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From left, Mill Garages chairman Bob Nicholson, managing director Bill Ward, operations director Jeff Tabb and
finance director Simon Hewitson mark 50 years with Volvo with another set of positive results
MILL GARAGES
NORTH-EAST
ANNOUNCE
£500,000
INVESTMENT
AT STOCKTON
SHOWROOM
Mill Garages North-east has announced a £500,000 investment at its Stockton showroom.
The motor dealership is also celebrating
half a century selling Volvo cars - and a
year of “substantial growth” after revealing
,
before-tax profits of £803,497 in its 2014
financial results.
Results also revealed turnover of £98m,
continuing a reported positive trend since
owners, managing director Bill Ward and
chairman Bob Nicholson, led a management
buyout of the business in 2008.
The company, who this year celebrates 50
years of selling Volvo cars, is looking forward
to one of the most significant years in its
history.
The dealership, which employs 176 people,
joined forces with Swedish car maker Volvo
in March 1965 and has since grown into the
biggest Volvo dealer in the UK.
It sells around 3,000 new vehicles a year
from showrooms in Stockton, Newcastle,
Sunderland and Harrogate.
Bosses are now planning more job creation
and a “significant” refurbishment programme
across the group including the half-a-million
pound boost for its Preston Farm dealership.
The launch of the all-new XC90 sports
utility vehicle in early summer and the start
of a significant refurbishment programme
across the Mill group are expected to
contribute towards a year of substantial
growth.
Bill said: “Our results are again good news
for the business, the North East and North
Yorkshire and we’re delighted the positive
momentum is continuing into 2015.
“We are extremely proud of our 50 year
partnership with Volvo and to have grown
and developed in the region, where Mill has
become synonymous with the Volvo brand.
”
Bill, the face and voice of television adverts
in which he urged customers ‘Now is the
time to choose Volvo’, said the company
expects to sell its complete allocation of the
new XC90 this year.
“It’s an outstanding family car and
the motor press insist it should be on
everybody’s shortlist.
“Pre-orders are strong on the back of great
reviews, including one that describes it as ‘a
brilliant mix of SUV and MPV; a seven-seater
that looks cool and offers terrific utility inside’.
“We’re expecting demand to be very high.
”
Finance director Simon Hewitson said
the new model would add to the company’s
encouraging first quarter, building on seven
years of profitable growth.
He said: “As a company we’ve seen a
strong performance which, in the market
conditions, we’re happy with. We’re
confident that the all new XC90 will be a
great catalyst for our performance this year.
“The growing popularity of the Volvo brand,
alongside our strong aftersales performance,
gives us confidence to commit to a major
showroom refurbishment programme.
“We will be investing £500k into our
Stockton dealership later this year to bring a
new retail experience to our customers, and
are looking forward to further growth.
”
Chairman Bob Nicholson added: “The
company is now in a position to invest in new
staff and technology in order to enhance our
position in the market place and move the
Volvo franchise to the levels that all of the
new product deserves.
”