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Motor technician returns to firm to head department he joined as apprentice 15 years ago

Award-winning motor technician Mark Illsley has returned to Swindon motor dealer Pebley Beach after a 16-month sabbatical working for a parts and components manufacturer.

Mark, who joined the Hyundai and Suzuki dealership as an apprentice at the age of 19, climbed the career ladder to become a Master Technician and winner of the coveted Suzuki Motor Technician of the Year award.

And after taking a sabbatical from the firm to gain experience of the wider motor industry, Mark has returned to head up the department he joined as a teenager in 2005.

Mark joined Mobis Parts Europe, an official manufacturer and supplier of genuine parts and accessories for Hyundai. His job as field quality engineer saw him examining potential issues with parts made and supplied by the firm.

"It was an aftermarket quality control role," explained Mark. "Working in an independent business I've seen the cost to the business, and frustration caused to the customer, if a new part does not perform as well as it should. 

"My job was to examine parts if complaints started to come in from customers via dealerships. I got a real understanding of, and appreciation for, the need for quality control not just within an individual workshop, but on a UK and European scale."

While Mark enjoyed his time with Mobis, he could not resist the offer of returning to Pebley Beach as workshop controller, with a team of seven technicians – including apprentice technicians – working under his watchful eye.

Pebley Beach MD Dominic Threlfall said: "There's a route for career progression for all of our staff and Mark is one of our success stories – from apprentice to award-winning technician. 

"He's gained both confidence and an understanding of the wider industry during his time away, and it's great to have him back running the workshop where he started 15 years ago."

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Financial Disclosure

Pebley Beach Limited is an Appointed Representative of Automotive Compliance Ltd, who is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No 497010). Automotive Compliance Ltd’s permissions as a Principal Firm allows Pebley Beach Limited to act as a credit broker, not as a lender, for the introduction to a limited number of lenders and to act as an agent on behalf of the insurer for insurance distribution activities only.

We can introduce you to a selected panel of lenders, which includes manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent. An introduction to a lender does not amount to independent financial advice and we act as their agent for this introduction. Our approach is to introduce you first to the manufacturer lender linked directly to the particular franchise you are purchasing your vehicle from, who are usually able to offer the best available package for you, taking into account both interest rates and other contributions. If they are unable to make you an offer of finance, we then seek to introduce you to whichever of the other lenders on our panel is able to make the next best offer of finance for you. Our aim is to secure the best deal you are eligible for from our panel of lenders. Lenders may pay a fixed commission to us for introducing you to them, calculated by reference to the vehicle model or amount you borrow. Different lenders may pay different commissions for such introductions, and manufacturer lenders linked directly to the franchises that we represent may also provide preferential rates to us for the funding of our vehicle stock and also provide financial support for our training and marketing. But any such amounts they and other lenders pay us will not affect the amounts you pay under your finance agreement, all of which are set by the lender concerned. If you ask us what the amount of commission is, we will tell you in good time before the Finance agreement is executed. All finance applications are subject to status, terms and conditions apply, UK residents only, 18’s or over. Guarantees may be required.