A BIKE accident that left a cyclist with a badly broken arm has resulted in a new career path with a family business.
It was while Sukhpal Purba was recovering from his injuries and reflecting on his future that he spotted an advert for a job with North-East motor dealer Sherwoods in The Northern Echo.
“I had been working for a tyre company but after it was taken over I wasn’t too comfortable with the new working practices,” said Mr Purba, who has worked in the trade for the past 38 years.
“Then I had an accident on my bike and was off work for eight weeks. I saw the Sherwoods ad and the hardest part was compiling my CV after so many years in work. So I was delighted to be offered the senior service advisor’s job.”
Originally from Gosforth, now living in Darlington, Mr Purba is responsible for a team that looks after 800 retail and 200 private customers a month, as the 18-strong service department completes 400 oil and filter changes.
A typical month will also see the service team complete 50 sets of disc and pad replacements, carry out 400 software upgrades, 250 MOTs and change 200 tyres, with 40 wheel alignments and use more than £500,000 worth of parts.
“Customer service is paramount,” he said. “It is about building a rapport with the customer.”
To do this he also relies on the 28 years of experience of fellow new-starter Lynda Walker.
Darlington-born and bred, she left Longfield School in 1986 to work in the motor trade.
“It’s great being part of such a good team at a lovely family business,” said Mrs Walker, whose husband Ben is a carpentry tutor at Darlington College.
“I have come from working on my own to having colleagues I can rely on. The key aim for me is looking after customers. If they are happy then so am I.”
Managing director Alasdair MacConachie said: “There can be few businesses where two new starters bring a total of 66 years of experience to the department.
“They know just about everything there is to know about the motor trade and will be able to advise our clientele on every aspect of servicing.”
