Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 11
/COMPANY FOCUS: RAMSEY’S
FAMILY VALUES THE DRIVING FORCE
Very few industries have
avoided the crippling recession
– none more so than the
motor business.
But when other car firms up and down the
country have gone to the wall, family firm
Ramsey’s is still going strong.
Directors Ian and Gillian are proud to say it’s
probably their biggest achievement in the
company’s 20-year history – how they’ve
successfully adapted to the shifting motor
sector.
Now they’re hoping the family values which run
through their veins – Elliott is the latest family
member to join the management team – will
enable them to become even stronger.
Ian and Gillian have had to guide Ramsey’s
through uncertain times, but they’ve done it by
first recognising the change in how people were
spending their money, then accommodating it
by effectively changing the face of the company.
Workshop repairs is now the primary business,
and they’ve recently become accredited lease
car repair specialists as their diversification
continues.
Their ability to adapt has, ultimately,
safeguarded their future when, in their own
words, they could have “thrown the towel in”
.
“Our biggest achievement is how we’ve
responded successfully to the change in our
industry, says Ian.
”
“People don’t have as much money to spend on
new cars these days, so instead they improve
or repair their current ones, and we’ve almost
gone full circle as that was our primary business
when the company started 20 years ago.
“We’ve also moved into the leasing side and
we’re accredited repair dealers for all the main
car leasing companies, which is now an integral
part of the business.
“We’re proud to still be here and it’s thanks
largely to the strength of our family and our
skilled and dedicated staff.
”
Ramsey’s are accredited Fleet Assist agents.
That means lease companies such as
Pendragon, Hitachi, Arval and Alphabet all
recognise and recommend Ramsey’s for repairs
and services.
“It’s something not everyone will know
about, adds Ian. “I’m sure a lot of firms go to
”
Darlington, Teesside or even further afield when
they’re not aware we’re on their doorstep.
”
Ramsey’s have also recently invested in a stateof-the-art £5,000 Bosch Diagnostics machine
to determine all fault codes, while they have
their own VAG factory-trained technicians to
accommodate specialist Volkswagen, Audi,
Skoda and SEAT servicing.
What’s more, they operate a 10% discount
loyalty scheme for companies on Aycliffe
Business Park and their employees, and also
offer a pick-up and drop-off facility so Aycliffebased workers can get their cars serviced or
tested without affecting their day.
“We’re on the industrial estate, for the industrial
estate, adds Gillian. “We’re coming up to
”
20 years on the town, when we could have
franchised or sold out.
“We wanted to remain faithful
to Aycliffe and, more importantly,
maintain what Jeff started out all
those years ago, and with the second
generation of the family now joining
the management, we look forward
to another 20 years.
”
The company celebrates 20 years in Aycliffe this
year after it was formed in 1993 by Jeff, Ian’s
brother and Gillian’s husband, who passed away
six years ago.
“Jeff’s ambition wasn’t just to sell cars, or
repair them, but it was to foster and develop
friendships with the people who walked through
his door, adds Gillian.
”
“It was important that maintained what
he’d built up. Not just the business, but the
relationships with people he’d spent so much
time to nurture.
“There are people who come to us now whose
parents and even grandparents bought cars
from us back in the early days – and they all
come back because of Jeff.
”
Ramsey’s are maintaining the family philosophy
by appointing Jeff’s son Elliot as service
manager to mark the beginning of a new
chapter.
For services or MOTs, call Ramsey’s on
01325 300200. To see cars for sale, go to their
online showroom at www.ramseys.co.uk