ABP Motorsport Ltd ‘GARAGE OF THE YEAR’

17 February 2010

SHAVINGTON BUSINESS IS NATIONAL ‘GARAGE OF THE YEAR’

A garage in Crewe which is a member of Cheshire East Council’s Golden Spanner Garage Approval Scheme has recently been crowned CAT Magazine’s ‘Garage of the Year 2010.’

The magazine, which serves the Car and Accessory Trade (CAT) asked readers and garage customers to vote for their industry champions

This award is recognised nationally and entries were from all over the country.

The garage, ABP Motorsport Ltd of Shavington, Crewe, received their award at a presentation ceremony held in London recently, which was attended by over 100 motor industry professionals.

Their nomination was in recognition of their efforts in striving to achieve high levels of customer service in the garage industry.

Cheshire East Council Deputy Leader, Councillor Brian Silvester, Cabinet Member with responsibility for Safer and Stronger Communities said:

“My congratulations go to Chris and all his staff at ABP Motorsport Ltd for their hard work in achieving this national award. They have always achieved excellent results in the Golden Spanner Scheme’s mystery shopper visits.

“There were six nominees for this category and the fact that ABP received the highest number of public votes is especially pleasing.

“Although ABP, which has been established since 1964, specialises in high performance cars it caters for all makes and models and has a loyal client base.”

ABP’s Managing Director, Chris Meredith added:

“I believe it is our attitude to customers that gives us the edge and whether a customer brings in a Porsche or a modest hatchback, they are all given the same attention.”

Garages, both sales and car service and repair, can become holders of a Golden Spanner if they meet the requirements set by Cheshire East Trading Standards.
For further information about the Golden Spanner Scheme, please contact:

Consumer Direct 08454 04 05 06 or the website www.goldenspanner.com


Regular inspections and customer feedback ensure garages maintain the rigorous standards they achieved to become part of the scheme including a complete compliance with the 'spirit and letter of the law.'
To achieve 'Approved' status, car sales, service or repair businesses must:
• Ensure that all descriptions are accurate, honest and truthful.
• Produce a consumer checklist for each used vehicle and pass on relevant information on vehicles' histories to consumers.
• Ensure that only roadworthy vehicles are supplied for use on the road and take reasonable steps to verify mileage using disclaimers where the true mileage cannot be verified.
Car Servicing and Repair businesses must:
• Have in place suitable procedures to ensure that any work requested is properly carried out.
• Monitor work by checking a proportion of jobs, recording these checks and any corrective action.
• Obtain the customer's permission before doing any extra work required, retain replaced parts for customers to inspect and give detailed invoices.
Members have to undergo independently commissioned 'mystery shopper' visits which ensure that they remain up to scratch. Members’ meetings staged twice a year keep them updated on issues within the motor industry and consumer legislation which could affect them.