Vertu Motors names 17-year-old service advisor 'Apprentice of the Year'

Vertu Motors has named 17-year-old Farnell Land Rover Nelson service advisor apprentice Susannah Kendall as the winner of its annual ‘Apprentice of the Year’ awards.

Kendall, who joined the retailer in September 2018, beat 275 other apprentices in the Group, after being named as runner-up in 2019.

"I feel very proud to have been named as Vertu Motors’ ‘Apprentice of the Year’", she said. "There are many fantastic apprentices in the company and to be chosen as the best is a tremendous accolade.

"The Group values its colleagues and I have learnt so much, not just professionally but also personally. Everyone, from the CEO down is hugely supportive."

Before joining the Farnell Land Rover Nelson operation, on  Lomeshaye Business Park, Nelson, Kendall went to Calder High School in Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, where she studied textiles, resistant materials, geography and ICT, as well a core subjects including maths and English.

She first discovered her passion for customer service while working in a local farm shop.

Kendall lives on a small farm with her parents and has neighbouring family friends who have larger farms, where she regularly helps out.

While on furlough during the COVID-19 lockdown period, she was kept busy lambing hundreds of sheep, feeding orphaned or poorly lambs and mucking out pigs.

Kendall is also a member and secretary/vice chairperson of her local young farmers club, Calderdale Young Farmers.

Commenting on her hopes for the future of her career in automotive retail, she said: "I would love the opportunity to have work experience in each individual department of the business, to gain a full understanding how everyone contributes and works together to achieve to the end goal. 

"This would enable me to gain knowledge of the overall operation of the company, and with further training, I would like to go into a higher management position.”