SME Transport Awards 2019

SME NEWS / SME Transport Awards 2019 21 , Aitken-Walker Cars Best Family-Run Car Dealership 2019 - Northern UK & Motor Trade Services Excellence Award 2019 Mar19162 Established by husband and wife, Graham Walker and Louise Aitken-Walker M.B.E. in 1988, Aitken-Walker Cars is a family owned and run car dealership now consisting of a team of over 20 valued staff based in Duns, Scottish Borders offering servicing, sales, van hire and fuel sales. Prior to opening the garage, the Co-Founder Graham was a motorsport engineer and Louise who also carved out her own career in rallying and became a FIA Ladies World Rally Champion in 1990. As a result of this experience they both understand the high importance of teamwork and the nature of the car buying and servicing market. Graham and Louise’s son and daughter are now also members of the team, son John has been a part of the sales team for over 6 years now and daughter Gina is shortly to qualify from her motor engineering apprenticeship which will go hand in hand with her involvement in motorsport. Thanks to this experience Aiken-Walker Cars has flourished over the years, and today it boasts a nationwide customer base, with the majority of its business owed to its loyal and continually supporting local customers in the Scottish Borders, Lothian and Northumber- land areas. These clients know they can rely on the firm to provide them with a exceptional amount of quality support and services no matter their needs. Over the years there have been many developments within the motor trade, and in order to remain at the forefront of these and offer its clients a truly cutting-edge service Aitken-Walker Cars has worked hard to remain ahead of these changes. To ensure its services are always compliant with current laws and technologies the firm’s diagnostic equipment is always up to date, which is particularly vital as the technology in vehicles is constantly progressing, faster than ever. With an unlimited wealth of information at their clients’ fingertips the car market is now very competitive now and Aitken-Walker Cars harness this to make sure that all of its sales vehicles are competitively priced and have had the necessary online checks. As part of its focus on adapting its service offering to then meet the needs of its clients, Aitken-Walker Cars offers a wide range of motor services to suit all requirements. The dealership’s Car Sales team of four manages between 30 and 40 carefully sourced cars and supplies all makes and models, new or used, to businesses and private individuals throughout the country. The Workshop team is led by Iain Bell, who has been apart of Aitken-Walker Cars for more than 28 years and manages five fully qualified mechanics and two apprentices repairing all makes and model of vehicles, no job too big or small. The firm also offers Aitken-Walker Self Drive Van Hire, which now consists of three Luton vans which can be used for all sorts of jobs from removals to clear outs. On the forecourt the firm has been supplying petrol and diesel to the local community for more than 30 years. In all aspects of our business this dedicated team aim to offer consistent, reliable and effi- cient service often exceeding their customers’ expectations on a daily basis. Recently, as part of its focus on enhancing its service offering for the benefit of its clients, the firm has adapted its online presence, creating a new website and many social media campaigns which have both contributed to a rising online following for this flexible and dynamic company. Seeking to build upon the huge amount of success it has already gained over the past 30 years, Aitken-Walker Cars will continue to enhance its service offering throughout 2019 and beyond. The developments the firm has in store will ensure success for both the dealership itself and, most importantly, its valued clients. Contact Information: Company: Aitken-Walker Cars Name: John Walker | Address: 1 Berwick Road Telephone Number: 01361882212 Web Address: www.aitken-walkercars.co.uk For more than 30 years Aitken-Walker Cars has beenworking tirelessly to consistently offer carefully sourced quality used cars with outstanding customer service. As part of our showcase of some of our deserving winners from the 2019 Transport Awards we profile the firm to gain an insight into how far it has come over the past three decades.