, is a credit broker and MK15 Group is authorised not a lender. Sandown Authority in respect and regulated by the Financial Conduct New and Approved of regulated consumer credit activity.

Used cars sold by Benz Retailer is any Sandown Mercedes- All subject to a purchase qualify for this offer, all new smart fee of £129 inc VAT. **To be ordered and registered between models (petrol and EQ) must (inclusive). Offer 1 July applies to all private and 30 September 2019 24 units) customers retail and small fleet (1taken at the relevantonly. ServiceCare Plan is based on 3 services service intervals months whichever - either 12,500 miles comes sooner. All or 12 by an authorised services must be Mercedes-Benz Retailer. This offer completed in conjunction with can be used all other applicable Sales other ServiceCar Campaigns except e campaigns. No cash alternative plan stays with . ServiceCare the vehicle and therefore in the of vehicle ownership, event of change the ServiceCare another vehicle, plan cannot be but vehicle. smart UK should be given to the new owner moved to Limited and Sandown of the same to amend or remove Group reserves of going to press this offer at any time Prices correctthe right 08/19. Images for illustrative purposes.at time

undmills, Basings

toke, Hampshire

Please take time to look through our latest Mercedes-Benz and smart offers, many of which are ‘over and above’ the curren t manufacturers’ offers.

Motability package also includes at no cost: • Servicing, mainten ance and MOT • Insurance • Full RAC breakdo wn assistance • Annual car tax • Up to two other nominated drivers • Tyre and windscre en replacement • 60,000 mileage allowance over three years Price A 180 SE Civilian Advance d Payment £299.00 Technical Data Petrol - 1332cc, 136hp, 5 door, Hatchba Transmission ck

Weekly Rental

A339

Mercedes-Benz of Basingstoke

A339

A339

Basingstoke

Old Basing

At Sandown we are renowned for Award Winning custom er service during the purchasing of a new or approved-use d vehicle.

We also deliver a top level of mainte nance and care in our aftersa les departments.

A3010

A3010

A30

M3

M3

Take a look at our offers and call to book an appoi ntment today.

www.sandown-gr

oup.co.uk

Manual T/A

RG21 6YH.

Mercedes-Benz of Basingstoke, Edison Road, Hound Hampshire RG21 mills, Basingstoke, 6YH. 01256 67001 9.

1. Finance offer charges may be based on a Mercedes-Benz Agility payable. 2. Payable agreement. Vehicle purchase payment, if you exercise the condition, excess purchase activation option mileage and other credit approvals fee and retailer depositto purchase the car. 3. Includes optional contributi 2019, excluding on selected stock between 20 August Mercedes-AMG and 30 Septembe on (where applicable). *Orders/ any other offer. Some models. combinations of Guarantees may be required. r 2019, registered by 30 Septembe only. Finance is features/ Offer cannot be used in conjunctio r credit broker andsubject to status and provided byoptions may not be available. Subject not a lender. Sandown Mercedes to availability. Over n with in respect of regulated Group is authorised-Benz Finance, MK15 8BA. Sandown 18s consumer and regulated Mercedes-Benz Retailer Group is a credit activity. is subject to a purchase All New and Approved Usedby the Financial Conduct Authority hatchback and GLA cars sold by any fee of £129 inc VAT. Sandown 30 September 2019 models vehicles (excluding A35 **To qualify for this offer, all new A-Class applies to all private (inclusive). Vehicles must be AMG) must be ordered and registered purchased on a MBFS retail and small and new A-Class finance contract between 1 July and Saloon. ServiceCa fleet (1-24 units) customers only. either 15,500 miles re Plan is based Offer excludes old to be eligible. Offer on 3 services or 12 months whichever model Mercedes-Benz Retailer. comes sooner. All taken at the relevant service S176 A-Class This offer can be used intervals – services must be other ServiceCa in completed by an event of change re campaigns. No cash alternativeconjunction with all other applicable authorised . ServiceCare plan Sales Campaign given to the new of vehicle ownership, the ServiceCa s except re plan cannot bestays with the vehicle and therefore remove this offer owner of the same vehicle. Mercedes moved to another in the at any time. Prices correct at time of -Benz Cars UK Limited reserves vehicle, but should be 2. Motability offer the right to amend going to press 08/19. based on DLA/PIP or accredited participat Images for illustrative advance payment ing Mercedes-Benz purposes. selected models retailers and is not only. Only available available in conjunctio through n with any other Motability offer.

