06/01/06

Clio Raffle Raises Over £7,000 For Hospice

A trip to Wiltshire proved very lucky for Manchester couple Paul and Kathryn Whelan, who won a Renault Clio II in a raffle that raised over £7,000 for Dorothy House Hospice Care.

Mr and Mrs Whelan bought a raffle ticket at the West Wilts Show while visiting Mrs Whelan's brother last summer and had almost forgotten about it when they received a phone call just before Christmas.

Mr Whelan said: "Fortunately my wife is very organised. If I had kept the ticket I would have lost it months ago! We bought a ticket to support the hospice as we had relatives who benefited from hospice care. We weren't expecting to win, so it was a wonderful surprise to find out we had won a car."

Mr and Mrs Whelan travelled from Manchester to Platinum Renault's dealership at the Platinum Motor Park, Trowbridge, on Friday to collect the prize, worth nearly £8,000. Platinum Renault supplied and sponsored the Clio for Dorothy House Hospice Care's raffle, which ran between June and December last year.

Katrina Sudbury, Director of Fundraising and PR for Dorothy House Hospice Care, said: "This was the first raffle of this kind we have run and we're really pleased. We raised over £7,000 which will go towards nursing care at Dorothy House Hospice Care."

Although New Clio is now on sale in three-door format, and order books are now open for the five-door version, Clio II remains on sale in Campus and Campus Sport versions with prices starting from £7,895.

For more information visit Platinum Renault at the Platinum Motor Park, North Bradley, Trowbridge, or call 01225 759525.

06/01/06

New Technician for Platinum Nissan

Renrod Ltd (owner of the Platinum group of dealerships) is delighted to
announce the appointment of Nigel Symonds AMIMI (Associated Member of the
Institute of Motor Industry) to their team.

Mr Symonds, who lives in Frome with his wife, has joined Platinum Nissan at
the Platinum Motor Park in Trowbridge as a Technician.

With extensive experience and training, Nigel started his motor trade career
in 1977 in Bath. He was there for 5 years, completing his apprenticeship, before moving to Renrod Ltd in 1981 as a technician at Westward Motors on the Bear Flat. Mr Symonds then progressed to Frome Garages (now Platinum Vauxhall) in 1987 as Foreman where he stayed until 2001 before moving to FJ Chalke in Warminster. He stayed with FJ Chalke until they relocated the Warminster branch, when he was delighted to rejoin Renrod Limited at the new Platinum Nissan site in Trowbridge.

In addition to his AMIMI status, Nigel reached High Tech technician level in
2004, which means that he has achieved the highest accreditation with
Nissan. Focusing on servicing and repairs, Nigel's responsibilities include
ensuring a high level of customer care for new and existing customers. His skills allow him to work on both cars and light commercials, owned by private individuals, local businesses and fleet management companies.

Mr Symonds said, "I am very ambitions in my current role and am aiming to
progress through to management level. I hope to see some of my old
customers from the Warminster area and look forward to working with them as
well as Platinum's current customer base."

Steve Mawby, Service Manager for Platinum Nissan said, "We are delighted to
have Nigel as part of the team. The business at the dealership is growing
rapidly and we are pleased to have a technician with such experience and
qualifications."

Platinum Nissan in Trowbridge is located at the Platinum Motor Park close to North Bradley - a state-of-the-art motor park facility which creates a gateway to Wiltshire's
county town of Trowbridge. The multi-million pound 5.25-acre site represents the Nissan, Vauxhall, Toyota and Renault brands.

Opened at the end of December 2004 and now fully operational, four franchise
trained teams are in place to help and advise customers in choosing their
next vehicle, or for assisting in the all important aftercare of service,
parts and bodyshop.

For further information visit www.renrodmg.co.uk /
http://www.platinumnissan.co.uk/

06 01 06

Wellsway Staff Achieve High Rankings in National Award

Wellsway (Bath) Ltd is delighted to announce that two of their team have achieved high rankings in BMW's National Competition of Excellence 2005.

Adrian Roddis, Service Manager for Wellsway BMW and MINI, achieved second in
the final rankings across the country for his category of Service (Non-Technical), whilst Pat Gearing, Assistant Parts Manager for Wellsway BMW and MINI achieved third for his category of Parts.

BMW's National Competition of Excellence is a new competition specifically
developed to test the skills and knowledge of dealership staff across a range of
disciplines, identifying and recognizing the best dealer staff and dealership in the network.

Staff from across the BMW/MINI UK network are invited to enter the awards with
the winners from each category taking on other countries in the world
championships. The categories are broken down to encompass all departments
of Sales, Parts, Service Non-Technical and Technical.

With 1455 entries and 253 people qualifying for Service and 215 for Parts
through online tests across the country, the top 8 entrants for each
department were invited to a day of testing at the beginning of December.
The tests consisted of two role plays with actors - watched by BMW training
coaches and a regional management team, as well as two written papers
carried out during the course of the day.

Both Adrian and Pat received plaques for reaching the finals and are
delighted with their achievement. Adrian commented, "BMW's philosophy is
"Right First Time" and this is what all of the staff at Wellsway aim to
achieve by providing an extremely high quality of service. We are both very pleased
to have achieved such a high ranking in the country and I think that this
reflects the hard work of the whole team here."

In addition, Wellsway Aftersales Manager Hadyn Satchell and Parts Manager Peter Hemmings were also recognized in the awards.

For further information on Wellsway BMW and MINI visit either
www.wellswaybmw.co.uk or www.wellswaymini.co.uk.

23/12/05

Platinum Vauxhall Supplies S&B Training Fleet

Renrod Ltd (owner of the Platinum group of dealerships) is delighted to have supplied a local motor vehicle college with a fleet of brand new Vauxhalls.

At the beginning of December, Platinum Vauxhall in Frome supplied Bristol based S&B Training Ltd with 8 Vauxhall Astra SXi estates, in silver with 1.7 diesel engines. S & B Training specializes in training apprentices for many disciplines within the motor industry including vehicle repairs, body and paint repairs, management skills and parts distribution.

Developed in partnership with S&B Training, Renrod Ltd run a unique apprenticeship scheme, which involves providing apprentice training for the majority of the group. S&B also maintains a portfolio of national contracts, where apprentices from all over the country visit Bristol for their training.

Jon Bush, Sales Manager for Platinum Vauxhall in Frome said, "We're delighted to have been able to assist S&B Training who provide our entire apprentice training for each of the Platinum dealerships. We have an excellent relationship with the staff at S&B Training and we are pleased to be able to do reciprocal business with them."

Jon Winter, Chief Executive for S&B Training Ltd said, "We are delighted with our new fleet of Astra Estates from Platinum Vauxhall. With our consultants regularly visiting trainees in their place of work, S & B Training required a fleet of vehicles suitable for the task and consistent with the company's corporate image. The Vauxhall Astra fitted the bill perfectly, being a small estate that features benefits such as excellent fuel economy, high levels of driver safety, ample storage space, reliability and ease of maintenance. They are perfect for our requirements and we are especially pleased to be able to source them one of our own clients. "

To find out how Platinum Vauxhall might be able to assist with your company's vehicle requirements, please visit www.platinumvauxhall.co.uk. For S&B Training, please visit www.sandbtraining.co.uk

20/12/05

Wellsway MINI go on a MINI Adventure!

Two members of the team at Wellsway MINI, Joanne Cross and Jerry Alderson are the lucky winners of their own MINI adventures in recognition of their achievements during 2005.

Jerry, 30, from Trowbridge has just returned from a fun filled, four day "Mayhem in Marrakech" activity holiday in Morocco which included camel riding, desert quad biking and 4 x 4 driving across the Atlas mountains. Meanwhile, Joanne, a mother of three from Clutton has been whisked away to a winter wonderland in Colorado (USA) where she will participate in ice skating, snow boarding and enjoy relaxing spa treatments.

Both competitions were run nationwide across all 154 MINI dealerships in the UK, and points were accumulated between March and September of this year. The country was split into leagues defined by MINI UK, with Joanne and Jerry finishing at the top of their respective leagues in terms of performance within their specific roles.

As Wellsway's MINI Sales Manager, Jerry was judged on a number of criteria relating to New and Used MINI's including sales volumes, and also finance and accessory sales.

Joanne, 34, Wellsway's MINI Business Manager competed for 'A Race for the Rockies' and was awarded points for achieving high levels of customer care and finance sales. Her role is to advise customers on the best finance packages available, tailoring them specifically to suit their individual needs.

Philip Nelson, Dealer Principal for Wellsway MINI said "The fact that Joanne and Jerry have won these competitions is a testament to the quality of staff we have here at Wellsway MINI. They are both very committed, having worked at the dealership for a number of years and always give 100%. I am very pleased that their hard work has been recognised."

25/11/05

Ladies Night At Wellsway BMW/MINI

The team at Wellsway BMW/MINI were delighted to host a 'Ladies Evening' on 24th November at the dealership in Bath.

During the evening, ladies were invited to take part in a range of demonstrations, including a 'Smart Nav' display and an 'under the bonnet' guide, showing basic skills in changing tyres, checking oil levels and much more.

Also on display were the current range of BMW & MINI vehicles and accessories including handbags and clothing along with the opportunity to purchase cosmetics and jewellery from Virgin Vie. Guests were able to sample a variety of wines courtesy of Great Western Wines and entered into a free prize draw to win a luxury 2 night break at the exclusive Billesley Manor Hotel.

Karen Harding, Marketing Co-ordinator at Wellsway BMW/MINI said, "The evening was a great success with over 70 guests attending. It is always nice to be able to give something back to our customers. Wellsway client Bev Little was the lucky winner of the 2 night hotel break and was delighted with her prize."

22/11/05

Business Specialist Appointed at Wellsway BMW in Bath

Wellsway BMW is delighted to announce the appointment of Philip Bibbings as Corporate Sales Manager at their Bath based dealership.

Mr Bibbings, aged 36 who lives in Colerne, started his motor trade career 16 years ago and has extensive experience with premier brands. He has worked in various fields in the industry, from sales and marketing to finance related and managerial roles.

Focusing on Corporate Sales, Mr Bibbings will take responsibility for local and national business. He will be looking after existing and new accounts, providing a total corporate management service, which will include funding solutions, advice on company car tax and opt out solutions. He will provide a bespoke personal service to company fleet managers and company car users.

Mr Bibbings said, "I am delighted to have been appointed as Corporate Sales Manager at Wellsway BMW. It is a company that I've known from the start having lived in Bath and I have watched it expand from its previous location on Bear Flat, and one that I've desired to work with for many years. I am pleased to be associated with the company and the BMW brand, and I am looking forward to an enjoyable association."

Philip is available to advise clients interested in his Corporate service, either by telephone or by visiting the dealership based on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath. He will also be delighted to visit companies at their own premises, if required.

For further information, Wellsway BMW and MINI can be contacted on (01225) 448145 or visit either www.wellswaybmw.co.uk or www.wellswaymini.co.uk.

17/11/05

Renrod Ltd Appoints New Human Resources Manager

Renrod Ltd is delighted to announce the appointment of Caira Skuse as Group Human Resources Manager, based at their Head Office in Wiltshire's county town of Trowbridge.

Caira, a mother of three from Midsomer Norton, brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience in the field of human resources, having worked in similar roles throughout her career.

In her last post, Caira assisted in a business relocation and was also involved in the selection and retention of new employees during a recruitment drive that quadrupled staffing levels over a period of 2 years.

Caira was appointed in early August of this year, and will oversee the entire group's Human Resource operation across 15 sites in conjunction with directors and managers.

Looking forward to her new role, Caira said "I'm delighted to have joined the Renrod group and look forward to providing support and advice to all members of staff across the group."

Caira is currently in the process of reviewing and redesigning the staff handbook, and also aims to focus on other aspects such as the induction process in order to ensure continued success for the company.

Caira added, "I am looking forward to the challenges that come with working for a progressive company of this size and I'm keen to build relations with members of staff at all levels, from supporting apprentice's throughout their training to working on new initiatives alongside the board of directors."

02/09/05

Wellsway BMW/MINI Announces Aftersales Team Enhancements

Bath based Wellsway BMW/MINI has undergone an expansion to its Aftersales Department, creating an enhanced management structure using existing personnel.

Early 2005 saw a similar project within the Wellsway BMW / MINI Sales Department in terms of management structure, due to greater volumes. An increased used car display area was made possible by the acquisition of adjoining land, and substantial alteration work was carried out in the Wellsway showroom.

The company, which is a subsidiary of Renrod Holdings Ltd, has promoted Hadyn Satchell to the new post of Aftersales Manager. His role will be to oversee the Service and Parts departments as one entity, integrating the two departments so that best practices can be implemented in order to deliver even higher levels of customer service. This new position was deemed necessary as a result of the growing volumes of aftersales business undertaken at the dealership, and the subsequent growth in the number of staff.

Mr Satchell said, "Due to the size of the operation at Wellsway BMW and MINI, it was sensible to integrate these two departments under one manager to ensure best practices and a customer focus to the entire aftersales activity. With the addition of MINI at Wellsway and the diversification of BMW into new markets such as the 1 series and other new products, it is important to have an integrated approach to cope with the increased success of the business."

Peter Hemmings, Parts Manager, will continue to build upon and expand the area of Trade business. He is also responsible for developing the Parts team and supporting the Service department in the supply of parts, by continuing to provide a timely service for customers.

Adrian Roddis has been promoted from Assistant Service Manager to Service Manager. He will focus on managing the Service Department, by meeting and exceeding customers' expectations for the service and repair of their vehicles.

Dealer Principal Philip Nelson explained, "The success of Wellsway's Sales, Service and Parts departments combined with the increase of used car capacity at the dealership, and also the expanding ranges of BMW / MINI themselves caused a re-evaluation of our existing facility and staff structure."

"The result was the appointment of Hadyn Satchell to Aftersales Manager to oversee the Parts and Service Departments. As the roles are intricately linked, Sales and Aftersales will work closely together and share common facilities such as sales administration and marketing, thus ensuring that the whole dealership operates very efficiently".

02/09/05

Platinum Joins Forces With 107.9 Bath FM

Renrod Ltd, owner of the Platinum group of dealerships and associated company Wellsway BMW/MINI, is joining forces with 107.9 Bath FM in a unique partnership.

Encouraged by the success of recent advertising campaigns with commercial radio station - 107.9 Bath FM, Renrod were keen to form ongoing reciprocal working relationships with the local marketing partner. The ongoing commitment between the two local businesses will enable exciting new initiatives and mutually beneficial marketing activity.

Renrod Ltd is providing 107.9 Bath FM with 2 vehicles for staff to use at the radio station's events and outside broadcasts around the city. Branded with both Platinum and 107.9 Bath FM's livery, the Mitsubishi 'Warrior' and a Toyota 'Hilux' will be assisting 107.9 Bath FM's promotional activities over the coming months.

The vehicles' activities will be highlighted on air on 107.9FM prefixed with the strap-lines '…powered by Platinum Mitsubishi….' or '…….powered by Platinum Toyota' and listeners will be able to spot them out and about in Bath from 12th September.

Jeremy Cuff, Renrod Ltd's Group Marketing Director said, "We've had some very productive discussions with the Bath FM team, with the result being an ongoing commitment to work together. Our linkup with the radio station will include the loan of these two vehicles for their events, creating joint news stories for our magazines and websites and the sharing and distribution of marketing initiatives."

Jo Woods, Station Manager at 107.9 Bath FM said, "Staff are already planning the Hilux and Warrior's first big event which will be at the Roundtable Fireworks at the Rec on November 4th, but in the meantime look out for the Bath FM crew and the new vehicles out and about in Bath.'

For full details of 107.9 Bath FM's visits with the Mitsubishi Warrior and Toyota Hilux, view their website - www.bathfm.co.uk

13/07/05

Trowbridge Motorists Make The Most Of Renault Minute!

Local motorists can now enjoy greater peace of mind with the opening of Platinum's new all-makes Renault Minute fast-fit centre based at the Platinum Motor Park, close to North Bradley in Trowbridge.

The reason? Technicians at Platinum's Renault Minute will be performing hundreds of free safety checks on all makes and models of Trowbridge cars as their owners bring them in for no-appointment servicing and repairs. The new fast fit workshop is now open Monday to Saturday, meaning customers don't have to wait to get those niggling repairs attended to - any safety concerns can be answered almost immediately by a qualified Renault Minute Technician.

Renault Minute (pronounced the French way, 'min-yoot') operates alongside Platinum's Renault Service and Repair Centre using the latest facilities at the £multi-million dealership, which opened last winter.

The Renault Minute department specialises in convenient repair or replacement of 'wear and tear' items such as tyres, exhausts, batteries and brakes, especially on cars three years old and older.

Renault Minute Manager Steve Mawby supervises a team of Technicians working on all makes of cars at Platinum's landmark site. "This prominent town site is an important priority for us and addresses a clear need from busy customers in Trowbridge," he said.

"There's no queue, no need for an appointment and we can usually assess each job as soon as it's brought in," Steve explained. "All our work is competitively priced and we place great emphasis on our quality of service."

"Renault Minute is instantly attractive to drivers, whether they drive a Renault or any other make. Trowbridge customers seem to like our convenient service which is also great value," he added.

Renault Minute offers free estimates, competitive pricing and clear billing on replacement exhausts, oil and air filter changes, tyres, batteries - in fact any wear-and-tear item on any make of car or light commercial van under three tonnes. The Renault Minute Technicians aim to have every job - which includes a free 25-point safety check - completed within two hours. For more intricate repairs, customers are referred to Platinum's main Renault-authorised workshop.

