MP visits Bristol Street Motors service centre to discuss investment

The chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee Robert Halfon MP has visited Bristol Street Motors Harlow Peugeot Service Centre to hear about a £1m investment in the site.

Bristol Street Motors opened the 150 square-foot service centre on River Way in late 2021, creating 24 jobs and apprenticehsip opportunities, following a £600,000 investment from parent company Vertu Motors.

Halfon, the Conservative MP for Harlow, was shown the site’s latest vehicle servicing technology, including an automated drive-in assessment area, which features floor sensors that will assess tyre tread, inflation and quality without a customer needing to leave their vehicle.

Leon Caruso, group operations director at Bristol Street Motors, said: “Robert Halfon MP’s visit provided an ideal opportunity to highlight our ongoing confidence in Harlow and how Bristol Street Motors is preparing the next generation of motor trade professionals through our leading-edge apprenticeship programme.

“He was very interested to speak to current apprentices and colleagues who have gained qualifications through on-the-job training. We have more than 300 apprentices working across the Group with around 200 positions open, and many of our colleagues started in the motor trade as apprentices.”

JCT600 apprentices recently told the AM News Show how they overcame stigma about the automotive sector to find a new ‘home from home’ in Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz franchised dealership roles.

Halfon toured the service centre and spoke to former and current apprentices, including an apprentice who is part of the latest cohort to receive an education on the maintenance of electric and hybrid vehicles.

He said: “It was a pleasure to meet with the team and hear about how Bristol Street Motors is investing in Harlow, both in terms of people through its apprenticeship and training programmes, and capital with its dealership and service centre developments.

“As we as a nation edge closer towards the ban on new fossil fuelled vehicles, it’s crucial that we have the skill infrastructure required to maintain electric vehicles. I’m delighted to see the next wave of talented individuals is being prepared for that future through well-designed, well-paid apprenticeships with Bristol Street Motors.

“I was also very interested to learn how Bristol Street Motors is supporting people with disabilities to be independent through its delivery of the Motability scheme and see how the company is investing in technology such as its drive-in assessment area.”

Last month, Bristol Street Motors Motornation opened its latest dealership in Stockton-on-Tees following a £500,000 investment from the AM100 group, Vertu Motors.