New A-Class.

C-Class Cabriolet.

C-Class Estate.

C-Class Coupé.

E-Class Estate.

Representative Example A 180 d SE Manual Monthly Payments of1 £249.00 Customer Deposit £2,999.00 Retailer Contribution £3,231.16 On the Road Price £24,599.00 Optional Purchase Payment2 £9,525.00 Amount of Credit £18,328.83 Duration of Agreement 48 Months Total Amount Payable3 £27,717.16 Purchase Activation Fee2 £10.00 Representative APR 5.7% APR Fixed Interest Rate 5.55% Excess Mileage Charge excl. VAT 8 pence per mile

Representative Example C 200 AMG Line Cabriolet Monthly Payments of1 £379.00 Customer Deposit £6,079.00 Retailer Contribution £9,276.55 On the Road Price £44,858.00 Optional Purchase Payment2 £16,500.00 Amount of Credit £29,502.45 Duration of Agreement 48 months Total Amount Payable3 £50,057.55 Purchase Activation Fee2 £10.00 Representative APR 5.7% APR Fixed Interest Rate 5.55% Excess Mileage excl. VAT 12 pence per mile

Representative Example C 200 AMG Line Estate Monthly Payments of1 £299.00 Customer Deposit £4,849.00 Retailer Contribution £12,388.26 On the Road Price £40,779.00 Optional Purchase Payment2 £13,350.00 Amount of Credit £23,541.74 Duration of Agreement 48 Months Total Amount Payable3 £44,949.26 Purchase Activation Fee2 £10.00 Representative APR 5.7% APR Fixed Interest Rate 5.55% Excess Mileage excl. VAT 9 pence per mile

Representative Example C 220 d AMG Line Coupe Monthly Payments of1 £339.00 Customer Deposit £5,749.00 Retailer Deposit Contribution £8,633.97 On the Road Price £40,264.00 Optional Purchase Payment2 £14,125.00 Amount of Credit £25,881.03 Duration of Agreement 48 Months Total Amount Payable3 £44,789.97 Purchase Activation Fee2 £10.00 Representative APR 5.7% APR Fixed Interest Rate 5.55% Excess Mileage excl. VAT 12 pence per mile

Representative Example Monthly Payments of1 Customer Deposit Retailer Deposit Contribution On the Road Price Optional Purchase Payment2 Amount of Credit Duration of Agreement Total Amount Payable3 Purchase Activation Fee2 Representative APR Fixed Interest Rate Excess Mileage excl. VAT

From £249* per month & 3 years free servicing**

From £379* per month

From £299* per month

From £339* per month

From £299* per month E 220 d SE Estate £299.00 £4,649.00 £12,466.37 £41,799.00 £14,775.00 £24,683.63 48 months £46,252.37 £10.00 5.7% APR 5.55% 9 pence per mile

September Stock Off ers

These offers are only available on selected stock vehic from the Sandown les for a limited time Group. Don’t miss out - once they’r Call us today on e gone, they’re gone!

01256 670019.

GLA SUV.

GLC SUV.

From £299* per month.

From £389* per month

From £329* per month

From £599* per month

Representative Example GLA 180 Urban Edition Monthly Payments of1 £299.00 Customer Deposit £2,999.00 Retailer Deposit Contribution £1,042.71 On the Road Price £25,500.00 Optional Purchase Payment2 £10,750.00 Amount of Credit £21,458.29 Duration of Agreement 48 months Total Amount Payable3 £29,153.71 Purchase Activation Fee2 £10.00 Representative APR 5.7% Fixed Interest Rate 5.55% Excess Mileage excl. VAT 10 pence per mile

Representative Example Monthly Payments of1 Customer Deposit Retailer Deposit Contribution On the Road Price Optional Purchase Payment2 Amount of Credit Duration of Agreement Total Amount Payable3 Purchase Activation Fee2 Representative APR Fixed Interest Rate Excess Mileage excl. VAT

Representative Example GLC 220 d AMG Line Monthly Payments of1 £329.00 Customer Deposit £5,999.00 On the Road Price £43,369.00 Retailer Deposit Contribution £9,113.89 Optional Purchase Payment2 £17,625.00 Amount of Credit £28,256.11 Duration of Agreement 48 months Total Amount Payable3 £48,539.89 Purchase Activation Fee2 £10.00 Representative APR 5.7% APR Fixed Interest Rate 5.55% Excess Mileage excl. VAT 12 pence per mile

GLC Coupé.

