Apprentice Ian rises through the ranks at car dealership

An apprentice who started his working career at a South Tyneside motoring firm is rising up the ranks.
Ian McDonald has been promoted to workshop foreman at the Jennings Ford Direct dealership in South Shields.Ian McDonald has been promoted to workshop foreman at the Jennings Ford Direct dealership in South Shields.
Ian McDonald has been promoted to workshop foreman at the Jennings Ford Direct dealership in South Shields.

Ian McDonald, has been promoted from senior motor vehicle technician to workshop foreman at Jennings Ford Direct in South Shields.

It means the 34-year-old, from Jarrow, will be jointly responsible for overseeing an eight-strong team of motor vehicle technicians alongside Sean O’Sullivan.

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He will also look after the day-to-day workshop at the site in Newcastle Road, diagnose and fix problems under the bonnet in addition to liaising with customers.

The promotion comes after Mr McDonald, who joined the company as an apprentice, worked his way through the ranks.

He said: “The promotion will not only allow me to gain valuable experience in team leadership, but it will also allow me to build a rapport with individual customers.”

Mr McDonald completed his GCSEs at Hedworthfield Comprehensive School in Jarrow. He went on to study at Gateshead College, where he completed a one-year BTEC First Diploma in motor vehicle studies.

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He then secured a three-year apprentice with Jennings, working within the former Rapid Fit department.

Two years later he transferred to take on the role of motor vehicle technician, and eight years ago, he achieved senior motor vehicle technician status.

Service manager, Duncan Oliver, said; “Ian has been a loyal member of staff for the past 17 years and this is the only company he has worked for. He is a dedicated and committed member of the aftersales team and he deserved the recent promotion, which I’m sure will see him go from strength to strength.”

Jennings Ford Direct is part of the Jennings Motor Group, which has been selling new and approved used cars for more than a century.

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The company has been presented with the The Chairman’s Award – Ford’s most prestigious award for outstanding levels of customer satisfaction on 20 separate occasions over the past 21 years.

The company provides an aftersales service to customers with a service, MoT and parts department on site.

For more information about the range of products and services available at Jennings Ford Direct, call in to the Newcastle Road dealership, contact 0191 4276666, or visit www.jenningsmotorgroup.co.uk