Member Article

Over 200 jobs saved in Bolton and Wigan

Vertu Motors has acquired four Ford dealerships in Bolton and Wigan from Gordons Bolton Ltd.

The Gordons business has represented Ford in Lancashire for over 100 years and employs 218 people across the four locations.

The deal means that these jobs are safe guarded within a larger corporation.

Vertu Motors is the sixth largest automotive retailer in the UK with a network of 114 sales outlets across the UK. Established in November 2006 it aims to consolidate the UK motor retail sector.

The acquisition is estimated at £11 million and includes the four properties valued at £6.9 million.

One of the properties is a development site in Wigan where a new Ford dealership will be built over the next six months to allow relocation from the current premises.

CEO of Vertu Robert Forrester said: “The Board is delighted to announce the acquisition of this well established business in Lancashire, which will provide further scale to the Group’s Bristol Street Motors Ford business.

“We are pleased to welcome over 200 new colleagues into the Group who bring with them a wealth of experience in the Ford brand.

“This acquisition also brings with it some substantial freehold property assets which the Group will actively manage to enhance shareholder value.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sophia Taha .