Andrew Page nurtures talent by going beyond National Living Wage
As part of its continual investment in staff and employee development, leading autoparts and workshop equipment distributor, Andrew Page, has made the decision to reward all of its staff over the age of 18 with at least the National Living Wage.
From tomorrow (1st April) the government has announced a compulsory National Living Wage for employees aged 25 and above. However, in a move that recognises the young aspiring members of the team, Andrew Page will be introducing the new wage for all employees above 18.
Following a record-breaking year in 2015, supported by additional funding being secured in December, the Andrew Page network – and its workforce – is expected to develop further through 2016. The company’s strong performance last year was supported by investing in its fleet of delivery vehicles, telematics systems, stock availability and warehousing infrastructure.
Mark Saunders, CEO at Andrew Page said: “The significant levels of investment we made in 2015 have had a positive impact on sales performance, which has led to us being able to offer this wage increase to our team members aged 18 and above.”
The strategic growth will be maintained through additional investment in 2016, including the introduction of more Andrew Page retail stores, the first of which have been operational since early 2015.
“Changes to employment legislation such as this will always have an impact on the industry as they ultimately affect a company’s operating costs,” added Jim Sumner, Andrew Page’s chairman. “We are in a strong position to not just accept but go beyond these changes.”
Sumner added: “We recognise that our teams play a huge role in the success of the company, so we want to ensure we retain that talent by sharing our success. All team members are responsible in part for the continued growth of the network, and the younger members of the team are the future of the company so should be treated the same way as the rest of the team.”
The workforce has always been an integral part of the Andrew Page network, with a large focus on building relationships and providing a customer-focussed service at every level. Hiring the right people and retaining them is a priority of Andrew Page’s, with the decision to go beyond the requirements of the living wage just one of the ways by which the company is seeking to achieve this.
“Our background is as a family-run business, which is something we have maintained throughout Andrew Page’s history. The ethos of ‘The Autoparts People’ underlines this and reinforces the message that we very much focus on the people behind the company,” explained Simon Mullin, sales & marketing director at Andrew Page.”
The Andrew Page network currently has 109 branches nationwide, served by an extensive fleet of vehicles replenishing stock twice daily. With seven further stores planned for 2016, as well as expansions to its franchise programme and e-commerce operations, the Andrew Page team is expected to grow further throughout 2016.
ENDS
Note to Editors
About Andrew Page Limited
Having originally been founded by Andrew Page in 1917, his son James, formed Andrew Page Limited in 1946. The company is an independent distributor of quality vehicle components, workshop equipment, tools and diagnostics. From its Leeds headquarters it controls all nationwide branches and employs over 2,200 people.
The company has grown progressively and underlined its national reach. This includes purchasing the Camberley Auto Factors (CAF) branch network in the south of England in 2012, acquiring 21 Unipart Automotive branches following the collapse of the company in 2014, and more recently acquiring Japanese & Korean parts specialist Solid Auto.
Andrew Page supplies products from many of the world's leading automotive component makers, including Bosch, Unipart, LuK, Yuasa, QH and Mann & Hummel along with its own brands Solid Auto and Drivemaster.
The AP-Tech division meets customer requirements for tools and workshop equipment and reaches customers across the UK through its website www.ap-tech.co.uk. Auto Education is a training programme run by Andrew Page Limited and consists of 30 courses designed to improve and advance technicians’ skills to recognised national standards. Further information on the training courses and how to book can be found at: www.autoeducation.co.uk.
In June 2015 Andrew Page launched its online web store aimed at retail customers, including enthusiasts and professional technicians.
For further Andrew Page press information, please contact Torque:
Matt Sanger – 020 7952 1079 or msanger@torqueagencygroup.com
Adam Forshaw – 020 7952 1082 or aforshaw@torqueagencygroup.com
