Senior master technician is recognised for long service
A MEMBER of the aftersales team at Jennings Ford’s service department in Washington has been presented with his third loyalty award.
Loyal Neil Gibson, 58, from Consett in County Durham, who works as a senior master technician at the group’s Parsons Road dealership in Washington, has achieved 25 years’ service with the company.
The region’s longest-established motor dealer group rewards members of its 524-strong workforce after 15 years of continuous service, then after every five years.
Neil is one of 28 employees across the group who will receive rewards throughout 2017 for a combined 690 years of loyalty.
To mark the loyalty milestone, a presentation took place at the Washington-based workshop where group service and bodyshop manager Brian Johnston handed the loyalty certificate and vouchers to Neil.
Mr Johnston said: “I would like to congratulate Neil, who is a dedicated and committed member of the aftersales team at Washington for his loyalty achievement – it was a pleasure presenting the certificate and vouchers to him”. The world of motors began at the age of 16 for Neil after he left English Martyrs Secondary School in Leadgate, County Durham, and embarked on a four-year apprenticeship with the aim of becoming a fully fledged motor vehicle technician.
Neil said: “I was keen to get my hands dirty and learn how everything works underneath the bonnet, which is how I ended up embarking on an apprenticeship straight from school.”
Over the years he has gained valuable experience and knowledge working for a number of motor dealers across the North East, prior to joining Jennings Ford’s former sites at Carville and Stanley, and later transferring to the group’s aftersales operation in Washington.
In his current role as an approved Ford senior master technician, Neil works as part of an eight-strong team at the Washington-based service and parts department.
With more than four decades of experience behind him, he has witnessed a number of significant changes within the industry, in particular the advances in technology and diagnostic tools and equipment. “Technology is changing every day – it’s certainly come a long way since I first embarked on my Apprentice in the 70s, when there simply wasn’t the diagnostic tools to assist with technical problems and reports were handwritten – which could often be a time-consuming exercise,” he said.
“Nowadays, we are able to identify and solve any problems using stateof-the-art equipment, and reports can be printed off at the simple touch of a button.”
Jennings Ford’s services department at Washington can be contacted on 0191 461 9140.