Peter Vardy launches group-wide training academy

The Vardy name is one of the best known in the motor industry having been established by Reg Vardy in 1923 and grown by his son Sir Peter Vardy into one of Europe's most successful motor retailers with a turnover of £1.7bn and 6,000 employees across the UK.

The origins of the group go back to February 2006 when, on the acquisition of Reg Vardy for £506 million by Pendragon, Peter Vardy leaves his position as general manager of Rossleigh Jaguar Edinburgh and Sir Peter Vardy steps down as chief executive of the company he founded.

Later that year the Vardy Group of Companies is launched which includes Peter Vardy Ltd. It is officially launched with the acquisition of Perth Vauxhall from Autovision of Inverness.

It acquired its second Vauxhall dealership in 2007, at Motherwell. In the same year Peter Vardy acquires its first specialist dealership, the former Dunedin BMW site in Edinburgh, and plans to move Mini into the site, making it the biggest showroom in Scotland dedicated to the BMW brand.

The purpose built Kirkcaldy Vauxhall site opens in 2007. In 2009 the group’s three Vauxhall dealerships are voted the top three in the UK by the manufacturer, measured against its new car target. The three hit 300% of target. That year the group the Just Drive vehicle financing scheme “bringing new cars in at used car payments”.

In January 2010 Peter Vardy stopped opening its sites on Sundays motivated by a wish for staff to get a weekend without “work intrusions” and allows provision of management cover to coach and support staff across six days, rather than pro rata working over seven.

In the next month Peter Vardy won three AM Awards: ‘best company to work for’, ‘best community initiative’ and ‘best motor company’. It was voted the 22nd best company to work for in the 2010 Sunday Times poll.

In July 2010 the group bought two Vauxhall sites (also representing Chevrolet) from John Martin Group in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

The group now operates five Vauxhall sites in Scotland (Peter Vardy Edinburgh has been selected as an official retailer of the electric Ampera) and a total of nine dealerships with the inclusion of BMW and Mini.

Through a programme called the ‘franchise model’, general managers can become a managing partner through a personal investment in the business, taking full accountability and responsibility for a dealership, backed by a tax efficient fixed return on investment dependent on the financial and CSI performance of the dealership.

Legal, funding, accounting, sales and marketing, IT, HR and other business services are supplied from within the dealer group allowing partners to concentrate on in running their dealership with the support of the managing director as mentor.

In June 2012 it reported first quarter profits of £2.2 million following a year of restructuring the business.

The group attributed its performance to a rise in used car sales - already having achieved 168% of this year’s business target - and strong growth in its servicing and parts business.

The group is achieving 3.6% return on sales.

Vardy said: “Used car sales have really taken off, mainly on the back of our increased efforts to source quality, value-for-money stock.

“I’m also delighted to see a major rise in service and parts revenues despite this being an area which is predominantly in decline across the motor trade. I feel our success here has come on the back of a real commitment to customer service and an investment in training.”

Vardy said that in addition to the Q1 profit, the business has enhanced the working capital within the group and improved its debt position following its 2010 acquisitions which are now “bedding down”.

Peter Vardy is also a dedicated supporter of local and international charities and staff development.

In 2010 it launched the Rookie Sales Academy, a 12-week mentoring programme introducing people to the sales environment; in 2009 the Peter Vardy Foundation was lau

The Vardy name is one of the best known in the motor industry having been established by Reg Vardy in 1923 and grown by his son Sir Peter Vardy into one of Europe's most successful motor retailers with a turnover of £1.7bn and 6,000 employees across the UK.

The origins of the group go back to February 2006 when, on the acquisition of Reg Vardy for £506 million by Pendragon, Peter Vardy leaves his position as general manager of Rossleigh Jaguar Edinburgh and Sir Peter Vardy steps down as chief executive of the company he founded.

Later that year the Vardy Group of Companies is launched which includes Peter Vardy Ltd. It is officially launched with the acquisition of Perth Vauxhall from Autovision of Inverness.

It acquired its second Vauxhall dealership in 2007, at Motherwell. In the same year Peter Vardy acquires its first specialist dealership, the former Dunedin BMW site in Edinburgh, and plans to move Mini into the site, making it the biggest showroom in Scotland dedicated to the BMW brand.

The purpose built Kirkcaldy Vauxhall site opens in 2007. In 2009 the group’s three Vauxhall dealerships are voted the top three in the UK by the manufacturer, measured against its new car target. The three hit 300% of target. That year the group the Just Drive vehicle financing scheme “bringing new cars in at used car payments”.

In January 2010 Peter Vardy stopped opening its sites on Sundays motivated by a wish for staff to get a weekend without “work intrusions” and allows provision of management cover to coach and support staff across six days, rather than pro rata working over seven.

In the next month Peter Vardy won three AM Awards: ‘best company to work for’, ‘best community initiative’ and ‘best motor company’. It was voted the 22nd best company to work for in the 2010 Sunday Times poll.

In July 2010 the group bought two Vauxhall sites (also representing Chevrolet) from John Martin Group in Aberdeen and Edinburgh.

The group now operates five Vauxhall sites in Scotland (Peter Vardy Edinburgh has been selected as an official retailer of the electric Ampera) and a total of nine dealerships with the inclusion of BMW and Mini.

Through a programme called the ‘franchise model’, general managers can become a managing partner through a personal investment in the business, taking full accountability and responsibility for a dealership, backed by a tax efficient fixed return on investment dependent on the financial and CSI performance of the dealership.

Legal, funding, accounting, sales and marketing, IT, HR and other business services are supplied from within the dealer group allowing partners to concentrate on in running their dealership with the support of the managing director as mentor.

In June 2012 it reported first quarter profits of £2.2 million following a year of restructuring the business.

The group attributed its performance to a rise in used car sales - already having achieved 168% of this year’s business target - and strong growth in its servicing and parts business.

The group is achieving 3.6% return on sales.

Vardy said: “Used car sales have really taken off, mainly on the back of our increased efforts to source quality, value-for-money stock.

“I’m also delighted to see a major rise in service and parts revenues despite this being an area which is predominantly in decline across the motor trade. I feel our success here has come on the back of a real commitment to customer service and an investment in training.”

Vardy said that in addition to the Q1 profit, the business has enhanced the working capital within the group and improved its debt position following its 2010 acquisitions which are now “bedding down”.

Peter Vardy is also a dedicated supporter of local and international charities and staff development.

In 2010 it launched the Rookie Sales Academy, a 12-week mentoring programme introducing people to the sales environment; in 2009 the Peter Vardy Foundation was lau