Representative Example Monthly Payments of1 Customer Deposit On the Road Price Retailer Deposit Contribution Optional Purchase Payment2 Amount of Credit Duration of Agreement Total Amount Payable3 Purchase Activation Fee2 Representative APR Fixed Interest Rate Excess Mileage excl. VAT

GLC 220 d Sport £389.00 £5,999.00 £5,640.04 £40,329.00 £14,950.00 £28,689.95 48 months £45,271.04 £10.00 5.7% APR 5.55% 12 pence per mile

SL Roadster.

SL 400 AMG Line £599.00 £9,999.00 £79,089.00 £25,311.79 £23,575.00 £43,778.21 48 months £87,647.79 £10.00 6.4% APR 6.23% 16 pence per mile

Take a look at the offers and call 01256 670019 to book an appointment today. Or visit us at Mercedes-Benz of Basingstoke, Edison Road, Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire RG21 6YH. www.sandown-group.co.uk

That Friday feeling #FeatureFriday is a selection of informative videos that we’ve been pushing on social media to showcase the high-tech features onboard the latest Mercedes-Benz models.

Hey Mercedes, Park Assist and KEYLESSGO are just some of the topics covered so far and presented by our team of Star Experts.

If you haven’t done so already, why not watch the videos and share, like and comment. Any ideas for future videos would be welcomed so please email your suggestions to marketing@sandown-mercedes.co.uk.

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Insta inspiration If you follow us on Instagram - where we now have approaching 1,400 followers - you may have noticed a significant push in our efforts.

We’ve been delighted that colleagues have been getting involved by submitting various assets for us to use, from handovers to Retailer-specific activity and even a couple of drone images from Poole and Farnborough!

A special mention to Soyaib from Basingstoke, whose photos dominate the handover section of our page.

So if you have any Insta inspiration and want to provide images or videos to share then please send them to marketing@sandownmercedes.co.uk for consideration along with your IG handle if you would like a credit.

Muscle pull as strong as ever Adam Hinton is into body-building but he doesn’t need the gym to show off his muscles.

That’s because working out for Mercedes-Benz of Guildford’s Used Car Manager entails caring for the four American muscle cars that he keeps on the driveway of his home.

These special edition, V8 highperformance versions of massproduction cars from the 1960s and 70s were designed for drag racing but have now become much-cherished show cars.

Adam’s oldest model is a 1969 Buick GS400 stage 1 – one of approximately 1,500 ever produced – that was never driven by its previous owner who kept it in a humidified garage. The newest is a 1978 HX Holden UTE – the same make as the first muscle car that his father bought

for him to do up two years before he could drive in 2000.

Last year, Adam doubled his collection when he acquired a rare 1972 manual Plymouth RoadRunner in Richard Petty Blue named after the famous NASCAR driver. Following a weekend in Eastbourne, he also returned home with a Ford Maverick Pro-street drag car that can cover a quarter of a mile in a mere 10.6 seconds.

“I love the purity of the cars – their history, the classic lines of the bodies and the amazing sound of the V8 engines although I’m not sure my neighbours do when I start them up on a Sunday morning,” said Adam.

“All of my cars have needed

Adam Hinton (right) and his brother-in-law Chris Hirst

work from minor repairs to full engine rebuilds and I’m always working on them in my spare time as bits fail or break or need replacing so I’m currently doing my Level 1 certificate in welding to help with this.”

Adam certainly enjoys being surrounded by cars for much of his personal as well as his professional time and it seems that wife Nicky and two-year-old daughter, Matilda, do too.

“Dealing with people on a daily basis helps with customer-facing and negotiation skills when buying or selling, whilst working around used cars and talking with the skilled technicians that we have on-site is great for improving my knowledge and seeking advice,” he added.

“Having bought a Chevrolet Camaro as a wedding gift to myself just before we got married, I think Nicky knew what she was getting into,” smiled Adam. “Along with Matilda, they have now very much adopted the classic car culture and lifestyle and regularly come with me to shows, drag race and view cars which is great.”

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Human Resources

Ben-efit from our industry charity Staff are reminded about the support that is available to them and their families through Ben, the motor industry’s independent charity.

Everyone who works, or has worked, in the automotive sector can access Ben’s confidential, free support services for themselves and their family dependents, no matter what stage of life they are at.