"We know from our experience that customers appreciate being able to talk with the operators working on their vehicle and being involved in the process from beginning to end," said Steve.

Renault Minute at Platinum Renault in Trowbridge has a fully equipped workshop plus a comfortable customer waiting room with free tea and coffee. Opening hours are 08.30 to 17.00 Monday to Friday and 08.30 to 13.00 on Saturdays. For further details, contact Renault Minute in Trowbridge on 01225 759535.

05/07/05

Platinum Accident Repair Centre Achieves BMW Approved Status

Renrod Limited's Bath based bodyshop, Platinum Accident Repair Centre has been awarded the coveted BMW Approved repairer status, following a series of investments in both facilities and training.

The Platinum Accident Repair Centre is located in Cheltenham Street, conveniently less than a mile away from the Wellsway BMW/MINI dealership on the main Lower Bristol Road route.

The Platinum Accident Repair Centre has benefited from a planned programme of growth and expansion. This process of business development has included the ongoing training of personnel in areas of customer satisfaction, new techniques and technologies. Investment in terms of equipment, infrastructure, IT support and premises has also been a major factor and have enabled the business to progress hand in hand with the latest developments in repair technology. This combination of training and facilities investment together with prior experience of managing a BMW Approved Bodyshop in Frome ensures that the business is well equipped take on the extra responsibility of BMW Approved Bodyshop status.

Platinum Accident Repair Centre is managed on a daily operational basis by Bodyshop Manager Lee Perkins and Renrod Ltd's Group Bodyshop Manager Stuart Cook

Mr.Cook said, "It was felt that the close proximity of the Platinum Accident Repair Centre to Wellsway combined with our ongoing investments in facilities and training provided a compelling business case to seek BMW Approved status. The programme is very comprehensive in that it combines client care with business growth opportunities. I am naturally delighted that we've achieved BMW Approved bodyshop status."

In addition to BMW approval, the Platinum Accident Repair Centre in Bath is also approved repairer for Mercedes Benz, Toyota, Renault, Nissan, Mitsubishi and the VAG Group (VW, Audi, Bentley, Seat and Skoda).

05/07/05

Motor Group Welcomed at West Wilts Show

Organisers of the West Wilts Show are urging business that may want to exhibit at the event to sign up now. Local businesses aiming to attend are urged to act quickly as space is limited.

Renrod Ltd is delighted to have secured enough space at the event for all of their dealerships. They are preparing to visit the 9th biennial West Wilts Show en masse to support the 3 day event on the 28th, 29th and 30th July.

The show is to be held at the Trowbridge Town Park and entry is free. Visitors will be able to see the Motor Fair, Arts & Crafts, Flower Show, live music and much much more! The West Wilts Show has an impressive range of entertainment on offer. Thousands of people also pack into the park for the two evening concerts, held after the Show closes on Thursday and Friday.

Branches of Renrod Limited's "Platinum" dealerships, plus The Hitman and Wellsway BMW/MINI will display a large range of cars and light commercials, which can be found in the central avenue in the park. These will compliment the products of other exhibitors and local businesses who specialize in a variety of services and products.

Show organiser, Bryan Walker from West Wiltshire District Council said, "Renrod Ltd has been a strong supporter of this Show for many years and I am pleased to welcome them back for 2005. The Motor Fair is at the core of the show and brings together a huge range of cars and commercial vehicles that visitors rarely find in one place. Prospective buyers can check out the latest models from leading manufacturers and compare them with each other. And with so much else going on in the park you can be sure that looking at cars has never been such a family-oriented activity. "

He added, "Exhibition stand sales are going extremely well with some areas almost sold out. I would urge any business thinking about taking part not to delay contacting us. After all, with inside stand costs from only £80 for three days there are few better ways of meeting thousands of potential customers."

Each of the Renrod Ltd's branches will field teams of personnel at the show who can offer advice regarding any of their vehicles and test drive bookings, plus vehicle finance packages tailored to suit the individual, and the range of aftercare services available. They will also be on hand to discuss commercial vehicles and the needs and requirements of any companies.

Jeremy Cuff, Group Marketing Director for Renrod Ltd said, "Our group has been a staunch supporter of the show for many years. This year will be our biggest representation at the event to date and we look forward to another successful show."

The West Wilts Show was launched in 1989 as a relatively small business exhibition in Trowbridge Park, attracting around 15,000 visitors. Each Show since has grown in size and popularity - in 2003, the show welcomed over 300 exhibitors and nearly 70,000 visitors! The branch teams at Renrod Ltd look forward to greeting visitors to the show and displaying their vehicle product ranges to a wider audience.

Trowbridge has about 56,000 square metres of park and the Showground covers virtually every blade of grass. The area around the bandstand provides the main arena, each of West Wiltshire's five towns has its own marquee, and three further marquees provide in excess of 8,000 square metres of undercover exhibition space.

05/07/05

Platinum Nissan To Supply Wiltshire County Council Vehicles

Platinum Nissan in Trowbridge is delighted to have secured a contract with Masterlease in order to supply all of the vehicles for Wiltshire County Council's company car scheme.

Renrod Ltd (owner of the Platinum group of dealerships and associated company Wellsway) is delighted to have agreed the contract with Masterlease, resulting in their Trowbridge based Platinum Nissan being chosen to supply all of the vehicles for the Council's supported lease scheme for its staff. The orders commenced at the beginning of April.

Platinum Nissan's Brand Manager, Richard Pulsford was pivotal in negotiating the contract with Masterlease, ensuring that all of Masterleases' and the Council's requirements were fulfilled.

Mr Pulsford said, "We are delighted to have agreed terms and to now be doing business with Masterlease for the staff of Wiltshire County Council and we look forward to an ongoing relationship. This is especially significant for Platinum Nissan in Trowbridge as it is a new business and sister site to the Box, Near Bath dealership. In addition to supplying the vehicles, we will also maintain and service them as and when required."

Helen Danford, Senior Procurement Officer at Wiltshire County Council, is pleased to joined forces with Renrod Ltd. She said, "Since the start of the arrangement with Platinum in April 2005, around 20 drivers have ordered the Nissan vehicles. It is particularly convenient to most of our drivers to have access to a local dealership, and I think those drivers who have already had their cars delivered have been pleasantly surprised by the speed with which their vehicles have been delivered."

Creating a gateway to Wiltshire's county town of Trowbridge, the 5.25-acre Platinum Motor Park represents the Nissan, Vauxhall, Toyota and Renault brands. Opened at the end of December 2004 and now fully operational, four franchise trained teams are in place to help and advise customers in choosing their next vehicle, or for assisting in the all important aftercare of service, parts and bodyshop.

27/05/05

Renrod Ltd Sponsors Business Breakfast

Renrod Ltd (owner of the Platinum group of dealerships and associated company Wellsway) is proud to be sponsoring the Wessex business breakfast at Cumberwell Park on Friday 27th May.

The business breakfast, which takes place monthly, is attended by the Patrons and members of the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce. It is regularly attended by over 100 local business people, who find the networking opportunities and the presentations given by invited speakers to be useful and informative.

Carol Clarke - the new joint Chief Executive of the Kennet, North Wiltshire and West Wiltshire PCT will be presenting to the breakfast meeting this Friday, who's talk is entitled "The NHS - the challenge of delivering the future". Carol is a manager with a wealth of experience in the NHS and Private Sector.

Before Ms Clarke's presentation, as sponsors, Renrod Ltd will also have the opportunity to address the group. Philip Nelson, Dealer Principal of Wellsway BMW and MINI will give a 5 minute introduction to the breakfast about the Bath based dealership.

Philip Nelson said, "We are delighted to be able to give WACC members a rare insight into some of the aspects that make BMW and MINI vehicles so sought after. I am very much looking forward to presenting to the chamber members and hope to give them an insight into the day to day workings of a modern car dealership."

Philip is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the Wellsway dealership, including sales, service and parts. All managers work very closely with him in a team effort to ensure that every customer and visitor to Wellsway BMW and MINI has the best possible experience when visiting the facility.

Mr Nelson's address will include information on recent investments made in order to enhance the Wellsway BMW and MINI dealership in Bath. He will give an overview to the new BMW and MINI models which are available at the dealership, as well as an introduction to the BMW body shop facilities available in Frome.

To book your ticket at this Friday's breakfast, contact WACC on (01225) 355553

20/05/05

Wessex Chamber Patrons Visit New Platinum Motor Park

Patrons of the Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce visited Renrod Ltd's new Platinum Motor Park facility on Friday 20th May.

Renrod Ltd (owner of the Platinum group of dealerships and associated Wellsway BMW and MINI) welcomed the Patrons to its ground-breaking multi-million pound motor park development at the Meridian Business Park in Trowbridge.

Creating a gateway to Wiltshire's county town of Trowbridge, the 5.25-acre site represents the Vauxhall, Toyota, Renault and Nissan brands. Opened at the end of December 2004 and now fully operational, four franchise trained teams are in place to help and advise customers in choosing their next vehicle, or for assisting in the all important aftercare of service, parts and bodyshop.

The visit was hosted by Martyn Read, Group Operations Director for Renrod Ltd, who accompanied the Patrons on a tour of the site. The tour visited all four dealerships, starting at Platinum Toyota at 7.45am for continental breakfast with tea and coffee. Mr Read explained each area of the four dealerships, answering any questions, before the tour finished at 9.15am.

Mr Read said, "We were delighted to host the Patrons of Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce. Renrod Ltd have been Patrons for some time and we were pleased to welcome the other Patrons to our brand new state-of-the-art motor park. We've received tremendous feedback from all of the visitors to our site, who have been extremely impressed by the facilities here."

Mike Williams Chief Executive of Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce said, "It was very evident from all those who attended that they found the visit both enjoyable and informative. We very much appreciate Renrod's hospitality and the time that Renrod's staff gave to us."

Wessex Association of Chambers of Commerce represents 14 Chambers of Commerce, comprising of Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, Trowbridge, Warminster, Westbury, Devizes, Frome, Chippenham, Calne, Corsham, Malmesbury, Marlborough, Tidworth and Wootton Bassett. They have all affiliated to the Association, bringing the overall membership to approaching 1200 businesses and organisations.

The Association exists to sustain and strengthen the Chamber movement in the region through an efficient network between the Chambers and their members and a proactive relationship with external organisations.

Renrod Ltd are one of 29 Patrons of the Association, who consist of businesses from around the region including solicitors, banks and educational institutions, as well as the Honorary Patron the Marquess of Bath. There are hundreds of members who enjoy a range of benefits which include networking events, designed to allow businesses to meet and be introduced to new contacts.

18/03/05

Wellsway Announces Enhanced Sales Department

Early 2005 saw Wellsway in Bath undergo an enhancement process to increase capacity, efficiency and customer relationship management of its busy and successful sales department.

Following on from the increased used car display area, made possible since the acquisition of adjoining land, the company has appointed David Creighton as dedicated Used Car Sales Manager. His role is to manage and oversee the larger used car operation, made possible by the additional space.

Andrew Fallows remains in the role of Sales Manager, but concentrating on new BMW's and new MINI's, a responsibility that has expanded considerably since the introduction of more products to the BMW and MINI ranges such as X3, Z4, new 3 Series, 1 Series and 6 Series.

Also, substantial alteration work has been carried out in the Wellsway showroom, to accommodate the new roles and their support functions of sales administration and marketing.

Dealer Principal Philip Nelson explained, "The success of Wellsway's sales department combined with the increase of used car capacity at the dealership, and also the expanding ranges of BMW and MINI themselves caused a re-evaluation of our existing facility and staff structure."

"The result was the appointment of Andrew Fallows as Sales Manager for New BMW's and MINI's and David Creighton to the new role of Used Car Sales Manager. As the roles are closely linked, Andrew and David work closely together and share common facilities such as sales administration and marketing, thus ensuring that the sales department as a whole operates as one efficient and coherent entity."

"We've also improved the customer waiting area with a new business desk featuring a phone line for laptop users with a direct dial facility and also a new plasma screen television courtesy of Moss of Bath."

The Wellsway MINI sales team has also been enhanced, with Jeremy Alderson being joined by Helena Giddings, again due to the tremendous success of MINI at Wellsway.

18/03/05

Platinum and Wellsway Joins Forces With Castle Combe!

Renrod Ltd, owner of the Platinum group of dealerships and associated company Wellsway BMW/MINI, is joining forces with Castle Combe Circuit and racing school in a unique partnership to bring their product ranges and consumer offers to the attention of the track's supporters.

Keen to form ongoing reciprocal working relationships with marketing partners throughout the region, Renrod Ltd are delighted to have forged a partnership with Castle Combe. The ongoing commitment between the two local businesses will enable exciting new initiatives and mutually beneficial marketing activity.

Renrod Ltd will be helping to raise awareness of Castle Combe's racing school and track days through articles in their magazines and websites to staff and customers. They will also be placing flyers within their dealerships.

Jeremy Cuff, Renrod Ltd's Group Marketing Director said, "We've had some very productive discussions with Rodney Gooch at Castle Combe, with the result being a commitment to work together going forward. Our linkup with Castle Combe will include, but not be limited to, product placements, creating joint news stories for our magazines and websites and the sharing and distribution of marketing initiatives. Our product ranges of vehicles include some sporty models which have an obvious synergy with a motor racing circuit such as Castle Combe."

In return, Castle Combe is promoting its track days as being run in association with Platinum and Wellsway with their leaflets carrying Platinum's logo and some information about the group. Castle Combe is also enabling Renrod Ltd to arrange product placements at race meetings and on track days, and facilitating the placement of their newsletters and other information on their latest offers at the track - thus securing exposure to a large local audience.

Castle Combe Chairman Howard Strawford commented "The race track is a great place to drive your performance car and this support from Renrod Ltd provides the opportunity for many of their customers to use the track. We are looking forward to welcoming Renrod's staff and customers driving in the tyre tracks of names like Moss, Mansell, Hill and Senna".

The two motoring businesses compliment each other, having many common threads. With a sporting model in every range that Renrod Ltd sells, plans are already being discussed regarding the first vehicles to be displayed at the track. On some occasions, the dealership personnel will be on hand to provide information and book test drives, on other occasions a static vehicle display will be utilised in a prominent position.

The result will be a raised profile for both organisations who welcome an ongoing working relationship through various marketing initiatives. For full details of Castle Combe Circuit and their car track days in association with Platinum and Wellsway, please phone 01249 782417.

08/03/05

News From Platinum Renault, Trowbridge

Laguna Launched at Official Opening

A new look for two well-known names associated with Renault will make their debuts in Trowbridge from Friday 18th March. While local motorists will have their first chance to view and drive the new-look Renault Laguna, local dealership Platinum Renault marks the official opening of a brand new dealership in Trowbridge.

Purpose-built to Renault's latest design specifications last year, Platinum Renault in Trowbridge is part of a multi-million pound flagship development at North Bradley, on the gateway to Wiltshire's county town. The Renault dealership opened to customers at the end of last year, but will be officially unveiled by the Mayor of Trowbridge, Councillor Grace Hill on Saturday 19th March. Platinum Renault is the first of Platinum's dealerships at North Bradley to have its official launch.

Platinum Renault is marking the double celebration with a three-day open event for all local motorists. Starting at 08.30 on Friday, 13th March, visitors can look around the state-of-the-art dealership including a rare opportunity to go inside the Renault approved workshop. Visitors may be surprised to see how clean and tidy a modern workshop is and the high levels of computer technology used by Renault Technicians.

The party atmosphere continues through the weekend with a Caribbean Steel Orchestra and a children's entertainer performing in the dealership on Saturday, 19th March. Those who fancy a test drive with a difference can exercise their skills on a Formula One simulator which will be running at the dealership on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March.

"We want it to be a fun and interesting day out for all the family, and hope to see visitors old and young taking a good look at our amazing new building, as well as trying out family cars like New Laguna, Espace, Scénic, Modus or Mégane, for size," said Platinum Renault Brand Manager Peter James.

With the first chance to get behind the wheel of the updated Renault Laguna, local motorists should look our for a dynamic new look to match the style of Renault's latest models, and a redesigned dashboard with the emphasis on driver comfort and convenience. Building on Laguna's excellent safety credentials (the Laguna was the first ever car to get a five star safety rating from crash testers at Euro NCAP in 2001), the new model has eight airbags and improved head restraints. New Laguna also has two new Euro IV compliant diesels which are cleaner, more powerful and offer low tax ratings for company car drivers.

As well as Laguna, visitors can test drive any of the Renault range during the opening weekend - just bring your driving licence!

The dealership is open from 09.30 to 18.00 on Friday, 09.00 to 17.00 on Saturday and 10.30 to 16.00 on Sunday. To find out more contact the dealership in North Bradley on 01225 759525.

20/01/05

Platinum Renault Appoints New Sales Manager

Renrod Ltd is delighted to announce the appointment of Tony Dean as Sales Manager at their Platinum Renault dealership in Bath.

Mr Dean, aged 43, lives in Bath with his wife and 2 children. He joins Platinum having worked in the motor trade industry for 19 years. With a wealth of experience, his career started in 1986 and he has held a range of positions such as Business Manager with a Ford franchise based in Trowbridge, as well as positions with other locally based automotive retailers.

Tony joined Platinum Renault in Bath in October 2004 and he is relishing the new challenge, learning all aspects of the Renault franchise. He will oversee the daily operation of the new and used car sales department, which includes the meeting and exceeding of customer requirements and expectations.

