North East's oldest Motor Dealer Group celebrates 100 years of business

June 11, 2012 - PRLog -- The group’s board of directors including managing director, Nas Khan, finance director and company secretary, Graeme Armstrong and operations director, Nicky Dalkin, received the official centenary certificate from Companies House, an Executive Agency of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS).

Nas Khan, said; “We are immensely proud of our heritage in the North East and delighted to receive our centenary certificate.  A combination of customer and staff loyalty has played a pivotal role in the company’s success and achievements over the decades.”

It all started in 1890, when an ambitious man called Septimus Jennings began repairing bicycles as a hobby in his garden shed in Morpeth, Northumberland.

That hobby soon became a full-time occupation for Septimus in 1903 when he purchased his first business premises on Bridge Street, Morpeth and started selling bicycles and motor cars.

In 1912, S Jennings Ltd was registered with Companies House and in 1917 the company was one of the first main Ford dealers in the country to be appointed by Ford Motor Company to sell its cars.

A management buyout from the third generation of the Jennings family took place in the early 90’s and in 2005 the most significant buyout involving Jennings Ford’s current managing director, Nas Khan, occurred.

As a result of continuous investment in the North East, Jennings currently operates Ford dealerships located at Middlesbrough, Stockton and Gateshead, in addition to two Ford Direct supersites in South Shields and Middlesbrough, visit http://www.jennings-ford.co.uk for details.

Responsible for new and used retail, fleet, commercial and Motability sales, Jennings Ford also provides an after sales service to customers via its service, bodyshop and parts departments across the region.

Providing an outstanding level of customer service and a second to none aftersales service, has resulted in Jennings Ford being the recipient of ‘The Chairman’s Award’, Ford’s most prestigious award for customer satisfaction, on fifteen separate occasions.

Continued investment and growth resulted in the company becoming a multi-franchise group in 2001 after acquiring additional dealerships and introducing new marques, including Mazda and SEAT. Visit http://www.jennings-mazda.co.uk or visit http://www.jenningsseat.co.uk

September 2011 witnessed the most recent investment for the Group following the opening of its new Kia franchise in Washington.  Visit http://www.jenningsKia.co.uk for details.

Nas added; “Selling cars has undoubtedly changed since Septimus Jennings first opened his dealership in Morpeth a the start of the 20th Century, but during all of that time, something hasn’t changed - our attitude to customers, customer care and providing value has always and always will be our number one priority.

We are just as passionate about our products and customer service as Septimus Jennings was when it all began those many years ago.”