Bringing Aycliffe Business Park Together | 3 |
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Family garages prove there ’ s still the need for local independent motor dealers .
One such business not only survived but grew in the face of adversity . During sweeping changes and a double dip recession witnessing many retailers either see their doors close or becoming swallowed up by larger PLCs , Ramsey ’ s in Newton Aycliffe adapted to a new way of doing business .
The family-run garage was set up in 1993 by Jeff Ramsey , Ian ’ s brother and Gillian ’ s husband who sadly passed away six years ago .
Directors Ian and Gillian are still at the helm along with service manager and Gillian ’ s son , Elliott .
“ Surviving 20 years as a small non-franchise garage is some achievement , considering the challenges we ’ ve faced ,” says Ian .
“ The motor industry was going through turmoil with gray imports flooding the market , the result of an official report in the late 1990s revealing prices for identical new car models were higher in the UK than in other European countries .
“ The government came to the aid of main dealers and manufacturers with strategies to encourage new car sales , all of which did nothing to help the smaller dealer .
“ One such incentive was the Scrappage Scheme , ran from 2009 to March 2010 offering customers the chance to trade in an old car registered before February 29 , 2000 , to receive a grant from the taxpayer to buy a new car , while the manufacturers reduced the cost by another £ 1,000 .
“ All good news for franchise dealers , but for many non-franchise dealers , the market was becoming even more squeezed .”
The company went full circle , recognising to survive they would need to make their own sweeping changes to safeguard their future .
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Left to right : Ian , Gillian and Elliott Ramsey with the sales and material team
Looking back , both Ian and Gillian acknowledge changes made proved the difference , preventing them from going the same way as so many other dealers .
“ We could see how things were changing , so we set up a series of objectives as part of a plan to steer us through uncertain times ,” added Ian .
“ We invested in new equipment and additional staff with new VAG factory-trained technicians . This meant we could now compete with main dealers and , more importantly , offer discounted prices for Volkswagen , Audi , Skoda and SEAT servicing .
“ The investment in state-of-the-art Bosch diagnostic equipment ( determining fault codes ) has resulted in new jobs for local people .”
Other changes include a loyalty scheme for companies and employees on Aycliffe Business Park , offering a collection and delivery service to minimise disruption to their working day .
Ramsey ’ s i also an accredited Fleet Assist agent , which means companies such as Pendragon , Hitachi , Arval and Alphabet all now recommend Ramsey ’ s for service and repair .
Gillian adds : “ Instead of selling up , we decided to remain faithful to our customers and the surrounding areas .
“ We still hold up the same principles we had when starting out 20 years ago . Jeff was passionate about customer care and relationships . He believed in looking after the small details as well as the large , and when customers became friends you know you must be doing something right .”
Ramsey ’ s loyal customer base extends far and wide , with many of the same customers returning , as parents and even grandparents .
“ The family values are what makes all the difference ,” says Ian .
“ With so many local shops and stores now being replaced by high street chains , people value the real ‘ local ’ retailer more than ever before .
“ Here ’ s to another 20 years . We still have much to do , but one thing we ’ ve learnt over the years is to never stand still .”
To celebrate their 20th anniversary , Ramsey ’ s is holding a special open weekend on May 11-12 and invite customers old and new to attend . It promises to be an exciting event celebrating a huge achievement .
Ramsey ’ s Garage , St Cuthbert ’ s Way , Newton Aycliffe , Co Durham , DL5 6DX . Tel 01325 300200 www . ramseys . co . uk
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Hi and welcome to the May-June issue of Aycliffe Today Business .
It gives me great pleasure to write the foreword for what I think is a wonderful publication for Aycliffe Business Park .
HPM Group has been in Newton Aycliffe for 13 years now . We relocated from what I ’ d call Rabbit Warren premises in Bishop Auckland to our state-of-the-art facility at Park 2000 , near Ruff n Tumble .
So we ’ ve seen how the park has evolved over recent years , and I can safely say these are the most exciting times I ’ ve known for us since we ’ ve been here .
Everyone is talking about Hitachi , of course , and that certainly has grabbed a lot of headlines .
But I also think it has forced our hand a little . It has made a lot of people realise we have to get our house in order , so when Hitachi does arrive – and everything that promises to come with it – we ’ re not only equipped to accommodate it , but we also look the part .
I ’ ve attended a couple of the Aycliffe Business Park meetings and I admire greatly the work they ’ re doing in trying to clean the place up and pull everyone together .
WELCOME |
FOREWORD By Richard Mortimer |
I think everyone in businesses can be guilty , at times , of concentrating too much on your own work and forgetting those around you .
I echo a lot of people ’ s opinions that , despite an increasingly difficult climate out there , the signs are hugely promising here in Aycliffe .
Real estate firm M7 , the main feature in this edition , certainly seem to have spotted an opportunity buy buying around a quarter of the premises on the Park for £ 11m , with a view to spending up to £ 1m on improvements .
I ’ m also told enquiries for unoccupied properties on the park are steadily increasing and the actual occupancy levels are gradually picking up already , so there are lots of good news stories to talk about right now .
As usual , there are lots of other news and features included in this issue , from a broad range of sectors , which make it another cracking read .
I hope you enjoy it .
Richard Mortimer Managing Director , HPM Group
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Included in the MAY-JUNE 2013 issue of Aycliffe Today Business …
/ 03 WELCOME
HPM Group MD Richard Mortimer pens our special guest foreword for this issue …
/ 04 NEWS
Aycliffe companies embrace new businesses initiative
Tekmar accredited
Plus , an exclusive guest column from Alan Foster , Design365
/ 05 NEWS
MP impressed by Ebac
Tallent wins award Plus , Martin Walker talks about ‘ PR ’
/ 07 NEWS
‘ We ’ re entering critical era ’ warns driver training company
/ 09 NEWS
New recruits have grand designs for HPM
Wendy ’ s helping hand for SMEs
CONTENTS
/ 10 LAND LORD
Real estate boss Matthew Cheyne tells Martin Walker about an £ 11m acquisition of Aycliffe Business Park land in an EXCLUSIVE interview ...
/ 13 NEWS
Echo Graphics and Au Fait – the ‘ Yin and Yang ’ of marketing !
/ 15 COMPANY FOCUS
We talk to Aycliffe-based law firm Hewitts Solicitors
/ 17 NEWS
A new dawn at Itec
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AYCLIFFE TODAY BUSINESS
Aycliffe Today Business is Newton Aycliffe ’ s first and ONLY specific Business-to-Business magazine , distributed across Aycliffe Business Park .
We provide companies with a unique platform to tell everyone about their services in what is a classy , business-like magazine as well as a handy reference and marketing tool .
Our next issue will be out in July , and we ’ re taking orders for advertising now , so get in touch . We ’ re also keen on carrying good editorial content , as well as advertisements .
Our trained journalists can write your copy , while our professional designers can help to put your ads together , so we can help you every step of the way .
Aycliffe Today Business … a quality magazine for a quality Business Park .
Produced by : Mantis Media , www . mantis-media . com Designed by : NEON , www . youareneon . co . uk Printed and distributed by : HPM Group , www . hpm . uk . com
Editor : Martin Walker | Tel : 01325 728024 | Mobile : 07826 525907 For editorial & advertising , email : martin @ aycliffetoday . co . uk Contributors to this issue : Richard Mortimer , Alan Foster , Martin Walker . Photography : Martin Walker , Hewitts Solicitors , Recognition PR .
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Big Energy reduce costs
/ 18-19 BUSINESS DIRECTORY
A useful guide to who ’ s who on Aycliffe Business Park …
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