Mr Dean said, "I am enjoying my new role at Platinum Renault, with a brand that values safety whilst having a stylish flair. Renault achieves 5 star Euro NCAP Ratings for many of its vehicles and with new engines, new technology, increased comfort and security, Renault vehicles are evolving all of the time."

Mr Dean added, "Its going to be a challenge learning all about a Renault Franchise, but it's a challenge that I welcome and I'm looking forward to my future with Renrod Ltd, and with such an innovative and forward thinking brand as Renault."

As well as its Bath dealership where Mr Dean is based, Renrod Ltd also has two other branches of Platinum Renault at its new Meridian motor park facility in Trowbridge and on the London Road in Chippenham.

04/01/05

Renrod Ltd Joins Forces With New Internet Service Provider

Trowbridge based automotive retailers Renrod Ltd have joined forces with a new, locally based, internet service provider TrinityWeb Ltd to host, maintain and develop internet presence for many areas of the group - including the Renrod Ltd group site, Platinum Vauxhall, Platinum Nissan, Platinum Accident Repair Centre, Platinum Financial Solutions, the Hitman and Renrod Creative.

TrinityWeb Ltd is aimed at providing comprehensive online business solutions and has been launched by local IT experts Graham Risdon and Hilary Simms. Based locally, TrinityWeb Ltd is aimed at providing internet services such as website design, hosting, programming and on-line security.

Graham Risdon, aged 39 from Trowbridge, is a founding director of TrinityWeb Ltd as well as Managing Director of Media Inventions Ltd, TrinityWeb's sister company. Media Inventions Ltd has been running for three years and specialises in moving image production for a range of clients.

Mr Risdon has significant experience particularly within the motor industry, having been IT Director for Mitac, then Europe's largest motor-industry consultancy. Graham was one of the original team that developed groundbreaking real-time online electronic auctions as well as setting up the world's first internet broadcasting service specifically tailored to the motor industry.

Hilary Simms aged 40 has lived in Chippenham since 1990, following a move out of London. Hilary's design background is based in print, although she migrated to electronic media just as widespread use of the Internet was starting in 1990.

Since then she had been working for a leading motor-industry consultancy - Mitac / R L Polk, where she was involved in the development and delivery of a wide range of mission critical online services. These ranged from media-rich online training applications for a number of motor manufacturers to websites for several large dealer groups. Hilary has recently left Mitac / R L Polk and has been instrumental in forming TrinityWeb Ltd.

As both partners have a strong background in providing online business solutions to the motor trade industry, they are delighted to continue in this field through TrinityWeb Ltd and have already secured clients such as Renrod Ltd -one of the regions largest automotive retailers.

Hilary had been working for 5 years with Renrod Ltd during her time at Mitac/Polk. However, when Polk ceased their web hosting service, Renrod Ltd needed to find a new internet service provider. Hilary is delighted to be able these services to Renrod Ltd through TrinityWeb Ltd.

Renrod Ltd was one of the first motor groups to recognise the benefits of providing a comprehensive, information-rich range of web services for customers. From 360 degree "virtual views" allowing customers to visit the dealerships from their desktop, to detailed up-to-the minute information on new and used cars, their sites have proved a real aid in improving customer contact. Research shows that a good website can significantly strengthen a brand, and encourage substantial numbers of "real" customers to visit.

Jeremy Cuff, Group Marketing Director for Renrod Ltd said, "We'd developed an efficient and productive relationship with Mitac which carried on through the takeover by Polk, as we were able to work with many of the same people such as Hilary Simms. As Polk decided to disband their internet service, we were faced with a challenge of finding a new company to work with who could provide us with the same level of service, responsiveness and interface that we needed."

"We were therefore delighted that the discussions with Graham Risdon looked promising and the fact that we would subsequently still be working with Hilary after her obligations to Polk ended. The result is an ongoing commitment to work together in the way that we were used to previously which is ideal for our businesses, as we put considerable time and effort into maintaining and developing our websites, and thus we require a likeminded internet service provider who can understand, relate to and execute our ideas."

Graham Risdon said, "The internet is fast becoming the broadcasting medium of the future, with good-quality video on the web already a reality for broadband users. Together, Media Inventions Ltd and TrinityWeb Ltd will be able to offer a complete production and delivery process for all online content."

He added, "The partnership with Renrod Ltd is particularly exciting - the staff's enthusiasm for web-based services, together with an ongoing commitment to exploit new technologies, clearly demonstrates that their websites provide real business benefits."

TrinityWeb will be developing 8 of Renrod Ltd's websites. They will develop Renrod Ltd's group site - www.renrodmg.co.uk; in addition to Platinum Vauxhall; Platinum Nissan; The Hitman; Platinum Accident Repair Centre; Platinum Financial Solutions; Renrod Creative; as well as hosting the website for their multi million pound "Meridian Project"- www.meridianproject.com which is now open and fully operational.

Hilary Simms said, "TrinityWeb is delighted to be working in partnership with Renrod Limited, a local company that recognises the potential opportunities and benefits offered by the Internet. All our staff at TrinityWeb have more than ten years experience and expertise in providing multimedia products and online services to the motor industry. Therefore, our aim is to make Renrod Ltd's group of websites the premier online resource centre for automotive information."

To visit the Renrod Limited group website visit www.renrodmg.co.uk where there are links to other group sites. For more information on TrinityWeb Ltd visit - www.trinityweb.co.uk

27/11/04

Promotion at Chippenham's Platinum Renault

Renrod Limited are delighted to announce the promotion of Ian Chiles to the position of Service Manager at Platinum Renault in Chippenham.

Mr Chiles will be replacing the current Service Manager at the dealership - Steve Mawby who is going on to head up the Service Department at the Platinum Renault dealership in Trowbridge, which is part of the multi-million pound "Meridian Project" development by Renrod Ltd, owner of the Platinum group of dealerships.

Mr Chiles, who is 31 and lives in Frome with his partner, will manage the busy service and aftersales department at Platinum Renault in Chippenham. His role will involve the maintenance of high levels of customer care in terms of ensuring that customer's vehicles are correctly diagnosed for repairs. He will then be responsible for seeing that those vehicles are off the road for a minimal amount of time thus reducing inconvenience, and that new and used cars are ready for delivery. He will also be involved with the health and safety aspects of the site.

Mr Chiles' motor trade career started at the age of 16 when he worked at Hinton Garage in Bath. Throughout 11 years of employment with Hinton, he progressed from a technician through to rescue and recovery, finally achieving the position of Workshop Controller. Mr Chiles left Hinton in 2001 to join Renrod Ltd as one of their first Service Advisors at Platinum Renault in Chippenham. He was promoted to Service Manager on 1st November and very much looks forward to his new role.

Mr Chiles said "I chose to work for Renrod Ltd due to all of the possibilities of career progression. Renrod Ltd are the largest dealer group within the area and there was the opportunity for me to progress up through the ranks with many opportunities for internal promotion."

He added, "Now that I have achieved the role I wanted, I intend to work hard and concentrate on my areas of responsibility to try to build on the great levels of customer satisfaction and efficiency that Steve Mawby has already established."

Mr Mawby has been with Renrod Ltd for 11 years, having already worked at Saxon Garage in Bradford on Avon for 3 years before Renrod Ltd purchased the business 11 years ago (now called Platinum Renault). He has been with Platinum Renault in Chippenham for 3 and a half years and is now looking forward to moving to Platinum's new Renault dealership in Trowbridge.

Mr Mawby said "I am very much looking forward to seeing some of my old customers from Bradford on Avon as well as new customers to the Renault dealership at Trowbridge. It is very exciting being part of the Meridian Project, working at a brand new dealership with state-of-the-art technology. It will be a very exciting and challenging role and one that I am looking forward to."

27/11/04

Promotion to Frome's Platinum Vauxhall

Renrod Limited is delighted to announce the recent promotion of Alison Bull to the position of Branch Accountant at their Platinum Vauxhall dealership in Frome.

Miss Bull will be responsible for managing the accounts department for the dealership, which includes managing the accounts staff who look after the sales purchases and ledgers, ensuring that the department is run smoothly and that the management and year end accounts are produced accurately and on time.

In addition to managing the accounts and the staffing of the department at Frome's Platinum Vauxhall, she will collate the accounts information on a monthly basis, producing sets of monthly reports which will then be used by the management team. .

Miss Bull, who is age 35 and lives in Radstock, was appointed to her new role in June and is looking forward to taking up her position as Branch Accountant at Platinum Vauxhall in Frome in the New Year. In the meantime Miss Bull is combining her new role at Frome with her current one at Platinum Mitsubishi and Skoda in Bath, in order to train the new Trainee Branch Accountant - Theresa McDermott - who will take over the role.

Miss McDermott, who is aged 32 and comes from Wellow, joins Platinum Mitsubishi and Skoda from the Wellsway BMW and MINI dealership in Bath, where she was an Accounts Assistant.

Miss Bull's career with Renrod Ltd started at the group's Millmead Mitsubishi (since renamed as "Platinum") dealership in Bath during April 1999, when she was appointed as a Trainee Branch Accountant. Her new role involves a bigger franchise incorporating a bodyshop, with a larger turnover of vehicles and stock.

Miss Bull said, "It's a great step forward and hopefully from there who knows what might come in the future. I really enjoyed the challenge of doing something completely different when I started in accounts and my role with Renrod Ltd has grown from there."

Miss Bull added, "It is a great challenge to produce a set of yearly accounts, and with moving to Frome I will be working with a bigger dealership and different challenges. There is a bodyshop which will entail more diversity and different areas to look into. It is a bigger franchise so there is more involved with the role, although I have been working at a busy duel franchise at Platinum Mitsubishi and Skoda in Bath, and have very much enjoyed my time there."

Renrod Ltd continues to employ specialists at their Platinum dealerships in the fields of finance as well as sales, information technology, used car purchasing, human resources, aftersales and their bodyshops. This is combined with major investments in training, technologies and facilities - such as the new state of the art dealerships incorporated within the multi-million pound Meridian Project, as well as major refurbishments at their branches.

This ensures that Platinum is well placed to serve customers in an environment of continuous improvement in the future.

17/11/04

Max Accessory Treatment For New Astra Estate

Already acclaimed for its class leading stowage space and flexibility, the newly launched Vauxhall Astra Estate comes to market with a host of custom-made accessories to help owners match their daily needs with lifestyle aspirations.

All the accessories are designed to give owners more room for individuality while retaining the new model's inherent strengths of dynamic handling, strong performance, comfort, practicality and safety protection for family and pets.

High on the practical list for many buyers of the Astra Estate will be a FlexOrganiser system to help make maximum use of the model's generous luggage space.

There are also individual nets available to secure loose items to the front passenger seat, load compartment floor, side panels and back of the rear seats.

In the passenger compartment a special waste bag to keep the interior tidy can be fixed by Velcro to the rear of the front seats, as can a portable backpack. There is a glove compartment organiser, sun visor CD storage and a co-driver storage box for maps, newspapers or CD's.

A lightweight multifunction box to keep food and drinks cool or warm can be securely attached to the rear or front passenger seat using the standard three-point safety belt, or a portable cool bag can be plugged into the standard 12V auxiliary power socket. Prices of all these items range from £85 up to £123 for the multifunction box.

As well as roof-mounted base carriers to accommodate a wide variety of equipment such as bicycles, skis, surfboards and roof boxes, an interior cycle carrier is available to allow up to two cycles to be transported securely inside the Astra Estate's load compartment. This handy accessory is priced at £88.

For pet owners, there is a dog protection grid to separate the passenger and luggage compartments and a separator grid, which attaches to the dog grid, to divide the luggage compartment in two (£77). A safety net to span the space between the top of the rear seat and the roof lining can be fitted to protect passengers from loose objects in the rear.

Both hard or soft cargo liners tailored exactly to the internal dimensions of the luggage compartment can be fitted to protect against mud and wet walking boots, while a full width cover for the rear seat protects upholstery from animals and dirty objects.

Damage to the rear load sill can be prevented by fitting a transparent protective film, while a see-through rear window blind will help to alleviate heat build up inside the estate. A rain and wind deflector can be fitted to either front door. Further protective measures available include a choice of contoured carpet mats.

To complete the accessory line up, there will be an exterior styling pack plus alloy wheel options guaranteed to give the Estate even sleeker looks.

For full details, click on the Vauxhall accessories website at www.vauxhall.co.uk/accessories or call in at Platinum Vauxhall for a brochure.

15/11/04

New Service Manager For Frome's Platinum Vauxhall

Renrod Limited are delighted to announce the appointment of Martin Treby to the position of Service Manager at Platinum Vauxhall in Frome, where he will manage the busy service and masterfit departments.

Mr Treby, who is 29 and lives in Trowbridge, will manage the overall activity of the service department by ensuring that customers vehicles are correctly diagnosed for repairs, that vehicles are off the road for a minimal amount of time thus reducing inconvenience, and that new and used cars are ready for delivery. He will also be involved with the health and safety aspects of the site.

Mr Treby's motor trade career started in 1990 when he worked as a technician for Millmead, a locally owned family business in Bath with a Mitsubishi franchise. When Renrod Ltd took over the dealership in 1998, Mr Treby continued to work at the dealership for another 2 years.

He then progressed on to Wellsway BMW & MINI - another of Renrod Ltd's dealerships also based in Bath where he continued to work as a technician - working on BMWs to provide a range of tasks from repairing engines and changing clutches to installing in-car entertainment systems.

Mr Treby was promoted to Service Advisor at Wellsway BMW & MINI in 2000/1 where he received further training on product knowledge and customer care skills. He then went on to be promoted to Service Manager at Platinum Vauxhall in Trowbridge 6 months ago, before being transferred to his new appointment at Frome's Platinum Vauxhall dealership.

Frome's previous Service Manager Mark Hicks remains with the group and will take on the service department responsibility at the new state-of-the-art Platinum Vauxhall site in Trowbridge - opening soon.

Mr Treby said, "I am pleased to be moving to a bigger site where I will gain further experience and learn even more about Vauxhall. The Frome dealership has some extra services such as the Master Fit which is fully operational and will teach me additional skills and expand my knowledge."

He added, "I have been with Renrod Ltd since 1998 and they have always been committed to my career progression and giving me opportunities. They have provided excellent training and then given me the opportunity to put this training into practice. At Frome there are areas that I can focus on, using my experience at Trowbridge to continue the efficient running and high levels customer service delivered by the dealership. I will be able to implement my training and experience gained with Renrod Ltd to build the business at Frome."

Mr Treby went on to say, "At Platinum Vauxhall, our job is to provide our customers with all the information they need to make a really well informed decision on all aspects of their vehicle - whether they are making a new car purchase, choosing a used car, arranging routine servicing or buying parts. We provide a range of services from breakdown, wheel balancing / alignment and MOT's to tyre fitting, used car sales and a valet service."

15/11/04

New Appointment For The Meridian Project

Renrod Limited is delighted to announce that Jonathan White will be joining the "Meridian Project" management team as General Manager of Platinum Toyota. Mr White has been invited to oversee the relocation of their Toyota dealership from Warminster to the new multi-million pound Meridian site at the gateway to Trowbridge.

Living in Southwick with his wife, Jonathan aged 36 joins the Meridian team having progressed in his career at Renrod's Toyota dealership in Bath, where he first joined 8 years ago. Mr White started his motor career at Elkins Ford in Westbury as a Sales Executive where he worked for 4 years before joining what was then Bath's Roman Toyota, as part of The Renrod Group. Mr White moved into the role of Sales Manager within his first year at Bath, taking on the role of General Manger for the dealership after 5 years.

Mr White said, "The opportunity to run a new dealership is both exciting and challenging. Renrod Ltd have been committed to progressing my career since I joined the group which is very much appreciated. This latest opportunity will enable me to be part of a multi-million pound motor park where the technology and facilities will be state-of-the-art. It was a great shame to leave Bath as I have worked with such an excellent team and really enjoyed my time there, but I'm very much looking forward to my new role and working with a new team of people."

Mr White added, "Toyota is a forward moving brand which has great aspirations for the next few years and is looking to be a major player in the UK. The Platinum Toyota dealership at the Meridian site benefits from the latest Toyota "retail concept" design which makes it extremely customer friendly. From the minute customers arrive, they are greeted by a friendly member of the team rather than a pushy salesman. Customers will be welcome to browse at their leisure without any interruptions, whilst someone is always on hand to advise if required."

Mr White went on to say, "From a great tasting cup of coffee using china cups, to our staff's attitude, the whole experience of the Platinum Toyota showroom is well thought through and a step forward for the motor trade. It is welcoming with easy access and all about customer satisfaction."

08/11/04

New Year, New Options

MINI product revisions for 2005 including automatic transmission for MINI Cooper S

From 1 January 2005, MINI will be available with a number of new options that further increase the opportunity for MINI owners to personalise their cars.

For the first time, MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible will be offered with a six-speed automatic transmission that includes Steptronic mode and Steptronic paddles on the steering wheel as standard. Unlike the MINI One and MINI Cooper Continuously Variable Transmission system, this new automatic transmission has fixed gear ratios which result in quicker gear changes and a dynamic driving experience tuned specifically to match the MINI Cooper S' sporty character.

This new automatic transmission also features AGS (Adaptive Transmission Control). AGS allows the transmission to adapt in accordance with the driver's driving style. For example, the transmission will build the revs for longer before changing gear if it 'knows' the driver enjoys driving to the car's limits. The automatic transmission is priced at £1,050.

