Member Article

Derby workshop controller receives national award

A workshop controller at Bristol Street Motors Derby Renault has received national recognition as ‘Workshop Controller of the Year’. Emma Bird, who works at the Sir Frank Whittle Road dealership, received the award from Vertu Motors plc, parent company of the Bristol Street Motors, Macklin Motors, Farnell Jaguar Land Rover, Vertu Honda and Vertu Toyota franchises. She began her career in the motor industry at 17 as an apprentice service adviser. Emma, who lives in Derby, joined the team at Bristol Street Motors Derby Renault in 2009 and in October 2017 moved to her current position.
As workshop controller, Emma is responsible for ensuring all incoming work is planned as well as managing the time and resource of the team. She assigns technicians to jobs ensuring productivity is maximised and that deadlines are met. Emma is also responsible for performance management, coaching and development of the team, together with quality checking, ordering of parts, audits and compliance and health and safety. The CEO Awards recognise the company’s top-performing colleagues from each area of the business, who have delivered exceptional performances and produced outstanding results. Vertu Motors chief executive Robert Forrester hosted the awards at the 18th century mansion, Oulton Hall in Leeds. Robert reviews each individual nomination, made by the company’s board and management teams, before personally selecting the most significant performers in each area of the business and deciding who wins an award, in nine different categories. Robert Forrester said: “Emma made the move from service advisor to workshop controller and did so effortlessly. Bristol Street Motors Derby Renault is now one of our best dealerships for delivering awesome customers experiences and is ranked number one in the Renault UK network for customer experience. Emma has achieved great results through a mixture of coaching the team, setting high goals and working hard with the team to reach them.

Emma has all the potential to be one of the growing band of female service managers in the group. Emma Bird said: “I was ready for a new challenge and I am loving working with the service team. Every day is different, and I’ve found my forte bossing everyone around! “I am overwhelmed to have been named as Vertu Motors’ ‘Workshop Controller of the Year’. I am grateful to work for a company that rewards the hard work and dedication of its colleagues and I hope to continue my personal and professional development with the company. It is very rewarding to see the results which Bristol Street Motors Derby Renault has achieved in the last few months, and I am excited to see what the coming months will bring.”

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