Hippo Motor Group grows workforce beyond 300 employees

Hippo Motor Group has exceeded a 300-employee headcount for the first time and is continuing to expand with a further 25 vacancies.

The Blackburn based business, which specialises in the leasing and finance of new, used and prestige vehicles, said many of its senior employees began their journeys as entry-level new starters with the company.

Tom Preston, group managing director, explained: “Hippo Motor Group has always been about providing opportunities to local talent and nurturing their careers, and we’re delighted to have grown our workforce to 300 and counting.

“Apart from demonstrating the success of Hippo as a commercial entity, a growing and thriving workforce proves that we have stayed true to the ethos of being a real family business.

“For us, it’s about much more than the legacy of the Preston name. It’s about creating an environment where people feel valued, are provided with opportunities, and want to stay with us.”

With a heritage spanning back to 1906, the company was established as Hippo Motor Group in 2007 by Tom and Richard Preston, the direct descendants of George Preston who founded the original business 116 years ago.

In keeping with the values of a historic family business, Hippo Motor Group says it encourages career progression from within. It offers a range of generous incentives from financial rewards to weekend trips away and provides regular in-house training to facilitate personal and professional development.

Tom Preston added: “We’ve achieved a strong retention rate and loyalty from high-performing staff, and this is something we’re looking to really build on.

“The 25 vacancies we have available are likely to be filled quickly and our new starters can expect a welcoming atmosphere, a healthy work/life balance, and multiple opportunities to grow professionally, from shadowing managers to undertaking a range of courses.”

The group recently completed a £2.4m upgrade of it headquarters, including a new showroom and fully-equipped prep centre.

An industry-wide skills shortage could threaten the profitability of automotive retailers as many businesses have resorted to paying more to fill vacancies by offering higher starting salaries, signing-on bonuses or bonuses paid at the end of probation periods.

In April, it was revealed that the number of job vacancies in the automotive sector had risen by 40% in the first three months of 2022, reaching a five-year high.