MINI One, MINI Cooper and MINI Cooper Convertible will keep the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) with Steptronic, but the option will also include Steptronic paddles on the steering wheel. CVT works without a specific gearing ratio that results in it being continuously variable. It can adapt constantly to the driving environment to hand, offering both smooth in town gear changes and more dynamic transmission slots when the driver chooses to enjoy a meandering B-road. The CVT transmission is priced at £1,050.

MINI Cooper S and MINI Cooper S Convertible will also have the option of limited slip differential. Limited slip differential increases traction resulting in improved handling and increased stability. It also ensures that the threshold for Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) is increased benefiting enthusiastic drivers as they seek to wring the full performance out of their MINI. Limited slip differential is priced at £100 or is fitted as standard if a CHILI pack is specified. It is only offered in conjunction with a manual transmission.

17" 5-Star BULLET light alloy wheels, previously only available on MINI Convertible models, will be offered on all other MINIs in the range. This wheel becomes standard for any MINI Cooper S ordered with a CHILI pack from January onwards. Customers have the option of keeping the 17" S-Spoke alloy, (previously standard with a CHILI pack) if desired.

17" WEB Spoke light alloy wheels are new two-piece bolted alloys that will be available on all models in the MINI range. Pricing starts at £480 to £1,600 depending on model selected and level of specification.

More new options available from January 2005 are listed as follows:
Door mirror caps in body colour for MINI One Convertible
Door mirror caps on a MINI One are matt black. Body coloured option £50.
Automatic dimming rear view mirror
Available as a single option for the first time on all models. Price £85.
Rain sensor and automatic 'headlight-on' sensor
A new combined option available on all models. Price £85.
White indicator lights
New white indicator lights in rear cluster and white side repeaters available for all MINI models priced at £50. Price for MINI Cooper S is £35 as white side repeaters are already standard on this model.

Further changes have been made to existing options:
The content of the visibility package will be increased to include automatic 'headlight-on' sensor. Priced at £220, the package also includes automatic dimming rear view mirror, rain sensor and heated front windscreen.

Satellite Navigation will be expanded to include a single CD player and TMC* (Traffic Message Channel) as standard. TMC is an advanced traffic warning system that not only gives visual and verbal warnings of impending traffic problems but can also re-route the driver to avoid the delay. To reflect the additional specification level, Satellite Navigation will be increased in price from £1,410 to £1,650, or £1,550 if ordered in conjunction with a SALT, PEPPER or CHILI pack.

All MINI models will benefit from a change to the capacity of the washer bottle. The bottle has been increased in size by 0.4 litres to approximately 2.5 litres. In addition, an orange warning lamp will be situated on the right hand indicator stalk to advise drivers when their washer fluid is running low. As a result, the security alarm lamp that is currently positioned on the right hand indicator stalk will move to the left hand indicator stalk.

New Accessories
MINI has introduced a retrofit leather seat upgrade kit ideal for customers who wish to upgrade their own MINI or have bought a used MINI with cloth seats but would prefer leather. The kit fully upgrades both the front and rear seats. An added advantage for MINIs fitted with standard seats is that upgrading to leather seats also includes the addition of sports seats. The retrofit leather seat kit is priced at £1,450 plus three hours fitting time. For a further £100 the heated seat option can also be added. Three trims are available:
Mono - only available in Panther Black.
Twin - Panther Black edge with either Chili Red or Lapis Blue in the middle of the seat.
Stripes - Panther Black with two coloured stripes running through the seat in either White, Grey or Chili Red.

05/11/04

Skoda Announces New Octavia Estate Prices - More Great Value From Skoda

The new Škoda Octavia Estate, available in First Quarter 2005, will start at just £12,180, more proof of Škoda's great value. The entry-level price is for the Classic 1.6 MPI, with its 102 bhp and fuel-efficient petrol engine and customers can order Estates now for delivery in the first part of the New Year.

Available with a choice of three petrol and two diesel engines, the Estate will be fitted with the same three trim levels as the hatch. All the Estate models have roof rails as standard. Also standard in the new Octavia Estate are touches that make the car easier to use, like the luggage cover that rolls back automatically when you touch it anywhere across the width of the cover (even with your elbow if your hands are full of packages) and the shopping bag hooks in the luggage compartment.

The 4x4 version of the Estate is expected to make its UK debut in the First Quarter 2005 as well. Engine choices will be the 2.0 FSI 150 bhp petrol and the 1.9 TDI PD 105 bhp, the first time that the Octavia Estate will be available in the UK with a diesel engine. Prices and specification for the four-wheel drive estate are still to be finalised.

The Octavia Estate offers an exceptionally roomy interior and luggage compartment. With the seats in place, carrying capacity of 580 litres is top in its class, rising to 1,620 litres with the rear seats folded.

The new Škoda Octavia Estate offers an extraordinary combination of large interior, excellent handling and performance, loads of comfort, high build quality, and excellent value for money. All this adds up to another example of Škoda's "extra bit of car".

05/11/04

Renault, Maker Of The World's Safest Cars, Sponsors UK'S 'National Road Safety Week'

In 2003, a staggering 214,000 road accidents were recorded throughout Great Britain, of which 37,215 resulted in death or serious injury, including 4,100 involving children under 16. Although this statistic is improving there is still a lot of work to be done, so Renault hopes to make a valuable difference in saving lives, not just through its products, but also by educating the public in each of the markets it operates in via a series of international safety programmes.

One such initiative in the UK is Renault's sponsorship of National Road Safety Week, which this year runs from 8-14 November. Co-ordinated by Brake, the national road safety charity, this year's theme for the Week is 'Don't drink and drive - not a drop' and Brake will be highlighting how a new generation of drink-drivers are increasingly getting behind the wheel, faced with the disturbing fact that drink-drive casualties (deaths, serious and slight injuries) have risen by a third over the past decade from 14,890 in 1993 to 19,010 in 2003, causing nearly one in six road deaths.

Renault is a company synonymous with safety, mainly due to its success in Euro NCAP independent crash tests, where it now has seven cars with the rare maximum five-star rating - the highest number of safe cars in the industry. Speaking at the Paris Motor Show earlier this year, Louis Schweitzer, Chairman and CEO of Renault, not only paid tribute to the enormous strides made in vehicle safety, particularly as a result of the role played by Europe's pioneering safety organisation, Euro NCAP, but also spoke of how, "Five years ago, safety was a very low consideration when buying a new car. Now it is one of the most important factors."

As a result of its impressive safety credentials and £70 million investment each year in safety research and development with its dedicated team of 600 specialist engineers and technicians, Renault is ideally placed to contribute to the drive to reduce the number of lives lost on our roads each year. Indeed, aside from making the safest cars on the road and in addition to its financial support of Brake, the company also has an ongoing safety campaign of its own, 'Safety for All', which seeks to promote awareness of road safety issues, particularly among children.

Over the last four years this international programme has helped over five million children aged 7 to 11 to learn more about these issues. In the UK alone, Renault has had requests from more than 15,000 primary schools for its 'Safety Matters' teaching kits, which comprise a teacher's manual, workbook, classroom posters and 25-minute video. Backed by police officers, community safety co-ordinators, the Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA), not to mention the company's space alien, Woosh, who flies in from outer space to attend functions at schools and other community venues to promote the company's safety message, the campaign forms an integral part of Renault's overall safety commitment.

02/11/04

Micra Hide 'N' Heat

Nissan is playing a game of hide 'n' heat. It's offering free two-tone leather trim with heated front seats to all customers who buy a Micra SX before the end of the year. But that's not all. The Micra SX also comes with free insurance for a year if it's purchased using Preferences, Nissan's personal contract purchase plan.

The SX is the funkiest of Micras with the youngest average customer. They're attracted to its 15" alloys, dark tinted headlamps and rear roof spoiler. Kit-wise, the SX is stacked. Electronic climate control, Intelligent Key, front fog lamps, a trip computer and six-speaker CD music system are all included together now with hide 'n' heat. There are six different Micra SX versions with a choice of 1.2- and 1.4-litre petrol engines, or an 82PS 1.5-litre dCi common rail diesel unit; each is offered with either three- or five-doors and prices start at £10,195. Is there a better equipped small car for the money? If there is, it's been hiding because Nissan can't find one.
In the New Year when these offers end, the leather trim and seats will become available as an option for £850.

27/10/04

Mitsubishi Motors UK Unveils Awesome Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-400

Mitsubishi Motors UK has taken the wraps off the fastest saloon car ever produced by a major manufacturer. Built to celebrate the thirtieth anniversary of Mitsubishi's entry into the UK market, the new Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-400 will be built in a limited edition run of just 100 cars, and is available to order now priced £46,999.

The car was the brainchild of Mitsubishi Motors UK's Sales & Marketing Director, Lance Bradley. "The new Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-400 is the ultimate expression of who and what we are as a brand. This is a versatile four-door saloon that can out accelerate supercars costing almost ten times as much."

The new model is based on the Lancer Evolution VIII MR FQ-320 and was developed in the UK by Mitsubishi Motors UK's motor sports department, in association with tuning specialists Rampage, Owen Developments and Flow Race Engines. Together, they modified the Lancer's legendary 2.0-litre turbocharged engine so that it now produces a mighty 405bhp and 355lb ft of torque.

This is enough to propel the FQ-400 from 0-60mph in an incredible 3.5 seconds and on to a top speed in excess of 175mph*. It is a performance that even some of the world's most exotic supercars struggle to match. The £330,000 Porsche Carrera GT, for example, requires 3.9 seconds to sprint from 0-62mph, while the ultra-exclusive Pagani Zonda needs 3.7 seconds. The BMW M3 - hitherto the benchmark 'everyday supercar' - takes 5.3 seconds to achieve the same feat.

The key to the MR FQ-400's performance lies not just in its engine, but also in its sophisticated chassis. Like every car in the Evolution VIII MR (Mitsubishi Racing) range, the FQ-400 benefits from Mitsubishi's electronically controlled four-wheel drive system (4WD) and a Bilstein suspension system honed at the legendary Nurburgring Nordschleife racetrack. The introduction of a new braking system on the FQ-400 also ensures that it has the 'stop' to match its 'go'.

Subtle aesthetic enhancements differentiate the FQ-400 from the rest of the MR range and improve its high-speed stability. Ralliart aero mirrors, a carbon fibre front lip spoiler and a 'sharks tooth' rear vortex generator, are as functional as they are attractive. And it further benefits from gloss black lightweight Team Dynamics alloy wheels and red 'FQ-400' badging.

Inside, the sporting, focussed theme continues with a Momo steering wheel and Recaro bucket seats. The fascia has carbon fibre detailing and there's a discreet plaque next to the gearstick, which reveals the car's production number. The ambience is purposeful but the FQ-400 is no stripped out road racer. Electric windows and mirrors and climate control are all fitted as standard, highlighting the Lancer's appeal as the world's most practical and versatile supercar.

As befits its status as an official Mitsubishi Motors UK product, the FQ-400 has undergone extensive reliability testing and is supplied with a three-years/36,000 mile manufacturer's warranty. This exciting flagship can be ordered now from approved Platinum Mitsubishi.

15/10/04

The New BMW 320Cd Convertible

Economy, driving dynamics, and the wonderful thrill of driving in the open air - all this is taking on a new dimension in the guise of the BMW 320Cd Convertible. Indeed, BMW's first-ever diesel-powered convertible is a particularly good example of how elegance, sportiness and efficiency may be combined in perfect harmony.

Symbiosis and synergies.
Smooth and quiet, the four-cylinder power unit is a perfect match for the BMW 3 Series Convertible, offering typical BMW fortes such as efficient dynamics and superior comfort in a most impressive manner: With its two balance shafts, this modern diesel excels through its supreme refinement, harmonious power, and fast acceleration from low engine speeds. Representing the latest state-of-the-art in engine construction, the power unit develops maximum output of 110 kW/150 bhp and maximum torque of 330 Nm/243 lb-ft.

BMW's two-litre diesel has already achieved great success in other models in the BMW 3 Series, accounting for 80 per cent of all BMW 3 Series sold in some markets such as France.

The drivetrain as such has been carried over from the 320Cd Coupé and modified for the BMW 3 Series Convertible. The differences lie in engine management as well as the drivetrain itself with a 'shorter' final drive and an exhaust system tailored to the Convertible. The chassis and suspension have also been converted appropriately.

The sporting cruiser.
The 16-valve power unit develops maximum output of 110 kW/150 bhp at 4,000 rpm, giving this elegant four-seater a top speed of 211 km/h or 131 mph. Supreme driving pleasure is also ensured by the harmonious surge of power and the bullish torque of the direct-injection engine developing 295 Nm or 217 lb-ft at just 1,500 rpm before reaching its maximum torque of 330 Nm/243 lb-ft at 2,000 rpm.

The enthusiast opting for a sporting style of motoring in this new Convertible will certainly enjoy life in this car, the 320Cd Convertible reaching 100 km/h in just 9.7 seconds. And the interim sprint in, say, 4th gear from 80?120 km/h (50-75 mph) is even more impressive, taking just 7.5 seconds.

Fitted as standard, the six-speed manual gearbox comes with short and sporting gear ratios for a particularly dynamic or, alternatively, a very relaxed and laid-back style of motoring in this elegant Convertible. Top speed comes in sixth gear.

Regardless of whether the driver is driving with the roof down or closed, diesel combustion noise is reduced to a minimum, thus creating the acoustic impression of a petrol engine under virtually all driving conditions.

Elegant and economical all in one.
The dynamic performance offered by this high-tech power unit in the open-air
3 Series is only one of the engine's benefits. Because despite this remarkable performance, the new BMW Convertible is also very economical, consuming just 6.3 litres/100 km of diesel fuel in the composite EU cycle (44.8 mpg Imp) and thus offering a cruising range on one tank of up to 1,000 kilometres or 620 miles.

Benefitting from modifications within the engine, the 320Cd Convertible outperforms the EU4 emission standard even without a particle filter.

How about a bit more?
Very well equipped even in standard trim, the 3 Series Convertible can of course be upgraded to an even higher level by adding a whole range of attractive options.

BMW's new Diesel Convertible also comes in the two Exclusive and Sports Editions offering the customer an attractive package of special features in each case. Inter alia, the Edition models feature 17-inch light-alloy wheels, special metallic paintwork and upholstery, as well as special add-on features such as chrome trim and interior panels. Further, even more refined features are then added individually for specific markets.

In the German market, for example, the low-priced Exclusive Edition comes with Adaptive Headlights, a multifunction steering wheel, xenon lights for the high and low beam, seat heating, and a rain sensor.

Changing times in the passenger car market.
BMW's 320Cd and 330Cd Coupés have already proven that a modern diesel power unit can also be successful in vehicle segments previously the stronghold of the petrol engine: Demand for such dynamic but at the same time very economical cars has increased significantly in recent years. Particularly in Western Europe, the share of diesels in the new car market is continuing to grow - which is precisely why BMW is offering a diesel-powered convertible for the first time in the history of the Company.

The 320Cd Convertible is in fact intended exclusively for European markets and will be introduced at the beginning of the new open-air season in spring 2005.

Apart from classic convertible countries such as Germany and Great Britain, countries with a large share of diesel models such as France, Italy, Belgium, and Spain will be the main sales markets.

14/08/04

Platinum Chippenham Refurbishment Complete

The doors to Platinum Vauxhall in Chippenham are now open after a major refurbishment costing in the region of £200,000 in order to provide a better experience for its customers.

The site, which became part of the Renrod Motor Group in 1999, now provides a much improved ambience, which is customer focused and welcoming thus providing an ideal environment in which to make important decisions about choosing the right car.

Work started in the service reception area and finished in the showroom, with new low level greeting desks in the both the service reception and parts reception areas, enabling customers and staff to sit at a desk rather than standing behind a counter. The showroom has been completely refitted with new furniture, lighting and new décor, there are new floor tiles and a refurbished waiting area.

As well as improving the environment for its customers, Platinum Vauxhall has also invested more resources in its staff. Two new offices have been built and equipped with the latest IT, including flat screen monitors.

Accompanying the internal improvements, the site has been fully redecorated externally in white and silver resulting in a light and bright impression. Also, with the current signage now 13 years old, the site is shortly to receive Vauxhall's latest corporate signage.

Martyn Read, Group Operations Director for the Renrod Motor Group said "We apologise for any inconvenience caused as a result of the refurbishment at Chippenham, but we now have the best possible environment to provide an unbeatable experience for our customers. The new refurbishment ensures that the dealership's facilities and signage are in line with the national Vauxhall corporate identity whilst also bringing enhanced comforts into the showroom."

Mr. Read added, "The result is a much more customer focused environment with new lighting, signage, decor and furniture, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing environment in which to shop. The reaction from our customers has been very favourable, the environment is much more comfortable, less pressurized and makes customers feel warmly invited and able to take the time to make a relaxed purchase."

13/08/04

Voluntary Fire Man - Worth His Weight in Platinum!

A local car technician, rushed to the rescue on 28th November 2003 to help with an emergency at Styles Hill in Frome.

Mike Clayton 38, from Frome, usually spends his time between 9am and 5pm as a senior level gold car technician for Vauxhall Platinum in Frome. Mr Clayton has spent 15 years with the car dealership diagnosing, fixing and repairing engines. However, he has also spent the past 5 years as a retained fire fighter, volunteering for the fire service in Frome where he is on call 24 hours a day.

Last November his voluntary skills were urgently needed to help rescue a man at his home. Understanding the urgency of the situation, Mark Hicks, Service Manager at Vauxhall Platinum, released Mike from work to help attend when he received a page from the station.