The charity delivers support around the four main ‘pillars’ of people’s health and well-being: financial, mental, physical and social. It also provides care for those in later life at its care centres, in their own homes and, for the more independent, at its retirement village, Lynwood Village in Berkshire.

Areas of help include depression, money worries and physical health and these can be accessed via self-help tools, advice and

information on the Ben website, contacting the charity via online chat or calling its free, confidential helpline – see below.

Backed by a network of over 700 specialist partner organisations, such as debt advisors and mental health charities, Ben will ensure that extensive support is available to help you get back on track whatever you’re going through.

Helpline (Open Monday to Friday 8am – 8pm) 08081 311 333 supportservices@ben.org.uk For online chat, click on the speech bubble icon in the top right corner of the Ben website www.ben.org.uk

Everything adds up for Jack Jack Johnson has successfully completed the final year of a three-year AAT accountancy course at Basingstoke College of Technology and is proud to have the letters MAAT after his name, which means he is now a Qualified Accounting Technician.

Since joining as a trainee in 2016, Jack has made

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great progress and has taken each new responsibility in his stride. He now prepares the management accounts for Farnborough and Hindhead, along with assisting in completing many group functions and helping department managers when they need support.

Thanks to Jack’s contribution

and the rest of the accounts teams, we are now able to complete the accounts production within three working days of month-end!

Apprentice success Mercedes-Benz of Poole’s Aaron Cooper is the latest in a long line of apprentices to become a qualified, permanent technician.

Aaron has successfully completed his Apprenticeship in Motor Vehicle Maintenance and Repair – a three-year programme undertaken with training provider, Paragon, whilst being mentored and learning skills on the job.

“The Apprenticeship has prepared me perfectly for my role of Technician,” said a delighted Aaron (pictured). “The support and training from Paragon, workshop control, my

mentors and my manager have been fantastic.”

The Company is keen to invest in developing future talent and currently has 14 Apprentices working towards their qualifications across the Group.

Sandown staff Top 5 Retailers

Saving: 3%

Save as you shop With Christmas on the horizon, it could be the perfect time to take advantage of Sandown’s online benefits portal.

My Work Life has already saved employees thousands of pounds this year through the wide array of exclusive discounts, gifts cards and vouchers that are available to spend at high street retailers, supermarkets, restaurants and leisure venues including Apple, Starbucks and B&Q to name but a few.

If you’re planning a major purchase or a Christmas shopping spree, it could be very worthwhile

purchasing a gift card upfront with average savings ranging between 4% and 11%. Amongst the biggest discounts currently are New Look (18%), Debenhams (9%) and M&S (8%).

There are savings to be made for everyone and, as the amounts change weekly, it’s certainly worth keeping your eye out for the latest discounts at www.edenred.co.uk For further information or if you’re not already registered, please contact HR’s Hannah Cooksley on 01202 641807 or via email at Hannah.Cooksley@sandownmercedes.co.uk

Saving: 6.5%

Saving: 5.5%

Saving: 3.5%

Saving: 8%

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Charity

Runs and buns Staff have been going through their paces and pastries in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Sandown Mercedes-Benz Retailers participated in the charity’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning at the end of September when staff baked cakes to sell to colleagues and customers in the showroom – their culinary skills raising over £500.

In addition to the coffee morning bake sale, Guildford’s General Sales Manager Ricardo Trigo took part in the 10-mile Great South Run around Portsmouth and Southsea and raised £240 in sponsorship from colleagues. Ricardo’s

Knits landing

Heroic effort

Friday 13th December will be a lucky day for customers who will be treated to a dazzling array of winter woollens worn by Sandown staff for Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day. Make a date in your diary to pull on a pullover for this fun festive fund-raiser and please ensure that it is appropriate for the business.

Almost £100,000 was raised for the Help for Heroes armed forces charity at the annual motor show hosted by Hindhead customers Robert and Tanya Lewis at their motor museum in Churt.

Hundreds of people flocked to the event to view the couple’s cars and those

16 Torque

run also completed a personal journey after he ruptured his Achilles tendon in January 2018 and spent a year in recovery that included being on crutches and wearing a plastic boot for six months.

belonging to other private collectors and enthusiasts.

Sandown showed its support with an impressive display of its own that included a Brabus 280 SL Pagoda and Mercedes-Benz Brabus G800.