Peter Vardy starts jobs drive 01 | 10 | 2013
PETER VARDY, THE rapidly-expanding car dealership group in Scotland, has held an open-day forum as it begins the process of selecting 70 members of staff for its massive new Carstore in Glasgow. Around 650 potential employees attended the forum.
The company's flagship state-of-the-art site in Hillington will cover six acres, stretching across 70,000sq/ft. Due to open in December, the recruitment process is of vital importance to its success.
The new Carstore is in a prime location to the west of Glasgow and is based on the site of the former InStyle furniture store which overlooks the busy M8.
The store closed last year when parent company R&M Deluxe Group went into voluntary administration with substantial debts.
The building, near the Braehead shopping complex, was put up for sale last September by the joint administrators, and snapped up by 33-year-old Peter Vardy (pictured).
In addition to housing the Carstore, the site will also become the new headquarters for the company: staff at Queenslie will be transferred there when the supermarket is launched.
Peter Vardy currently employs 680 workers across 10 sites — including BMW, Mini, Jaguar, Land Rover and Porsche — and is continuing a family tradition.
Related: Peter Vardy plans car supermarket
The automotive dealership was launched by his grandfather Reg before being inherited by his father Sir Peter. Mr Vardy plans to incorporate cutting edge technology to improve customer experience.
Hundreds of potential employees attended an all-day open forum at Glasgow's Science Centre.
During the day, they were introduced to the unique nature of the Peter Vardy enterprise, which now covers 10 sites in Scotland, and the company's industry-wide recognised reputation for integrity and fair dealing.
"Our success at the moment is phenomenal, so we wanted to give those who joined us on the day a feel for what it is like to work for such a different and dynamic company," Jade Hazard, of Peter Vardy's head office, who organised the event, said.
"We talked about our charity work, the excellent benefits we offer, and our value and visions."
The company is seeking people to fill a wide range of vacancies, including sales executives, parts advisors, parts supervisors, service administrators, showroom hosts, technicians, vehicle progressors, workshop controllers, sales controllers, sales manager, vehicle administrator, accounts assistant, apprentice technicians and drivers.
Related: Peter Vardy expands in Aberdeen
In the new Carstore, car buyers will be able to choose from more than 400 cars, all displayed indoors in a heated showroom and priced realistically at between £3000 and £30,000.
"With this fantastic new Carstore, Peter Vardy Ltd is changing the face of the motor trade in Scotland," chief executive Peter Vardy, said.
"It is designed to be a destination dealership, where people can take their time in comfortable surroundings to find the car of their dreams.
"So it is of primary importance that we cast our net as wide as we can to find the right people to help us carry this project forward. We have been overwhelmed at the intense interest which has been shown so far. We can’t wait for the Carstore to open for business in December."
Related: Peter Vardy profits leap in 2012
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Jim McGill