On arriving at the scene it was discovered that local man, Peter Watts aged 58 had been climbing a ladder in his back garden to top some tall trees with a chainsaw. As Mr Watts cut the top from one tree, it swung hitting him on the head, knocking him unconscious and to the ground. As Mr Watts regained consciousness, he was paralysed, only able to move his eyes. He lay unable to move or shout for help for approximately 45 minutes until his daughter, Jenny Watts returned from shopping.

On calling 999 the ambulance service was first to arrive at the scene to tend to Mr Watts, but the team were worried about the rest of the treetops, which were creaking. Branches and debris surrounded Mr Watts which needed clearing in order to work on him, and with just two Ambulance personnel on board, they called Frome fire service for backup. After closing the road and landing in a neighbour's garden, the air ambulance which was also called to the scene took Mr Watts to Oddstock Hospital in Salisbury.

Mr Watts was treated as an inpatient for 11 weeks, spending 3 weeks in a wheelchair before walking again. He feels that he owes a great deal to the emergency service teams and said, "At the time I was knocked unconscious and as a result of the fall I thought that I was going to be paralysed for life. I lost a lot of movement but now it's coming back. The rescue team took great care in moving me and ensuring that I did not do any further damage which could have been permanent. I really do feel that the actions of the emergency services saved my life and I am very grateful to them all."

In a twist of fate, Mr Watts had been a customer of three years with Platinum Vauxhall where Mike Clayton works. Mr Watts added, "I recently visited the showroom with my daughter who recognized Mike Clayton so I asked to have a word with his manager! I just wanted to thank Mark Hicks for releasing one of his technicians from his business on a working day in the line of duty as a voluntary fireman. I am very impressed that Platinum Vauxhall allows Mike to volunteer, it is very worthy. I am very impressed with the way companies encourage their employees to do these kinds of things."

Mike Clayton also commented, "With 650 calls last year to Frome Fire Station Service this averaged 2 a day. Service Manager at Platinum Vauxhall, Mark Hicks is very supportive, as are all of my colleagues from the workshop. The Paramedics did most of the work and our team assisted by removing the trees around Mr Watts to create space, and also by helping to roll Mr Watts correctly onto the stretcher to move him."

Mike Hicks Service Manager at Platinum added, "Mike is very committed to his voluntary role as well as to his job here with us. He ensures that he completes 40 hours a week with Platinum Vauxhall by working back any time that he is out on call. We are very happy to release him whenever we can with a great team here at the dealership behind him. Mike is a very committed team leader in the workshop and gives 120% every day. Head Office at Renrod are also behind what Mike is doing and originally sanctioned his voluntary duties."

Trevor Hill, Station Commander at Frome Fire Station wants to thank all businesses that allow their employees to be involved in this way. He said, "We are hugely grateful to employers that release their employees as volunteers to attend these situations as retained fire fighters. Thousands want to do it but very few are allowed to drop tools and go. If any employers or employees have ever considered doing this, please contact your local fire station for more info."

11/08/04

Meridian Project Progresses Towards Autumn Completion

The Renrod Motor Group's state-of-the-art "Meridian Project" has progressed well during July with each building now recognisable as a car dealership.

The project teams are working to an autumn handover date and it is hoped that the doors to the dealerships will be open by the end of October. But with work progressing so well during July, additional features have been added and the team are working around the clock to ensure that the target deadline is met.

Directors and senior managers from The Renrod Motor Group have been working with principal partners on the multi-million pound development such as BBA Architects, King Sturge, Adonis, as well as the dealer development teams from Renault, Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall in order to conceive and shape the concept.

Andy Higgs, Project Manager from King Sturge commented, "The overall quality of the work on site is exceptional, but the handover date may be extended slightly, due to additional work added into the project. For example, block paving for the entire site, suspended ceilings to all four showrooms and additional signage, as well as external layout requirements from all four manufacturers."

Adonis, Renrod's main contractor now have 70+ employees and contractors on the site, and many are working seven days a week to meet the extended completion date. Staff are working extremely hard and have already overcome many obstacles in order to meet the completion date.

Vauxhall, Toyota, Renault and Nissan dealerships are encompassed by the project and the Vauxhall/Toyota building is still progressing at a great pace. The building will be handed over late September/early October for its final fit out which includes furniture and point of sale materials. The Renault/Nissan building is also progressing well, with the first floor and all of the block work now complete. Internal tiling, curtain walling and glazing is to be completed by mid August.

Mike Ratcliff, Group Development Manager for The Renrod Motor Group said, "The excitement is increasing the closer we get to completion and we start our operational staff induction at the end of next week with Toyota and Vauxhall. This project will take motor retailing into a new era of customer satisfaction and we are very much looking forward to the completion of the build."

The Meridian Project will be the first multi-franchise motor trade business park developed by a single company in this area and the project has involved a great number of people from many areas of expertise - from the original purchase of the site through to the eventual launch.

The design brief was to create an aesthetically pleasing visual landmark whilst incorporating the latest technologies, facilities and practicalities required for a group of dealerships. In the minds eye of the design team, the 5.25-acre site would be a shop window for the entrance to the White Horse Business Park and a gateway to Trowbridge.

The latest developments and up-to-date 360-degree pictures can be viewed at - www.meridianproject.com along with artists' impressions of how the final build will look on completion.

11/08/04

Day At The Races For Westward Renault Guests

Enterprising local businesspeople got a close up look at the world of horse racing at a Renault sponsored race day in Bath recently. From their ringside enclosure, guests of Westward Renault in Bath and Chippenham chose the best turned out horse in one of the races as well as picking up a few pointers from Radio 5 Live tipster Luke Harvey.

The guests from local businesses were van and commercial vehicle customers of the two Westward Renault dealerships, as well as staff from the Renrod Group of dealers. Lucky Terry Brake of Bath firm Alert Systems was one of the guests to have good day at the races, picking a 30-1 outsider. He treated his fellow guests to champagne to celebrate his success.

Neil Robins, Sales Manager at Westward Renault in Bath, said: "Everybody had a great day out and it was exciting to try our luck on the races. Our fortunes went up and down but we all managed to break even by the end of the day."

For more information about the Renault range of vans, or to book a test drive contact Westward Renault at Lower Bristol Road, Bath, (01225 485400) or 140 London Road, Chippenham (01249 651131).

01/08/04

The Show Must Go On

The Renrod Group were again major exhibitors at this years' North Wilts Show in Monkton Park, Chippenham.

Held over two days (23rd and 24th of July), the event attracted a large number of visitors on the Saturday although the Friday was hampered by light but persistent rain.

Branches of the Renrod Group will also be present at the annual Frome Cheese Show at the West Woodlands Showground near Frome on Saturday 11th September. For further information please visit www.fromescheeseshow.co.uk

30/07/04

Revolutionary Showroom Now Open

Roman Toyota in Bath has now opened its doors to its revolutionary new showroom after a £400,000 refurbishment and redesign to ensure the best possible experience for its customers.

Developments which have taken approximately 8 weeks to complete have resulted in an environment which is all about comfort, enjoyment and taking your time whilst making the important decisions connected with choosing a car.

The major refurbishment which started at the beginning of April has created a totally new-look showroom providing a much more customer-friendly environment. On entering the showroom, customers are greeted by a host who is there entirely to put them at ease and cater to their needs with a range of coffees and other beverages available.

From the comfortable seating area, customers can peruse literature about the cars or simply read the paper. There is internet access allowing customers to choose options from the Toyota website or find out more about the car they are interested in. There is a dedicated area for small children to play, shortly to feature Sony Playstation 2 consoles with motor racing games, leaving the adults free to concentrate. Customers will have the chance to browse and wander without any pressure, only meeting with a sales advisor when they are ready.

Jonathan White, General Manager of Roman Toyota said, "Toyota have invested heavily in researching the public's feelings about car buying, finding out what they'd like to see in their new "Retail Concept" dealerships. Our refurbishment will greatly improve the service to customers with many new and exciting facilities built in such as the coffee shop environment."

During the refurbishment work the sales team worked out of temporary premises and staff would like to apologise to all of their customers for any inconvenience caused by the building work, but hope that the revolutionary new surroundings more than make up for it.

Stefan Sek, Service Manager for Roman Toyota added, "From an aftersales point of view the reaction so far has been very positive, this has been most notable with our longstanding customers, some have even commented that it has taken their breath away! We would like to thank our customers for being so patient with the disruption to business but we think that the final result is well worth it. We hope that everyone will come and see for themselves at the official launch event on the 14th and 15th of August."

28/07/04

Eventy Joins Forces With Region's Leading Automotive Retailer

Recently launched Bath based Eventy has secured an ongoing contract with one of the South West's leading automotive retailers - the Renrod Motor Group, to issue press releases and build media relations for all of its dealerships and support services across the region, including its multi-million pound "Meridian Project" development in Trowbridge.

The Renrod Motor Group has 11 dealerships spanning from Bath across North Somerset and West Wiltshire which includes familiar trading names such as Platinum Vauxhall, Roman Toyota, Westward Renault, St Martins Nissan, Saxon Renault, Millmead Mitsubishi/Skoda and Roman City Accident Repair Centre as well as support services such as "The Hitman" and "Renrod Financial Solutions".

Wellsway BMW/MINI is a separate subsidiary of Renrod Holdings Ltd. The company was founded by Managing Director, Rodney Cuff in Frome 29 years ago, and since then has steadily expanded to establish itself as one of the leading players in the South West.

The "Meridian Project", a four-dealership motor park development in Wiltshire's County town of Trowbridge, is the company's latest and most exciting development to date, taking automotive retailing to a new level for West Wiltshire and surrounding areas. It is designed to house the Vauxhall, Toyota, Renault and Nissan franchises in a customer focused context using a combination of aesthetically pleasing buildings, environmentally friendly features and cutting edge technology.

Mr Jeremy Cuff, Group Marketing Director for Renrod said, "With the growth of the group and the burgeoning media requirements that follow on from that expansion, it became essential to look at how we could get more regular media coverage of our news stories and latest developments."

"For some time now the group has produced a series of publications and supplements where the capability to produce regular stories about our businesses was not really an issue. What was an issue, however, was the time required to distribute and follow up all of the press releases and stories which is how we identified a potential role for a press and public relations company."

"Our initial contact with Helen Plummer of Eventy was via working together on the Forever Friends Appeal and from there, when Helen decided to start her own business, we discussed the possibility of the Renrod Group's press release requirements. Those discussions culminated in a monthly set of press releases and stories about activities within our group."

"Since the beginning of our working relationship we have concentrated on developing outlets for our stories in a large variety of media including local newspapers, magazines, radio stations, websites and trade publications. Another positive spin off is that we've been able to use some of the material generated in some of our own publications and in the news sections of our websites."

Helen Plummer left The Forever Friends Appeal at the Royal United Hospital in April after leading the charity's events such as "Ted's Big Day Out!" - the region's much cherished charity day. Helen went on to develop the Appeal's Corporate Fundraising before leaving to set up Eventy - the Bath based consultancy for Corporates, Charities and Individuals on Events, PR, Marketing and Media initiatives.

Miss Plummer said, "I am delighted to be working with The Renrod Motor Group as they are one of the biggest automotive retailers in the region with an excellent reputation. Eventy is only just 4 months old, so developing a relationship with a company like Renrod is very exciting. There are many new developments happening within the Renrod Group, not least of all their multi-million pound Meridian Project and I am very much enjoying working with their marketing department."

If you would like to find out more about The Renrod Motor Group and its services view www.renrodmg.co.uk. If you would like to find out more about what Eventy can offer visit www.eventy.co.uk

23/06/04

New Customer Focused IT System At Wellsway

Wellsway BMW and MINI in Bath have invested in the region of £100,000 to ensure that their customers have the best possible service. They have installed a brand new motor trade specific IT package - Kerridge Dealer Management System, to improve customer services and to fully integrate dealership functions.

Kerridge Dealer Management System, or "KDMS", is a new fully integrated IT system for Wellsway. It has been implemented to ensure a highly effective computer system which will provide better customer services and more efficient practices. KDMS is being introduced nationally by BMW across the dealer network.

Wellsway, a subsidiary of Renrod Holdings Ltd, joins the other dealerships owned by Renrod Motor Group to be using KDMS, progressing the group further along the route of all of the dealerships integrating their systems. All staff in different areas of the business are able to use the system, from automated booking services and repairs, though to the showroom services - where a sales person can sit with a customer to bring up different models of cars on screen.

Odette Shocklidge Financial Director for Renrod Motor Group said, "The Kerridge Dealer Management System is a common platform throughout the group and will benefit the internal reporting systems. It will also improve customer services, enabling staff to be much more client focused. The new IT system will enable a much more efficient customer database and marketing system - targeting customers more effectively and focusing on their needs. This will help to ensure that customers receive information relevant for them. KDMS went live at Wellsway on 7th June and the staff at Wellsway have worked very hard to ensure a smooth transition."

04/06/04

Renrod Sponsors Chamber Breakfast

Renrod Motor Group were pleased to sponsor the Wessex Association Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast which took place on Friday 28th May at Cumberwell Park.

Welcoming guests reaching over 100 in number from businesses around Wiltshire and Somerset, Martyn Read, Operations Director for Renrod gave an overview of the group's new build - The Meridian Project. Using a multi-media presentation Mr Read showed virtual photos of what the revolutionary new site containing 4 purpose built dealerships will look like on completion. He talked about the progress that has already been made with the developments and the group's hopes for the future.

With the new Astra and the Toyota Prius on display as guests entered the building, representatives from Renrod Motor Group were in attendance to answer any questions. A pack was also provided for each delegate enclosing information such as Cash For Cars - an overview, dealership magazines and the new Platinum Vauxhall Magazine.

As Patrons of the Wessex Association Chamber of Commerce, Renrod Motor Group have been involved with various promotions and events. They were delighted to have the opportunity to sponsor this breakfast and Martyn Read commented, "This was a great opportunity for us and very timely given stage we're at with the development of our new site, providing us with an opportune moment to tell everyone about it. The Wessex Association Chamber of Commerce is based around the Trowbridge area and our operation is key to this. The Meridian Project will be the gateway to Trowbridge via the Whitehorse Business Park.

Mr Read added, "Our presentation was very well received with a great many positive comments afterwards. Guests at the breakfast were very interested in Renrod's developments with the Meridian Project and we were pleased to be able to discuss its progress."

The main speaker was Dame Elizabeth Neville, DBP, QPM, MA, PhD - Chief Constable of Wiltshire Constabulary, who gave a presentation on 'Policing Challenges in Wiltshire,' discussing issues such as should forces be amalgamated into regional bodies? And can they meet the challenges of dealing with large-scale operations and providing high quality services at good value?

For any members who were unable to attend the breakfast, the information packs which were provided for delegates are available by contacting Renrod Motor Group on (01225) 756100. Information is also available on the group's website: www.renrodmg.co.uk

04/06/04

Civic Head's Green Car "Ahead Of Its Time"

On Tuesday 1st June, The Right Worshipful the Mayor of Bath, Councillor Roger Symonds, was delighted to receive the most environmentally friendly car in production for his year in office, supplied by Roman Toyota.

The new Mayor who is known for his green ethics will be driven to his civic engagements in a Toyota Prius - a part electric part petrol car built from recyclable materials that reduces carbon dioxide emissions. The previous mayoral car was a Rover 75.

The Toyota Prius which translates from Latin to mean "ahead of its time", is self-charging and achieves a 32 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared to a typical petrol-driven car. Supplied by Roman Toyota on the Lower Bristol Road in Bath, staff are delighted to be able to support the Mayor by easing his path as he travels to 500 plus engagements supporting groups and charities right across the city.

The Toyota Prius was the first 'hybrid' production model and is powered by both petrol and electricity. The Prius reduces damaging emissions and achieves around 65 miles per gallon around town because it uses the electric motor at low speeds and to assist with acceleration while the petrol engine shuts down completely when stopped in traffic, reversing or travelling slowly (up to 30 mph). Perfect for inner city driving and potential traffic jams, Cllr Symonds is certain that he made the right choice of car and is delighted with the Prius.

Cllr Symonds said, "The dignity of the Office requires that I arrive at events in style. Now, with climate change a real issue, I believe that it is sensible to use a more environmentally friendly car. I take my hat off to the Charter Trustees (Bath Councillors) for backing me by agreeing to lease the Prius for my year. By setting a small example, I feel more comfortable about using a car for my civic duties. I believe that this is the future and look forward to other motor vehicle producers making 'green' cars."

Jonathan White, General Manager at Roman Toyota said, "On the production line, more recyclable materials are used for the Prius and trouble has been taken to cut down on those that damage the environment. We are proud to be associated with the Mayor of Bath and are doing our bit for the environment."

13/05/04

Lloyds TSB Corporate Supports Multi-Million Pound Meridian Project

A STATE-of-the-art motor park development in Trowbridge is on course for completion in the autumn.

Multi-franchise dealer group Renrod Ltd is creating the multi-million-pound "Meridian Project" on a 5.25-acre site beside the White Horse Business Park.

The concept of the motor park - with four main dealerships operating on the same site - is a first for the area, while buildings will also include environmentally-friendly features such as rainwater storage tanks and water recycling facilities

Around 170 people will eventually be based at the Meridian Project's Renault, Nissan, Vauxhall and Toyota dealerships.

Renrod Motor Group, which has other outlets in Bath, Bradford-on-Avon, Chippenham, Frome, Trowbridge and Warminster, also has permission to build two more office blocks, which would take the total number working on the site to nearly 250.

