FEMALE FRIENDLY GARAGE
Katrina Gray and Cheryl Spencer have been appointed a Female Business Ambassadors by female friendly business website Foxy Choice. This mean A & J joins a network of more than 1000 garages and dealerships across the UK who promise to;
...‘never overcharge, patronise or sell women services they do not need or want’.
Katrina, Cheryl and our team of ladies at A & J recognise that many women feel ill at ease in garages and want local drivers to know there they are there to help and advise them if need be.
You may wonder why we have singled out women for special attention, we are finding that our high female friendly standards are appreciated by most men too so this makes sound business sense for us.
We are offering all our readers a Gift Membership worth over £23.00 to you all (men as well as you all have a lady in your life be it your wife, partner, sister, mum)
Membership entitles you to;
A UK network of female friendly approved garages
FREE car safety checks
Car insurance discounts
Exclusive motoring offers
FREE legal advice about road traffic law
A friendly helpdesk for advice and support
FREE ‘no fault’ accident assistance service
Click the following for more details: www.foxychoice.com/garages
IS IT A BIRD? IS IT A SHANE?
10 April 2010, the skies are clear (not a drop of volcano ash in sight), plane is prepped and jumpers are ready.
This is the day that Shane was to take the ultimate leap for charity and undertake a tandem skydive.
Shane explained "I was apprehensive but I was partnered with a professional skydiver and I had to put all my faith in him".
Shane’s experience was captured on photo and film which caught all the action as Shane and his instructor dropped out of the plane. "It was really difficult to smile when you’re trying to breathe" explained Shane "we were falling at over 120 miles an hour and the air just rushes into your face".
Shane was told they had done the most perfect landing of the day and as an exhausted Shane lay on terra firma his final words on the matter were "that was awesome, I would definitely do it again".
Shane managed to raise over £600.00 towards Catch22's vital work in helping young people who are at risk of missing out on jobs, training or education... WELL DONE!
Further information about Catch22: www.catch-22.org.uk
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A & J Lawrence staff member takes the leap for charity
Staff, apprentices and supporters at a Portsmouth training charity are to freefall out of an aircraft at 10,000ft for an exhilarating skydive.
The group, from Catch22 South East Training, will reach speeds of 120mph before their parachutes open. Each will be strapped to an instructor who will guide the tandem fall and help steer the parachute to the landing zone. The dive will raise funds towards Catch22's vital work in helping young people who are at risk of missing out on jobs, training or education.
Marketing manager Jessica Nevett said: "Many people take for granted being able to buy work gear or going away for fun weekends". "But many of the young people we work with do not have the means or the confidence to achieve these small things."None of us have done any skydiving before and I'm sure we'll be nervous on the day, but it will be an amazing experience and really worthwhile."
Also taking part are Catch22 apprenticeship manager Sean Penney and apprentices Amy McAvery and Gary Tarbuck. Joining them is bodyshop technician Shane Lawrence from the auto repair specialists A & J Lawrence and Sara Houghton of The News. Bill Moulsdale from Giant Leap Video will be filming the event free of charge to help Catch22 continue to promote their work.
The sky dive takes place at the Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury in Wiltshire on April 10.
To sponsor the dive, or to take part, please contact Jessica Nevett on (023) 9222 2770 or email jessica.nevett@catch-22.org.uk
Well Done Cheryl
Congratulations to our receptionist Cheryl who has achieved her EDI Level 3 NVQ in Business and Administration with Chichester College’s train to gain.
After transferring to A & J and about 18 months of hard work she successfully completed her units: carrying out responsibilities at work, designing and producing documents, managing and evaluating customer relations, planning, organising and supporting meetings, using IT to exchange information, using specialist or bespoke software and working within the business environment.
This has given Cheryl an insight into a whole range of business administration tasks including accounting and receptionist tasks.
Her next aim is to complete a NVQ in Customer Service
A Fond Farewell to Sandy
On Christmas Eve everyone at A & J Lawrence said a fond farewell to their friend and colleague Sandy Madgewick. After 13 years with the company Sandy decided she would hang up her calculator and take a well deserved rest.
Over the years Sandy and her team have ensured the smooth running of the accounts offices at A & J’s Southampton Road and Northarbour Road sites and the Williams office in Harrison Road.
We wish Sandy all the best for her retirement and hopes she doesn’t get too bored with all that extra time on her hands!
