Devon dealership a hit with apprentices
Lord Sugar may be king of The Apprentice, but a Devon dealership has been doing its bit over the past three decades to help local people into work.
JFE Exeter Nissan, part of the Wellington Motor Group, currently has seven team members who started out as apprentices – and are still working at the Marsh Barton Trading Estate.
EV Technician Steve Horwell is the longest-serving, having been employed at the dealership for 28 years. He helped train Service Manager Pete Lascelles, who joined shortly after him.
Elsewhere, Jamie Kennedy and James Manning have chalked up 11 years’ service, while Josh Andrews and Brad Wellaway have worked at JFE for three years.
The award-winning Nissan dealership’s most recent apprentice is Ryan Brock, who was taken on after making a big impression during work experience.
Matthew Holcombe, Dealer Principal at JFE Nissan Exeter, said: “Our Apprenticeship Programme over the years has been a huge success. We're a company which values training up new recruits and creating an environment that encourages continual improvement especially long after they have become fully qualified.
“That’s demonstrated in just how many of our apprentices continue to work for us and for such a long time.
"The absolute key is that each one of the guys who have been with the company for a considerable time, may be uniquely, continue to deliver industry leading levels of efficiency and productivity.
"We are on Europe's biggest motor park and have one of the most experienced teams of Nissan technicians in the UK – it's a fantastic position to be in."
As a dealership, JFE Nissan Exeter has 14 team members who have more than 10 years’ service.
They are:
Steve Horwell (EV Tech) 28 years
Pete Lascelles (Service Manager) 28 years
Paul Greenway (Bodyshop Prep) 23 years
Steve Hunter (Workshop Foreman) 22 years
Andy Barratt (Tech) 21 years
Chris Frith (Parts Manager) 23 years
Matthew Holcombe (Dealer Principal) 15 years
Helena Hibberd (Warranty Clerk) 14 years
James Manning (HPC Tech) 11 years
Jamie Kennerdy (EV Tech) 11 years
Gary Curgenven (Parts) 10 years
Phill Stroud (Parts) 10 years
Tony Mcdonald (Service Advisor) 11 years
Neil Hough (Sales Exec) 12 years
To book a test drive with JFE Nissan Exeter, call 0844 846 4252 or visit the Marsh Barton Trading Estate showroom.