The firm is being supported throughout the project by its bank, Lloyds TSB Corporate, and its relationship director Clive Hetherington.

Managing director Rodney Cuff, who founded the business in 1975, said: "Our new site will provide an excellent resource for customers in terms of meeting their motoring requirements.

"It represents a colossal step forward for both the group and its customers, who will benefit enormously from all of the splendid facilities that we have incorporated into the design."

"We have built up an excellent relationship with Clive Hetherington at Lloyds TSB Corporate and look forward to working with him on the Meridian Project as the group approaches its 30th anniversary."

Clive Hetherington added: "Renrod Motor Group has become one of the leading multi-franchise dealerships in the country and we look forward to the completion of this exciting development."

To view the progress of the Meridian Project, please visit www.meridianproject.com

11/05/04

Virtual Visitors To New Site!

As foundations are laid for the new build of the Renrod Motor Group's "Meridian Project" in Trowbridge, the structure is now in place for the innovative website that will follow its progress.

The state-of-the-art motor trade development is being mirrored using modern technology to bring a visitor's view into your living room. Interested parties can follow the progress of the build, whilst enjoying VIP treatment, avoiding the elements and the muddy environment of a building site undertaking major work.

Now that the Renrod Group has commenced work on its biggest project to date, they are building up to something special. Renrod's Group Developments Manager Mike Ratcliff said, "This development will represent a colossal step forward for both the group and its customers, who will benefit enormously from all of the splendid facilities that we have incorporated into the design".

The Meridian Project is ideally situated on the outskirts of Wiltshire's growing County Town of Trowbridge. It's strategically located on a highly visible site with easy access to the surrounding towns of Westbury, Warminster, Bradford-on-Avon, Melksham, Devizes, Chippenham, Calne, Corsham, Frome, Midsomer Norton, Radstock and the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath. Major cities such as Bristol, Swindon and other M3, M4 and M5 based towns are also within easy reach of the Meridian development.

Road access is easy for visitors to the Trowbridge site but for anyone wanting to be a virtual visitor, there are no geographical boundaries. People can drop in from anywhere in the world courtesy of this exciting website. And whilst the architects work on the building site, the web designers will be working on their site. With links to allow visitors to view the project and how it grows - from land purchase to final ribbon cutting, there is also information on careers and contact information as well 360 degree photographic views.

Paul Sanders owns Bristol based Sanders Creative Limited are responsible for designing the website in partnership with Renrod Ltd which can be viewed at www.meridianproject.com . Mr Sanders said, "This is an exciting project for Sanders Creative Limited and we wanted to build a site that was very much in keeping with the project. The Meridian Project's website will be a contemporary cutting edge site which will be very different from the average motor trade website. From looking at plans for the dealerships, you will be able to take the whole family along - it will be about more than just looking at cars. In the same way, we wanted the website to be contemporary but welcoming, we want it to be computer friendly for those that are savvy with using the internet as well as those who are not."

04/05/04

Double Act Due To Demand

Mike Reed, previously Sales Manager for Roman Toyota in Warminster, has joined Michael Caddick, Director of Used Car Operations, in the search for "Retail Cars of Distinction" due to the insatiable demand for cars through the Renrod Groups 11 dealerships.

The search for "Retail Cars of Distinction" was set up by the Renrod Motor Group in January 1999 to source and purchase quality stock for its 11 dealerships sited across B&NES and West Wiltshire from sources all over the country. It also provided the group with an advisory service for its sales teams, for valuations of part exchanges and the disposal of vehicles.

For the past 4 years Michael Caddick has been solely responsible for providing the service which proved successful from the start. But in recent years, with new dealerships joining the Renrod Motor Group and with the group expanding, there has been even more demand for quality used vehicles.

Mike Reed who was previously Sales Manager at Roman Toyota in Warminster joined Michael Caddick in early April due to the growing need for vehicle stock. With a vast amount of trade experience, Mike is sourcing quality used vehicles for the group and helps advise the teams at the dealerships on part exchange valuations.

As well as the sourcing of stock, the team provides a service to companies for efficient and financially effective methods of disposing of any unwanted company vehicles or corporate fleets. The team offer a free valuation service, an immediate decision and the cars are collected promptly with the finance settled by cheque or bankers draft on collection.

Michael Caddick said, "There has been a huge demand for our services in terms of "Cars of Distinction" since launching at the beginning of 1999 and now that Mike Reed has joined me, we are able to source even more vehicles for the dealerships. With the new development of the Meridian Project in Trowbridge (due for Autumn launch) there will be an even greater demand for quality stock."

27/04/04

Company Car Or Cash Allowance?

Changes to the benefit-in-kind taxation system are forcing re-evaluation of the company car - will it remain a benefit, or will it become a burden? Employees are starting to look to their managers for advice - should they keep company cars or will they be offered the option of taking cash? With a great deal of complicated information to digest and many aspects to consider, staff at Renrod Financial Solutions have produced an easy to read booklet to help employees and senior managers to make the right decision.

Today the company car plays an important role in the British economy: around 55% of all new cars each year are acquired by company fleets or businesses. Although many company cars are inevitably "tools of the trade", they also play a crucial role in corporate culture and remain important staff motivators and retainers, help project company image, establish employee status and provide mobility.

But company cars have a big financial impact on businesses and their employees. After the payroll they are usually one of the biggest employment costs for a business, and staff are taxed on their provision. The changes to the company car tax system has caused many companies and their staff to consider whether to retain their existing company car policy or whether a cash allowance would be more appropriate.

Your company may be considering alternatives to the traditional company car and indeed, may have employees who are currently giving serious thought to surrendering their company cars when their contracts expire. Like many businesses across the UK who are affected by the emissions-based tax system, you may need help with the calculations in order to make the right decision.

With specialist software created by accountants Deloitte & Touche, Renrod Financial Solutions can assist. Their staff understand how important it is for anyone in this position to work with the real facts and figures, and make the right cash or car decision. They have produced a step by step guide called 'A New Direction in Car Buying' which gives an overview guide to cash for car schemes for businesses which is now available from any of the Renrod dealerships:

Platinum Vauxhall in Frome, Trowbridge and Chippenham; Westward Renault in Bath and Chippenham; Saxon Renault in Bradford-on-Avon; Roman Toyota in Bath and Warminster; St Martins Nissan in Box; Millmead Mitsubishi & Skoda in Bath; and Wellsway BMW & MINI in Bath.

Jason Lewis, Renrod Group's Finance and Insurance Manager said, "We wanted to present complicated information in a neutral document that would outlay the options to senior managers and their staff. 'A New Direction in Car Buying' outlines all of the information in one brochure. My team at any of the dealerships would welcome the opportunity to talk to clients who may wish to discuss what a potential cash allowance will buy. We will also be very happy to demonstrate any of the models you may be interested in. Using 'Driver Choice' software, we can help to identify the best method to finance the alternative to a company car that matches your needs and budget."

Mr Lewis added, "Of course, it may be that the best option for your business is to continue providing a company car scheme. In that case, our business packages may be ideal for your company. We're here to help - should your company decide that a cash alternative is the preferred route, you may wish for us to speak to your employees, so that they can be made aware as to the options available and subsequent tax implications. Alternatively, you may need assistance in other areas of running your fleet. Either way, the Renrod Group's comprehensive range of vehicles and motor finance packages may benefit your business needs."

In the meantime, Renrod Motor Group will be hosting the next Wessex Association Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast due to take place at Cumberwell Park on 28th May. The booklet will be available to all delegates and staff would be happy to discuss any requirements either at the breakfast or at any of the Renrod dealerships by calling 0800 328 11 88 / email sales@renrodfs.com

26/04/04

Platinum Chippenham Gets A Major Refurbishment

Car dealership, Platinum Vauxhall in Chippenham is currently undertaking a major refurbishment to its showrooms in order to provide a better experience for its customers. With work having commenced on 19th April, there will be approximately 5 weeks of work - starting in the service reception and finishing in the showroom.

The site has been a Vauxhall dealership for more than 35 years and became part of the Renrod Motor Group in 1999. The most recent developments which are due to be completed at the end of May will provide an environment which is customer focused and all about comfort, enjoyment and taking your time whilst making the important decisions connected with choosing a car.

The new refurbishment is ensuring that the dealership's facilities and signage are in line with the national Vauxhall corporate identity whilst also bringing enhanced comforts into the showroom. The result will be a much more customer focused environment with new lighting, signage, decor and furniture, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing environment in which to shop.

The changes will see a new layout to the customer reception area making it much more accessible as well as some new facilities for staff. It will look very different with new signage and the building being clad with different colours - white and silver ensuring that it is light and bright.

Meanwhile it is business as usual at the dealership, which is part of the Renrod Motor Group. With customer access in mind, staff are not working out of temporary offices but continuing to work within the showroom, so as not to hamper customer parking with temporary buildings. During the alterations, staff are working with the builders so that one half of the showrooms can be partitioned off for work as usual, whilst the other half undergoes alterations. Once one half is completed, work will begin on the other half.

Staff at Platinum apologise to all of their customers for any inconvenience caused by the building work, but look forward to welcoming them into new surroundings in June when the work is completed.

Martyn Read, Group Operations Director for the Renrod Motor Group said, "At Platinum we are well placed to look after our customer's needs especially via our dealerships in Chippenham, Trowbridge and Frome where we have full main dealer facilities within easy reach of the town centres. Our refurbishment at Chippenham will mean that we have the best possible environment backed by our team of experienced staff to provide an unbeatable experience for our customers."

Mr Read added, "We are very much looking forward to opening the doors to our new showroom, not only because of the new build but also because it will coincide with the launch of the new Vauxhall Astra at the start of May. This is very important car for Vauxhall and Renrod and has received critical acclaim."

Ahead of its launch in May, Vauxhall has announced prices for the all-new Astra five-door hatchback. With the prices among the most competitive in the fiercely fought lower-medium segment, Vauxhall expects to attract high levels of interest from both private and fleet buyers for its dynamic new hatch. The new Astra builds upon the strengths of the outgoing model with class leading dynamics and design, and is a major step forward in style, safety, space and build quality.

23/04/04

Revolutionary Showroom For Bath's Roman Toyota

Car dealership, Roman Toyota in Bath is currently undertaking major refurbishment work to its showrooms that will provide a revolutionary experience for its customers.

Developments which will take approximately 8 weeks are due to be completed in June. The result will be an environment which is customer focused and all about comfort, enjoyment and taking your time whilst making the important decisions connected with choosing a car.

The major refurbishment which started at the beginning of April is creating a totally new-look showroom which is designed to provide a much more customer-friendly environment. On entering the showroom, customers will be greeted by a host who is there entirely to put them at ease and cater to their needs. With a range of coffees and other beverages available, coupled with comfortable seating areas, customers could be forgiven for thinking that they have entered a modern coffee shop.

From the seating area, customers can peruse literature about the cars or simply read the paper. There will be access to the internet so they can choose options from the Toyota website or find out more about the car they are interested in. There will be a safe, dedicated area for small children to play, leaving the adults free to concentrate. For slightly older children (or indeed Dads!), there will be Sony Playstation 2 consoles with motor racing games. What you won't find is high-pressure; customers will have the chance to browse and wander and they will only sit down with a sales advisor when they are good and ready.

During the refurbishment it is business as usual at the dealership which is part of the Renrod Motor Group, with the sales team working out of temporary premises during the duration of the alterations. Staff apologise to all of their customers for any inconvenience caused by the building work, but look forward to welcoming them into revolutionary new surroundings in June when the work is completed.

Jonathan White, General Manager for Roman Toyota in Bath said, "It is important to our staff to be able to provide the best possible experience for our customers. We have an outstanding team with a great deal of experience and now we will have an excellent environment to match. Making decisions about buying the right car can be difficult and our new showroom will provide a much more comfortable and less pressurised environment, enabling the customer the chance to browse and wander."

Mr White added, "We are very much looking forward to opening the doors to our new showroom, not only because of the new build but also because it will coincide with the launch of the new Toyota Corolla Verso for Roman Toyota in Bath. The Corolla Verso has been completely redesigned inside and out to ensure practicality, pride in ownership as well as all-round admiration. It has also been re-engineered to cater for a range of busy and varied lifestyles with a choice of bodystyles and highly efficient petrol and diesel engines. We hope that our new environment will encourage even more customers to come in and find out more."

Toyota have invested heavily in researching the public's feelings about car buying, finding out what they'd like to see in a new-style dealership. The results will be on show soon in Bath's Roman Toyota - one of the first of a whole new generation of "Retail Concept" dealerships.

14/02/04

Business Breakfast Sponsorship

The Renrod Group will host a Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast at the Cumberwell Golf Club near Bradford-on-Avon.

The theme for this event will be the new Meridian development in Trowbridge which will be under construction at the time of the Business Breakfast.

The event will take place on Friday 28th May.

14/02/04

Group Signs Up Autotrader Digital

The Renrod Group and Wellsway have signed a new deal with Autotrader Digital, the online version of Autotrader Magazine, to place all the group's used car vehicle stock online via the Autotrader website.

This facility will allow potential customers searching for vehicles on the Autotrader website to locate used car stock held by each dealership in the group.

14/02/04

Roman Business Centre Goes Out And About

Over recent months, the Renrod Group and Wellsway have been increasingly active in organising product placements for a variety of vehicles.

The latest to go out and about was the Roman Toyota Business Centre who visited the Builder Centre with a Hiace Van, a Hilux Pickup and a Dyna. Run in conjunction with the Toyota Roadshow, passing tradesmen were given the opportunity to win a brand new Toyota Hiace van in a competition. The winner of the van will be announced at the Commercial Vehicle Motor Show on March 25th 2004.

14/02/04

Surfers Paradise

With fifteen websites across the group, the Renrod Group and Wellsway really is a surfers paradise! We have a look at what is new for you to view…

www.renrodmg.co.uk

About to enter an extensive upgrade with many new features over the coming months. Recent upgrades include a new "Sports" gallery, an enhanced "Gallery" section and other improvements to the overall functionality of the site.

www.renrodfs.com

A complete redesign is planned to encompass the new design style featured in the printed literature for Renrod Financial Solutions.

www.platinumvauxhall.co.uk

Like the Renrod Group site, the Platinum Vauxhall website is about to undergo a major enhancement with new areas such as "Cash For Cars". Visit Platinum soon.

www.stmartinsnissan.co.uk

Featuring the latest information from St Martins Nissan, the site is due to be even more comprehensive with the addition of new sections.

www.millmeadskoda.co.uk

A comprehensive site showing the latest from Millmead and Skoda. Look out for a corporate upgrade during 2004.

www.millmeadmitsubishi.co.uk

All you need to know about Millmead and Mitsubishi.

www.westwardbath.co.uk
www.westwardchippenham.co.uk
www.saxongarage.co.uk

Recently redesigned, these clear and functional sites are a mine of information.

www.toyota.co.uk/roman

The latest from our Roman Toyota dealerships. This extensive website has it all.

www.romancity.co.uk

Essential information from our Bath based bodyshop.

www.callthehitman.co.uk

The Hitman can be contacted online. Hit the site for a quick response

www.wellswaybmw.co.uk

Recently given a complete makeover with new design features, the Wellsway BMW site carries all the relevant information that you might need to know.

www.wellswaymini.co.uk

Quirky yet practical and informative, our MINI website continues to grow. To go on an online MINI adventure, click to the Wellsway MINI website!

www.renrodcreative.com

The Renrod Creative site, for use by Renrod staff for the purposes of marketing, has been given upgrades in terms of an extensive Media Info section. Other areas such as Sales Ideas, Aftersales Ideas and Success Stories have supplemented by new design ideas to serve as a resource for Renrod and Wellsway branches.

Look out for a new website from the Renrod Group to show the progress of the Meridian development in Trowbridge - see the next edition of Focus for details.

14/02/04

Company Restructuring

The new year has seen the group restructuring in order to simplify its operations with the onset of the Meridian Development in Trowbridge - scheduled for build and completion during 2004.

With effect from January 1st 2004, a holding company has been formed (Renrod Holdings Ltd) which will control the property interests of the group, with the trading function separated into two trading companies.

The two trading companies are Renrod Ltd (which consists of Platinum Vauxhall, Westward/Saxon Renault, Roman Toyota, St.Martins Nissan, Millmead Mitsubishi/Skoda, Roman City Accident Repair Centre, Hitman and Renrod Financial Solutions) and Wellsway Bath Ltd.

Ownership of the three companies remains unchanged.

Also with effect from January 1st, Odette Shocklidge has now assumed the role of Financial Director with longtime Financial Director Ron Sears taking the role of Director, Accounts Strategy until his retirement. Martyn Read also takes further responsibility as Group Operations Director.

The rest of the board remains unchanged.


14/02/04

It's Show Time Again

Negotiations are currently underway to finalise details for this summers shows - the North Wilts Show in Chippenham and the Frome Cheese Show in Frome. In past years the group has been a strong supporter of these popular community events and it planned to continue with that philosophy for this new year.

The Corsley Show is also seen as a possibility for members of the group for 2004.

14/02/04

Impact Design Deal For 2004

The Renrod Group and Wellsway have renewed the annual design contract with Frome based Impact Design for 2004. The contract involves the design, production and submission to print, press or web of the majority of the group's advertising and marketing material - including this magazine.