Apprentice Jake Lawrence Achieves NVQ 3
After three years training with Paragon, Jake completed his apprenticeship with A & J Lawrence achieving Level 3 NVQ in Automotive Maintenance and Repair – Light Vehicle.
Jake wants to increase his knowledge and experience in a garage environment and hopes to manage the mechanical side of this family business one day.
Apprentice Sean Overington Completes Training
Apprentice panel technician, Sean Overington, completed his three year apprenticeship at Thatcham and gained a NVQ Level 3.
Sean is now keen to gain more experience in the workshop and work towards his Senior ATA Panel Technician.
A & J Lawrence Achieve The Thatcham BSI Kitemark® – PAS 125 Approval
The A & J team are pleased to announce that they have achieved the Thatcham BSI Kitemark - PAS Approval, July 2009.
The Kitemark is the UK’s most trusted and recognised symbol of quality and safety. Our achievement gives customers the confidence that their vehicles have been repaired to an independently audited standard and will perform to the vehicle manufacturers original safety specification should the vehicle become involved in an accident.
The Publicly Available Specification (PAS 125) is the written standard that has to be adhered to and maintained to gain and retain the BSI Kitemark. BSI will undertake spot audits on A & J Lawrence twice every year. The main areas audited include;
Technicians working on the vehicles are trained and skilled to a certified
The correct technique is being used to repair the vehicle
Materials and parts used in the repair are of high quality and conform to any specifications
The equipment and tools being used are continuously maintained
A management system is in place to ensure consistent quality and safe repairs
Repairing today’s modern vehicles requires a more skilful and competent workforce. Our technicians need to have an in depth knowledge of the higher build quality, body design and electronics. At A & J we have ATA/NVQ3 qualified technicians in all areas involved in the repair of a vehicle. These qualification show the technicians are competent and skilled in their specific areas, they are re-examined every 5 years and are required to prove ongoing training during the period they hold their licence.
We are serious about the safety of our customers and passengers and this award enforces our commitment.
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WOAH, we're going to Barbados!
Cheryl Spencer, front of house receptionist, joined the A & J Lawrence team in October 2008. As well as bringing a vast amount of knowledge about administration procedures within the motor vehicle industry, Cheryl has another talent!
Cheryl and hubby Barry came across Rally Barbados 2007 while on holiday and, despite having no previous competition experience, they bought a Vauxhall Astra GSi rally car and set about learning the ropes at the Bill Gwynne Rally School . . . with Cheryl in the driving seat; after entering a couple of events in Britain to gain experience, they arrived in Barbados in 2008 and, while fortune did not shine on them - the wiring loom burned out on the second day - they were determined to return to Sol Rally Barbados 2009.
Cheryl and Barry have had more than their 15 minutes of fame; appearing in various articles in the Portsmouth Evening News, been the focus of a 750-word feature in Portsmouth Today and being interviewed by the local TV news in Barbados.
Though Cheryl was the only woman driver entered for the event, she was not alone in bringing the female touch to Sol Rally Barbados 2009. No fewer than 11 female co-drivers were entered.
A & J Lawrence was thrilled to be given the opportunity to sponsor the Eden Vauxhall Rally Team at the Barbados Rally 2009.
To find out more about the team, visit their website www.evrt.org.uk
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Shane Lawrence named Young Painter of the Year
Vehicle painter, Shane Lawrence of A & J Lawrence, was named Young Painter of the Year at the prestigious Bodyshop Magazine Industry Event Awards 2007 ceremony, held in Birmingham.
The Bodyshop Magazine/ Thatcham Craft Awards are designed to recognise and identify the UK's most talented bodyshop technicians in the areas of panel and paint.
The Young Painter of the Year Award is part of the Bodyshop Magazine/Thatcham Craft Awards, which are designed to recognise and identify the UK's most talented bodyshop technicians in the areas of panel and paint. Winners of this category have the chance of representing the UK in the WorldSkills Competition in Tokyo next year, as SkillAuto uses the Young Technician Craft Awards as its preferred selection route.
Quality of preparation, colour matching and blending techniques all came under scrutiny during the assessment process for this Award. Finalists were put through a rigorous series of practical and theoretical challenges and were judged on their overall professionalism, standard of finished work, use of correct materials and process and knowledge of new technology and equipment.
