Posted:15-February-2023
Award-winning paintwork pros set a shining example
A couple best known for repainting car bodywork are painting the town red instead after landing a major industry award.
Brian and Amanda Palmer, owners of ChipsAway St Albans, have won a Great British Franchisee Award from whichfranchise – one of the greatest honour in the franchising world.
“They couldn’t be more deserving,” says Rebecca de Chair, Group Marketing Manager of ChipsAway International.
“They’ve developed their business from a man-in-a-van operation to a very successful Car Care Centre employing eight people – a testament to their hard work and dedication.
“They were nominated for six of our internal company awards, and won four including Franchisee Of The Year in 2018 and 2022, and our Customer Service Award twice.
“During the Covid lockdown they truly went above and beyond, using their van to deliver meals to NHS frontline workers – an initiative that saw them win What Car magazine’s Van Hero award.”
Says Amanda: “We had to close down our business during the Covid lockdown, so we wanted to put our van to good use - and what better way to do this than to provide nourishing meals to NHS frontline staff?”
Amanda who worked for Shell for 16 years, and Brian, who spent 18 years as an IT Manager at a marketing company, support fellow franchisees by helping them out with jobs they can’t do or have problems with.
They also manage their staff with a heart.
“Our mobile paint specialist is profoundly deaf,” says Amanda. “His previous job with us was working in a large bodyshop where he was stuck in a corner and no-one spoke to him.
“We gave him the opportunity to carry out repairs at customers’ home addresses and, although he was worried about it at first as it was outside his comfort zone, he managed to overcome his fears and has now been doing the job for five years.
“His confidence has grown massively, his speech has improved, and customers often request that he carries out their next job.
“He’s a well-respected member of our team and very patient when it comes to teaching us sign language.
“We’re testing the water with a potential new territory, which we’re looking after on a temporary basis with a view to purchasing it in the near future.”
Interested and want to know more about ChipsAway?
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