14/02/04

Sales & Finance Summit

Renrod and Wellsway Directors, General Managers and Sales Managers convened at a recent meeting at the Renrod Head Office hosted by Renrod Group Operations Director Martyn Read and Group F & I Manager Jason Lewis.

12/02/04

I'm A Car Salesman… Get Me Out Of Here!

Chris Holmes, Sales Executive at Warminster's Roman Toyota was arrested on Wednesday 4th February for persistent speeding offences.

He was apprehended by two members of Warminster Constabulary whilst trying to make a quick getaway from the Victoria Road showrooms. He was read his rights by PC Tim Robbins before being handcuffed and escorted to the police riot van outside. Driven through the streets of Warminster in the back of the caged vehicle, Chris was delivered by the constabulary to the Westbury Hotel. Here he joined other local "criminals" who had been apprehended throughout the morning.

His jail mates for the day included - Kev Scott of 3TR FM for crimes against the music industry; Gary Hibdidge of HSBC for stealing sweets from children; Charles Goodbody of Middleton & Upsall for political incorrectness; Phil Seddon Town Crier for causing a public nuisance; John Agate President of the Wessex Chamber of Commerce for impersonating the president of the Chamber of Commerce; Kate Little of the Wiltshire Times for crimes against fashion; Steve Dudley headmaster of Kingsdown Community School for misappropriation of sports college funds; Wayne Harridge of Harridges gym for encouraging people to take up new years resolutions; and Donna Pease, landlady of The Old Bell Inn for selling flat beer.

But it was all for a good cause - the novel "Jail & Bail" event, new to Westbury was kindly sponsored by Warminster's Roman Toyota and the "criminals" were all raising £500 bail for The Forever Friends Appeal before being released. After a morning of frantic phoning to family, friends and colleagues, Chris personally raised £511 towards the overall total which currently stands at £5500 and the money and pledges are still coming in!

Chris Holmes said, "It was a great way to raise money for such a good cause. Roman Toyota was proud to be sponsoring this new event for Westbury and I am really grateful to everyone who donated money to help me raise my bail. The Royal United Hospital cares for all of our staff and customers and everyone was delighted with how much money we all raised to help The Forever Friends Appeal fund equipment."

Event Officer for The Forever Friends Appeal, Kirsty Bowron said, "It was a fantastic day and after the success and fun that everyone had, we are hoping to take a similar event to each town. Some of our jailees have already nominated their friends to take part, so it could be you! The Westbury Hotel made a very comfortable and welcoming jail and the staff were lovely. We are very grateful to Roman Toyota for sponsoring our first "Jail & Bail" and to everyone who took part. They all surpassed our wildest expectations and we are very grateful to them for their hard work and to everyone who sponsored them".

The Forever Friends Appeal has a calendar of exciting events planned for the year ahead. If you are interested in taking part, or if your company would like to sponsor an event, contact The Appeal on 01225 825691.

Note: Launched in October 1999, The Forever Friends Appeal has raised and helped secure over £4.4 million to provide state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment & treatment facilities, and is also helping fund other major projects at the Royal United Hospital. Money raised by the Appeal is radically improving facilities particularly in the areas of Children, Cancer, Cardiology and Critical Care - the four main areas of the new building, as well as telemedicine links with the local Community Hospitals.

With a target of £10 million, The Appeal complements the £39.5 million funding received from the government to redevelop the RUH in three phases. Phase one and two - the main 'heart' of the RUH and the Older People's Unit were completed early last year. The final phase of the A&E Unit was completed in June 2003 and is doubling the capacity of patient's being able to be treated.

The Appeal is a major task, but with local and regional support we will achieve our target, and enable the RUH to provide the best possible level of acute care to the 500,000 people in Bath, North East Somerset and West Wiltshire.

29/01/04

Customer Nominates Platinum Sales Executive For Employee Of The Year Award

Platinum Vauxhall Sales Executive Ben Austin has been nominated by a Platinum Vauxhall customer for the Chamber Of Commerce Sponsored Employee Of The Year Award.

The award scheme will now enter its next phase whereby the 12 finalists will be interviewed by Wessex Chamber of Commerce judges who will then announce the top six finalists.

The six finalists will then be invited to a presentation at the Civic Hall in Trowbridge where the winner will be announced. The prize is a trip for two to New York.

05/01/04

Second Excellence Accolade For Westward Chippenham

Westward Renault in Chippenham has excelled again - this time with a team from its Sales department in a nationwide Renault UK competition to prove all-round product and customer satisfaction knowledge.

A trio from Westward's Sales department; General Sales Manager David Smart, Sales Executive Matthew Peers and Sales Administrator Jennie Mills formed one of three teams from the region to take part in Renault UK's Platinum Dealer Awards area finals for the 200-odd Sales departments from Renault dealers across the country. The Westward Sales team's exertions came hot on the heels of a sterling effort from its Service department team, which was narrowly beaten to the Area Service Excellence title in a similar Renault network quiz.

The fast-paced and fun-style Sales quiz demanded detailed knowledge of the Renault range of cars and included questions on Renault's history and manufacture.

In a tight competition against two other dealership teams from Bristol and Redruth in Cornwall, Westward was unlucky to be once again pipped at the post for regional title honours. All team members won £100 Renault watches for making it to the regional finals, and an etched glass trophy to display in the showroom.

"The team did a great job, there wasn't much they didn't know about Renault and its cars. It just goes to show that there's a lot of background and product knowledge in a good sales department!" said Westward's General Sales Manager David Smart. "With both Sales and Service departments making it to the regional quiz finals, I think we've proved Westward in Chippenham has some of the best-trained and most knowledgeable staff of any Renault dealership in the region."

24/12/03

Westward Chippenham Reaches South West Excellence Finals

Chippenham's local Renault dealer, Westward, has proved its merit by becoming one of three dealers in the region to take part in Renault UK's area finals for Service departments.

The quizzes, aimed at finding the most knowledgeable Service departments in the south west, were part of a series taking place across the entire UK network of around 200 dealerships.

A trio from Westward's Service department travelled to Tiverton in Devon to take part in the South West final of Renault's national Service Excellence Awards. They were tested on a wide range of subjects including their knowledge of Renault's history, products and achieving customer satisfaction in a fun-style quiz which had contestants dashing across the room to grab the right answers and playing Renault Bingo.

The Service team from London Road - Service Manager Steve Mawby plus Martin Waters and Ian Chiles - fought a close run battle against two other dealership teams from Bristol and Redruth in Cornwall, but were pipped at the post by the Redruth team and came Runners Up by a narrow margin in the area title competition.

All team members won £100 Renault watches for making it to the regional finals.

"Unfortunately we narrowly missed the area title, but we've proved that we're among the best in the region for our knowledge of Renault cars and customer service!" said Westward's General Sales Manager David Smart. "It was great fun taking part."

24/12/03

New Renault Kit Inspires 5-2 Win In Cup Final For Springfield Boys!

A 5-2 win in a prestigious cup final match played at Swindon Town FC's County Ground was the result for Calne's Springfield School, thanks to a sense of confidence inspired by a new football team strip from Chippenham Renault dealer, Westward.

The boys trounced St Lukes School in Swindon during the exciting final of the South Wales and South West of England Special Schools Cup.

When he heard how important football was to the boys at Springfield School, David Smart, General Manager at Westward Renault on London Road in Chippenham, provided the team with shirts, shorts and socks. The boys themselves designed the strip.

Deputy Head and team coach at Springfield School, Tristan Williams said: "For boys with behavioural problems - either because of a difficult home life or other reasons - sport is a way for them to develop personally and express themselves whilst learning about team spirit. The boys seemed to grow two inches in height when they put on the new Westward Renault team strip for the first time. I'm sure it contributed to their Cup win."

Tristan Williams went on to comment: "What's more, David Smart from Westward Renault became one of the boys' biggest supporters in the build up to the big match and has played a huge part in motivating the team to its current level."

"It's been extremely rewarding to see the boys improve as a team over the season," said David Smart. "I think it's very important for local businesses such as ours to become involved in the community, and I think I've probably enjoyed watching the team play almost as much as they've enjoyed playing!"

Since the Cup final match, Springfield's team captain Aaron Billet has been invited to try out for Cheltenham Town FC's youth squad, and the team's skills have drawn the attention of at least two talent scouts from other professional football clubs.

05/12/03

Jingling All The Way To The RUH!

The coins were a-jingling-jangling and notes were a-rustling for The Forever Friends Appeal's Christmas Collection at last Thursday night's late night shopping in Bath.

As Christmas shoppers took to the streets on the hunt for their perfect Christmas gifts, many made a donation in the Appeal's buckets, helping to raise £665.02 for state-of-the-art medical equipment at the Royal United Hospital. The night with plenty of good will started at 5pm with the first donation from Millmead Mitsubishi to start the buckets rattling.

The staff of Millmead Mitsubishi Motors also joined in with the collection, boosting the Appeal's army of collectors made up from members of Bath Rag and the Forever Friends Appeal's staff and volunteers.

Ruth Wilkinson, Events Assistant for The Forever Friends Appeal said: "We are very grateful to everyone who made a donation. We always find that during collections people come up to tell us about the good work of the hospital and how grateful they are. Thursday night was no different and the total raised is a great amount in the run up to Christmas. We'd like to say a huge thank you to all of our collectors and to Millmead Mitsubishi for sponsoring the event."

Claire Ellis, Marketing Assistant for the Renrod Group said, "We are really pleased to be working with The Forever Friends Appeal. It's such a good cause that benefits all who live and work in our area. We were delighted to make the first donation and are planning to continue our support throughout next year on a number of fundraising events and look forward to continuing working with the Appeal's Team."

23/10/03

Westward Tops Customer Survey League

Westward Renault in Chippenham have topped the latest Renault sponsored customer survey for vehicle sales.

The survey, which covers 23 dealers in an area bounded by Gloucester in the North to Cornwall in the South West was met with great delight by the Westward Renault team.

Westward Chippenham General Sales Manager David Smart said, "We're all delighted with the result and aim to maintain and improve our level of service still further. The result is a milestone in our continuous improvement ethic and is great for our customers and dealership alike."

The Westward Chippenham Service department also finished in the top 3 out of 23.

The Westward sales and service teams will now enter regional finals in late November.

16/10/03

Platinum Gets a Larger Territory

Platinum Vauxhall have acquired the Devizes territory following the recent demise of Lydeway Garage as a Vauxhall dealer. This latest development results in Platinum Vauxhall being responsible for an enlarged market area; from Frome, through Trowbridge and West Wiltshire to Chippenham, Devizes and surrounding areas.

Platinum Director/Dealer Principal Martyn Read said, "We enjoyed a good working relationship with the Lydeway Garage team over the years and we're aware that they enjoyed a loyal following from their customers."

"At Platinum, we're well placed to look after their needs, especially via our dealerships in Chippenham and Trowbridge where we have full main dealer facilities within easy reach of the town centres, backed by our teams of Vauxhall trained staff."

30/09/03

Frome Show Success

Fine weather greeted visitors to this year's annual Frome Cheese Show.

Staged at the West Woodlands Showground, close to Frome, the event attracted a large number of visitors over the course of the day.

Occupying a prime positions on the show ground were Renrod Group members (represented by Westward Renault, Millmead Mitsubishi, Platinum Vauxhall and Roman Toyota) and Wellsway BMW/MINI. The stands attracted many visitors over the show weekend.

Here's What We Said

"The Millmead team thoroughly enjoyed the Frome Show. Good weather combined with a well organised event ensured that the show was an overall success."

- Colin Jeavons, Millmead General Manager

"This year's Frome Show was the best yet since moving to the West Woodlands site."

"The Platinum Vauxhall stand attracted many visitors who were able to view examples of much of the Vauxhall range, with our teams on hand to provide information and demonstrations of the vehicles."

- Martyn Read, Renrod Director/Dealer Principal

"This year's Frome Show was by far the most impressive so far at the new showground."

"We enjoyed welcoming many visitors to our stand and were able to exhibit a good cross section of the BMW and MINI ranges."

- James Currant, Wellsway Director/Dealer Principal

The next Frome Show is scheduled for mid September 2005 and it may be a two day event for the first time.

15/08/03

Business Breakfast Sponsorship

June 27th saw the Renrod Group sponsor its second Wessex Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast at Cumberwell Golf Club near Bradford-on-Avon.

Renrod Group F & I Manager Jason Lewis produced a multi-media presentation overviewing the various funding options for vehicle purchase, with particular emphasis on company cars and "cash for cars" schemes.

Attended by over 100 delegates, the event was also a sequel to a pro-European/anti-European series of speakers who were invited to present both sides of this complicated argument.

To present the pro-European view, the speaker was Ian Taylor MEP.

31/08/03

Ted's Truck Revs Into Action!

Preparations for this year's Ted's Big Day Out! will rev up to top gear with the delivery of a brand new Ted's Truck, or TT as The Forever Friends Appeal fondly refer to it. Thanks to Roman Toyota, part of Renrod Motor Group, Ted and his friends will be cruising around the RUH catchment area in a specially branded Toyota RAV 4 to help promote the event, which is happening this autumn.

Ruth Wilkinson, Events Organiser for The Forever Friends Appeal, said: "We are extremely grateful to Roman Toyota for sponsoring Ted's Truck this year and absolutely thrilled by their support. The Truck looks fantastic and Ted can't wait to take to the roads and get the word out about his Big Day Out! on Friday 10th October".

Jonathan White, General Manager at Roman Toyota Bath, said: " With 500,000 local people relying on the Royal United Hospital, we are totally delighted to be involved with Ted's Big Day Out! The RAV 4 is a great all purpose vehicle and we are sure that Ted will thoroughly enjoy driving his new truck".

Although Ted's Truck will be out and about from Friday, the first date in the diary for the Truck is on Tuesday 2nd September when it will join GWR's Black Thunder during the morning show for live link ups around Bath.

The silver 4x4 features the familiar teddy bear in his plane that everyone has come to know and love as the brand for Ted's Big Day Out! along with the phone number for Ted's hotline and the website address for registrations. With branding by Fastsigns, Ted's Truck is a moving reminder to register for Ted's Big Day Out! now.

From Chew Magna to Warminster, Malmesbury to Street, the Royal United Hospital cares for you, your family and your friends. Give new 'Heart' to the RUH by supporting Ted's Big Day Out! - the day to show you care about the medical care provided. If you can help or would like to register for this year's Ted's Big Day Out! taking place on Friday 10th October, please call Ted's Hotline: 01225 825 825, or visit the website at www.tedsbigdayout.com

15/08/03

West Wilts Show Report

Unsettled weather greeted visitors to this year's West Wilts Show in Trowbridge.

Staged over the 24th, 25th and 26th of July in the Trowbridge Town Park, the bi-annual event attracted a large number of visitors over the three days.

This year, the Renrod Group and Wellsway attended the show with a very impressive series of stands, occupying a focal point of the show. The stands received many visitors over the three days.

Best Trade Stand

The unsettled weather didn't stop Wellsway winning an award for the Best Motor Fair Trade Stand. Wellsway Director/Dealer Principal James Currant said, "We were delighted to win the award for the best trade stand in the motors fair. Our staff enjoyed the event despite the changeable weather and we were able to talk to many show visitors about our range of cars."

"We've now exhibited at the West Wilts Show several times and we find it to be a broad based and well organised which covers the spectrum of business and cultural life in West Wiltshire."

West Wilts Words

"It was a great shame that the weather was not in our favour this year but nonetheless I was delighted to see a large number of visitors to the Millmead stand with much interest in the Mitsubishi and Skoda product ranges."

"The West Wilts Show is an excellent event and is both good for business and for the town of Trowbridge itself where it was clear that an enormous amount of effort had gone into the organisation of the show. There was something there for everybody and we came away feeling that it was a very worthwhile event to attend."

- Colin Jeavons - Millmead General Manager

"Despite the unpredictable weather at this years event, the Platinum Vauxhall stand attracted many visitors. With examples of much of the Vauxhall range on display, our teams were on hand to provide information and demonstrations of the vehicles."

"The West Wilts Show is a well organised and balanced event which is popular with many types of people because of its broad based appeal. The Platinum team thoroughly enjoyed the event and will soon be planning for the annual Frome Cheese Show in mid September."

- Glen Gilliam - Platinum Frome/Trowbridge General Manager

The next West Wilts Show is scheduled for July 2005.

15/08/03

Broadband At HQ

The Renrod Head Office at Trowbridge now benefits from a faster broadband connection to the internet. Broadband is a relatively new development in internet technology and facilitates the quick viewing of complex web pages and fast transmission of data files.

31/08/03

Westward Goes To Marshfield

The Westward Renault team were recent visitors to the popular Marshfield village show.

The link up was organised by Group Marketing Assistant Claire Ellis and attended by Westward sales staff.

31/08/03

Product Placement Activity

Over recent months, the Renrod Group and Wellsway have been increasingly active in organising product placements for a variety of vehicles.

To name a few, Millmead have visited Frome Livestock market, MINI has visited Whithall Garden Centre at Lacock, as have Mitsubishi and Toyota Dyna has been seen regularly at Sydenhams Builders Merchants in Warminster.

In Bath, Roman, Westward and Millmead have all exhibited outside of the popular Homebase store.

15/08/03

Bath Races Link Up

Over the summer, the Renrod Group and Wellsway have attended many race meetings in this unique partnership.

Check out the events page on the Renrod Motor Group website for the next Bath Races appearance.

15/08/03

Corporate Kiosk

The Renrod Motor Group and Wellsway have purchased a corporate kiosk for use at offsite events.

