Brockhills of Yorkshire
A big day for Brockhills
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THE 20TH FEBRUARY 2016 was a big day for Brockhills of Thirsk and owner Peter Swales as this was the much awaited opening day for the new workshop facilities and refurbished main building which had been only just completed. Ian Wilkinson went along to find out more.
Brockhill’ s was initially formed in 1966 by Eddie Brockhill, mainly repairing Massey Ferguson tractors. It then moved to the present site in 1968, starting as a sub dealer selling new New Massey Ferguson tractors, and they were then appointed Main Dealers for Universal Tractors in 1975 and then for Fendt Tractors in 1978.
Approaching retirement, Eddie Brockhill approached Peter to take on the business. Initially Peter was reluctant. Eddie was, however, persistent knowing that Peter had recently left a local dealership, and above all he wanted to see the business to go to the right sort of person. Peter agreed and in 2007 and he took over Brockhills.
Very soon as Peter gained a handle on the business which he started to develop and grow both expanding his franchise dealerships and his workforce. Peter loves what he does – a fact that comes across as soon as you speak to him. Along the years he has done every job entailed in a dealership from sales to parts to the workshop. There is no aspect of which Peter is not master and as such, he can turn his hand to any job that is needed; but as with any successful business it’ s all about the people who work within it and Peter has worked long and hard to establish a strong team, a team he has complete confidence in and indeed many have been with him a long time. The true strength of the team is that now they can run the business without Peter if need be and although it does afford him time for family he continues to be the hard working pivot and face of the business. He loves meeting and talking to customers and is always keen to strike that deal.
So to the reason for the open day: Peter was keen to point out that the new workshop and refurb programme could not have been achieved without his team around him and he admitted that there have inevitably been various logistic and time challenges along the way. Old buildings have been
82 Apr / May 2016 www. farmers-mart. co. uk