L-R: Sandy Cochran Service Manager, Alan McLellan Master Technician,
Jan Livingstone Customer Service Director, Bryan Walker Parts Manager
An award-winning Lanarkshire car dealer has hit the jackpot again after four of its staff came up trumps in a coveted national competition.
Twenty-four finalists from around the UK were picked to go through to SEAT‘s Top Service People final this month after excelling in a customer satisfaction incentive.
W Livingstone Ltd, based in New Edinburgh Road, Uddingston, has special cause for celebration because all four of its staff who entered achieved a top three placing in the four different categories.
Alan McLellan, 36, emerged as winner for Master Technician of The Year and will now represent SEAT UK at the young-spirited carmaker‘s international version of the competition in March.
Jan Livingstone, 42, finished second in the Service Advisor of the Year category, Bryan Walker, 38, was second in the race to be Parts Manager of the year, while Sandy Cochran, 49, was third placed Service Manager.
The outstanding result has delighted staff at W Livingstone Ltd, a SEAT dealership since 1991, and also named best garage in Scotland by the industry regulator, Motor Codes, in their 2011 Golden Garages competition. The dealership also celebrated 50 years of trading the same year.
Managing Director Robin Livingstone, the third generation from his family to run the dealership, enthused: “This is a fantastic result and I am very proud of all of the staff and delighted that their hard work has been recognised by SEAT in this way. All our staff are dedicated to providing great customer service and many can call upon more than 20 years‘ experience.”
Uddingston born and bred, Sandy Cochran has worked at W Livingstone Ltd since leaving school in 1979. He started out as an apprentice, before becoming a mechanic, then a foreman, and, since 1991, Service Manager. Sandy has previously achieved three top three positions in SEAT “Top Service Manager” competitions.
Mum-of-two Jan Livingstone, the firm‘s Customer Services Director, is also from Uddingston, and has been on the staff 16 years. Her impressive customer service skills are a testament to her background in hotel ’front of house‘ management.
Married dad of two Parts Manager, Bryan Walker, from Cambuslang, has over 20 years experience in the VW group, and when he joined W Livingstone Ltd last September he brought with him a wealth of knowledge based on the commonality of components and systems in the group.
Top placed Alan McLellan, from Bellshill, joined W Livingstone Ltd from school as an apprentice mechanic 20 years ago working his way up to Foreman Technician, and then in 2006, he became one of the first to qualify as a SEAT Master Technician. His success is especially notable because it is the first time he‘s been entered for this type of competition.
The finalists who excelled in the aftersales incentive, called Viva Dubai!, battled it out for the top places at the SEAT Top Service UK final this month. Line-ups comprised four people – a Service Advisor, Service Manager, Parts Manager and Master Technician – from dealers in each of three leagues. They competed against each other in a knowledge and skills shoot-out at SEAT‘s National Learning Centre in Milton Keynes, and also took part in practical tests and role-play situations.
The national winner in each of the four key aftersales job roles represents SEAT UK at the Top Service People 2012/13 Final in Spain in March. As well as this accolade, there were also cash prizes up for grabs and a trip to Dubai. Viva Dubai! is seen as highlighting the importance of delivering, sustaining and growing customer satisfaction to the highest levels.