It was used for the first time at the Wessex Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast and is next scheduled for use at a local jobs fair.

15/08/03

Business Breakfast Sponsorship

June 27th saw the Renrod Group sponsor its second Wessex Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast at Cumberwell Golf Club near Bradford-on-Avon.

Renrod Group F & I Manager Jason Lewis produced a multi-media presentation overviewing the various funding options for vehicle purchase, with particular emphasis on company cars and "cash for cars" schemes.

Attended by over 100 delegates, the event was also a sequel to a pro-European/anti-European series of speakers who were invited to present both sides of this complicated argument.

To present the pro-European view, the speaker was Ian Taylor MEP.

31/08/03

Ted's Truck Revs Into Action!

Preparations for this year's Ted's Big Day Out! will rev up to top gear with the delivery of a brand new Ted's Truck, or TT as The Forever Friends Appeal fondly refer to it. Thanks to Roman Toyota, part of Renrod Motor Group, Ted and his friends will be cruising around the RUH catchment area in a specially branded Toyota RAV 4 to help promote the event, which is happening this autumn.

Ruth Wilkinson, Events Organiser for The Forever Friends Appeal, said: "We are extremely grateful to Roman Toyota for sponsoring Ted's Truck this year and absolutely thrilled by their support. The Truck looks fantastic and Ted can't wait to take to the roads and get the word out about his Big Day Out! on Friday 10th October".

Jonathan White, General Manager at Roman Toyota Bath, said: " With 500,000 local people relying on the Royal United Hospital, we are totally delighted to be involved with Ted's Big Day Out! The RAV 4 is a great all purpose vehicle and we are sure that Ted will thoroughly enjoy driving his new truck".

Although Ted's Truck will be out and about from Friday, the first date in the diary for the Truck is on Tuesday 2nd September when it will join GWR's Black Thunder during the morning show for live link ups around Bath.

The silver 4x4 features the familiar teddy bear in his plane that everyone has come to know and love as the brand for Ted's Big Day Out! along with the phone number for Ted's hotline and the website address for registrations. With branding by Fastsigns, Ted's Truck is a moving reminder to register for Ted's Big Day Out! now.

From Chew Magna to Warminster, Malmesbury to Street, the Royal United Hospital cares for you, your family and your friends. Give new 'Heart' to the RUH by supporting Ted's Big Day Out! - the day to show you care about the medical care provided. If you can help or would like to register for this year's Ted's Big Day Out! taking place on Friday 10th October, please call Ted's Hotline: 01225 825 825, or visit the website at www.tedsbigdayout.com

15/08/03

West Wilts Show Report

Unsettled weather greeted visitors to this year's West Wilts Show in Trowbridge.

Staged over the 24th, 25th and 26th of July in the Trowbridge Town Park, the bi-annual event attracted a large number of visitors over the three days.

This year, the Renrod Group and Wellsway attended the show with a very impressive series of stands, occupying a focal point of the show. The stands received many visitors over the three days.

Best Trade Stand

The unsettled weather didn't stop Wellsway winning an award for the Best Motor Fair Trade Stand. Wellsway Director/Dealer Principal James Currant said, "We were delighted to win the award for the best trade stand in the motors fair. Our staff enjoyed the event despite the changeable weather and we were able to talk to many show visitors about our range of cars."

"We've now exhibited at the West Wilts Show several times and we find it to be a broad based and well organised which covers the spectrum of business and cultural life in West Wiltshire."

West Wilts Words

"It was a great shame that the weather was not in our favour this year but nonetheless I was delighted to see a large number of visitors to the Millmead stand with much interest in the Mitsubishi and Skoda product ranges."

"The West Wilts Show is an excellent event and is both good for business and for the town of Trowbridge itself where it was clear that an enormous amount of effort had gone into the organisation of the show. There was something there for everybody and we came away feeling that it was a very worthwhile event to attend."

- Colin Jeavons - Millmead General Manager

"Despite the unpredictable weather at this years event, the Platinum Vauxhall stand attracted many visitors. With examples of much of the Vauxhall range on display, our teams were on hand to provide information and demonstrations of the vehicles."

"The West Wilts Show is a well organised and balanced event which is popular with many types of people because of its broad based appeal. The Platinum team thoroughly enjoyed the event and will soon be planning for the annual Frome Cheese Show in mid September."

- Glen Gilliam - Platinum Frome/Trowbridge General Manager

The next West Wilts Show is scheduled for July 2005.

15/08/03

Broadband At HQ

The Renrod Head Office at Trowbridge now benefits from a faster broadband connection to the internet. Broadband is a relatively new development in internet technology and facilitates the quick viewing of complex web pages and fast transmission of data files.

31/08/03

Westward Goes To Marshfield

The Westward Renault team were recent visitors to the popular Marshfield village show.

The link up was organised by Group Marketing Assistant Claire Ellis and attended by Westward sales staff.

31/08/03

Product Placement Activity

Over recent months, the Renrod Group and Wellsway have been increasingly active in organising product placements for a variety of vehicles.

To name a few, Millmead have visited Frome Livestock market, MINI has visited Whithall Garden Centre at Lacock, as have Mitsubishi and Toyota Dyna has been seen regularly at Sydenhams Builders Merchants in Warminster.

In Bath, Roman, Westward and Millmead have all exhibited outside of the popular Homebase store.

15/08/03

Bath Races Link Up

Over the summer, the Renrod Group and Wellsway have attended many race meetings in this unique partnership.

Check out the events page on the Renrod Motor Group website for the next Bath Races appearance.

15/08/03

Corporate Kiosk

The Renrod Motor Group and Wellsway have purchased a corporate kiosk for use at offsite events.

It was used for the first time at the Wessex Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast and is next scheduled for use at a local jobs fair.

15/01/03

CBS Benefits Renrod & Wellsway Staff

Renrod Group and Wellsway staff can now benefit from a voluntary benefits package provided by Combined Benefit Service (CBS).

CBS are a division of the Combined Insurance Company which is part of the Aon
Corporation, one of the word's foremost and largest insurance organisations.
Recent acquisitions to the group include Bain Hogg, Alexander & Alexander
and Minet.

Aon is a family of insurance brokerage, consulting and insurance companies
serving clients and policyholders in more than 100 countries. Aon is a
Fortune 500 company, has assets in excess of US$19 billion and is quoted
on the New York, Chicago and London stock exchanges.

CBS has a large client base currently in excess of 1,500 companies. CBS works along side our existing benefits package

The Renrod Group's Human Resources Manager Abigail Vowler said, "It's a voluntary benefits programme and staff do not have to use it if they do not wish to but there can be enormous benefits in some cases to do so."

"CBS offer benefits that includes critical illness cover, the Paymaster and Paymaster Plus protection plans which provide a monthly income if an employee is unable to work due to illness and injury and other packages which could prove useful in certain situations."

06/05/03

More Photo Shoots

The latest Renrod Group photo shoot involved the Hitman and Roman City Bodyshop teams.

The images depict the latest developments at Roman City and will be used in marketing literature for the business.

Warminster based photographer David Wiltshire captured the images.

06/05/03

Tyre Guides For All

The Renrod Group and Wellsway have produced a series of customer focused tyre tread reports, giving information about the legality of tyre tread depths and at which point in their life they should be replaced.

06/05/03

New Publications

The Renrod Group's marketing department are currently looking at a series of new publications aimed at specialist areas and niches in the marketplace. Areas under consideration include new and used car supplements, learner drivers, aftersales and parts.

The first of these is called "Needle in the Green" - a supplement based upon the latest eco-friendly cars available from the Renrod Group and Wellsway.

06/05/03

More Magazine Upgrades

The Millmead and Platinum dealership magazines have been given design upgrades. Issued quarterly, the magazines provide an overview of dealership news and activity plus product profiles and other useful information.

06/05/03

Business Breakfast Sponsorship

The Renrod Group will host a Chamber of Commerce Business Breakfast at the Cumberwell Golf Club near Bradford-on-Avon.

Renrod Group F & I Manager Jason Lewis will present to delegates an overview of vehicle funding options for companies and also private individuals and "cash for cars" schemes.

The event will take place on Friday 27th June

06/05/03

West Wilts Show

Preparations are now underway for the popular West Wilts Show on the 24th-26th July in Trowbridge Town Park. All members of the Renrod Group and Wellsway will be represented with stand space in the motor fair, close to the Civic Hall.

06/05/03

Castrol Deal Renewed

The Renrod Group and Wellsway have renewed the group's oil/lubrication contract with Castrol. The deal also includes marketing support which includes group database cleansing.

06/05/03

Golf Day Sponsorship

The Renrod Group will again be a sponsor of the Chamber of Commerce Golf Day on Wednesday 9th July 2003 at Manor House Golf Club, Castle Combe.

15/02/03

Renrod Joins RMI

The Renrod Group has joined the RMI for the first time in 2003. It is felt to be a good move in a time of great change in the motor trade, where "Block Exemption" issues dominate much of the manufacturer/dealer relationships.

15/02/03

Sales & Finance Summit

Renrod and Wellsway Directors, General Managers and Sales Managers convened at a recent meeting at the Renrod Head Office hosted by Renrod Director Martyn Read and Group F & I Manager Jason Lewis.

New finance leaflets - "A Concise Guide to Consumer Finance" and "A Concise Guide to Business User Finance" were launched as were several other finance and customer care based initiatives.

15/02/03

Platinum Helps Rebuild Village Hall

The Platinum Vauxhall team in Frome have joined forces with a dedicated group of residents from Witham Friary in order to raise money to renovate and refurbish the village hall.

The hall, originally built as a school, is in need of urgent repair, and already funds have been granted by several trusts and organisations towards the work needed to bring the building up to a standard for modern day use. These enhancements include facilities such as disabled access.

In order for the Village hall to be restored fully, the Witham Friary Village Hall Committee still need to raise extra revenue, to make up for the shortfall between the amounts granted and the full cost of renovation.

In order to raise the necessary funds, the Village Hall Committee headed up by Witham Friary residents Martin Eales, Richard Clark and Carol Sanders, have linked up with Platinum Vauxhall whereby a fantastic first prize of a brand new Vauxhall Corsa can be won by buying a £1 raffle ticket. Second and third prizes of a Panasonic wide screen television (supplied by Telefringe) and a day at the Wincanton Racecourse make up the remaining prizes to be won.

In order to assist in the fundraising, the Platinum Vauxhall team will be taking the signwritten Vauxhall Corsa to many of the events to be attended or staged by the Village Hall Committee, such as local shows and fetes. Presence at locations such as shopping centres and other high profile sites are also being planned for fundraising.

Platinum Frome's General Manager Glen Gilliam said, "We're delighted to be able to assist the village of Witham Friary in raising funds for the renovation of their village hall and we plan to help them by taking the actual car to fundraising events. I'm sure that everyone will agree that a very worthy cause combined with the chance to win a brand new car and other great prizes will be a compelling reason to buy raffle tickets a at £1 each."

The committee also plan other fundraising events leading up to the prize draw, which will be held at the annual Frome Cheese Show on September 13th.

Tickets can be obtained from Carol Sanders, West Barn Cottage, Witham Friary, Frome, Somerset, BA11 5HH and cost £1 each. Please help the Witham Friary Village Hall committee to their goal by purchasing a ticket. Thank You.

Who's in F1 2003

After a season dominated by Ferrari and Michael Schumacher, hopes are pinned on closer racing for the 2003 season. The global economic slowdown and the lack of excitement in some races in 2002 has prompted a rethink of Formula One in terms of cost cutting, qualifying rules and point scoring. Expect the racing to be closer and the excitement to be greater in 2003…

Ferrari
Michael Schumacher - Germany
Rubens Barrichello - Brazil
BMW Williams
Ralf Schumacher - Germany
Juan Pablo Montoya - Columbia
McLaren
David Coulthard - Scotland
Kimi Raikkonnen - Finland
Renault
Jarno Trulli - Italy
Fernando Alonso - Spain
Sauber
Heinz-Harald Frentzen - Germany
Nick Heidfeld - Germany
Jordan
Giancarlo Fisichella - Italy
Ralph Firman - England
BAR
Jacques Villeneuve - Canada
Jenson Button - England
Jaguar
Mark Webber - Australia
Antonio Pizzonia - Brazil
Toyota
Olivier Panis - France
Cristiano Da Matta - Brazil
Minardi
Jos Verstappen - Holland
Justin Wilson - England

The beleaguered Arrows team was refused entry to the 2003 series and has since been wound up.

15/02/03

Latest Website Developments

www.renrodmg.co.uk - events planner, galleries, trade parts, publications, links, homepage

The Renrod Motor Group website continues to expand, becoming more complete and informative with each upgrade. Regular homepage designs, a new events planner, career vacancies, news coverage, galleries, links to other sites and much, much more.

Later in 2003, we hope to have some 360 degree panoramic views of some dealerships - watch this space!!

www.renrodfs.com - concise guide to consumer finance

The Renrod Financial Solutions website benefits from a new "Concise Guide to Customer Finance".

www.platinumvauxhall.co.uk - events planner, publications, galleries, homepage

The Platinum Vauxhall website is constantly undergoing upgrades, enhancements and improvements. Recent additions to the site include a 2003 Events Planner, a consumer guide to vehicle finance, a publication request for ordering Platinum News, refreshed home pages and galleries.

www.stmartinsnissan.co.uk - events planner, motability, publications etc etc

The St Martins Nissan website has a new homepage featuring the all new Micra launched on January 15th 2003. A concise guide to Consumer Finance has been added to Finance section and a 2003 Events Diary page detailing activities involving St. Martins. Also, a motability page with a link through to the main Motability website has be added.

www.millmeadskoda.co.uk - new product, how to find us, our team

The new Millmead Skoda website is now online, created in partnership with Millmead and Skoda business partner Gedas.

Already, plans are in progress to enhance and expand the site to include the full used car stock list complete with images, prices and specifications. This will allow customers the search for and view details of the Millmead Skoda used car stock and print useful information from the comfort of the home or office.

Look out for this latest development on our website www.millmeadskoda.co.uk

www.millmeadmitsubishi.co.uk - used vehicle stocks

The Millmead Mitsubishi website has benefited from an upgrade too. Now you can view used vehicle stocks….

www.westwardbath.co.uk, www.saxongarage.co.uk,
www.westwardchippenham.co.uk

New personalised homepages adorn the Westward and Saxon sites. And a whole lot more besides…

www.toyota.co.uk/roman - whole site feature

Have you looked on the Roman Toyota site lately. You're missing a lot if you haven't….

Check these out too…

www.romancity.co.uk

www.callthehitman.co.uk

www.wellswaybmw.co.uk

www.wellswaymini.co.uk

10/02/03

Renrod Launches Marketing Website

www.renrodcreative.com

The Renrod Group has produced a new and innovative marketing website or "portal" for use around the group.

Almost unique among dealer groups, the Renrod Group has produced a new and innovative marketing website or "portal" for use around the group.

The site divides into two main areas - all passworded - "Marketing" and "Logos".

The idea of the "Marketing" section of the Renrod Creative website is to assist in the process of creating marketing material and advertisements - and on the site, we present ideas for both visuals and headlines.

The ideas shown are by no means definitive, but could be useful in the production of much marketing material. It is also intended that the site can be used as a source of inspiration, whereby it makes Renrod staff think of ideas that suit the specific needs of the business.

A website is one of the best ways of collating and maintaining a library of ideas and visuals in a way that can be viewed from any location and stored conveniently in one place. It can therefore facilitate the approach of being able to work together whilst being in separate locations, thus cutting down on wasted time.

It's quite possible that the company may not choose to use many of the advert ideas shown on the site, but it may inspire the creation of other good ideas. If so, it has worked.

Try to imagine visuals and headlines with definitive content and you're on the way the creating a good advert, a flier or a piece of marketing. Remember, nobody has the monopoly on good ideas…..

Any of the ideas shown on the site can be adapted to a dealership's requirements for advertising and marketing campaigns. We just have to watch out for the corporate standards!

The "Logos" section of the site has been brought about by a desire to be efficient and more time effective. From time to time, the company is asked to supply logos for many and varied reasons - presentations, for continuous stationary, for sponsorships and even the company Christmas cards. In each case, the logos have been supplied on a "request" basis - by post, email and so on.

The intent is to keep the "request" part, but do away with the rest. In practice, that means that the official logos in use around the group can be requested, a password can be given, and the required logos can be downloaded in print quality direct from the website.

15/02/03

Renrod Joins RMI

The Renrod Group has joined the RMI for the first time in 2003. It is felt to be a good move in a time of great change in the motor trade, where "Block Exemption" issues dominate much of the manufacturer/dealer relationships.

15/02/03

Impact Design Deal For 2003

The Renrod Group and Wellsway have renewed the annual design contract with Frome based Impact Design for 2003. The contract involves the the design, production and submission to print, press or web of the majority of the group's advertising and marketing material - including the Renrod & Wellsway "Focus" magazine.

15/02/03

News in Brief

Show Patronage

The Renrod Motor Group have become patrons of the 2003 West Wilts Show. The popular event, attended by over 100,000 visitors over three days is held will be held in the Trowbridge Town Park on the 24th to the 26th July.

Magazine Upgrades

The St.Martins and Millmead dealership magazines have been increased in size to 8 pages per edition. This increase will allow a broader range of topics to be covered ranging from sales to aftersales.

New Look Advertising

As from the start of 2003, all Roman Toyota Used Car advertising has been upgraded to reflect the latest in Toyota corporate standards. The new adverts will create a national "look" for all dealer advertising.