John Grose win Ford Chairman's Award
John Grose receives coveted award for customer service for a record 12 times, as Ford celebrate 100 years of motoring in the UK
We have recently received the prestigious Chairman’s Award from Ford Motor Company for 2010 for customer satisfaction. This award is only given to the top 5% of dealers in the UK. John Grose are especially proud of the fact that they have won this award a record breaking 12 times - more than any other dealer group in England.
The Chairman’s Award is an independent measure of how well we look after our customers and is a tribute to the dedication of our wonderful staff.
Ford Looks Forward
This year Ford of Britain's celebrate 100 years of vehicle manufacturing and distribution in the UK.
As it recognises these centenary landmarks in the UK, Ford is confirming its commitment to a country which has made it the market leader in car sales for 34 consecutive years and the commercial vehicle sales leader for 45.
Ford's UKautomotive industry leadership is broader than pure sales. In the UK, Ford directly employs over 15,000 people, many in highly skilled roles developing and building high-technology, fuel-efficient, low CO2 engines. The Ford plants at Bridgend in South Wales and Dagenham in East London have the combined capacity to assemble two million engines annually and one in three Ford cars globally is powered by aUK engine. A further 100,000 jobs are supported through the Ford supplier chain and dealer network. Ford is investing £1.5 billion in low carbon engineering and manufacturing that will help underpin the UK's manufacturing and export-based economic recovery.
Ford of Britain chairman, Joe Greenwell, said: "Ford of Britain has been in the fabric of the nation for over a hundred years. We have a proud heritage and a bright future. Ford of Britain is a major pillar of Ford's global strategy and the new Ford Focus, centrepiece of the centenary, features advanced powertrains developed and produced in theUK."
There are parallels between Henry Ford’s success with the Model T, in the early 20th Century and the success of the company today, with the Ford Focus, created for the 21st Century. It is the basis for 2.5 million units of global annual production and at the heart of the new Ford Focus are engines and transmissions designed, engineered and manufactured in theUK at Dunton in Essex, Dagenham to the East of London, Bridgend inWales and Halewood nearLiverpool.
Heritage
Grose Holdings was established in 1888 by Joseph Grose, pre-motor car it was a cycle agency in Northampton. In 1892 Grose invented and patented a ‘new adjustable chain and chain wheel cover and lubricator for bicycles’, having identified a problem with ladies getting their long skirts entangled in the driving chain, this was a highly successful move and became the focus of the business. Then in 1897 Grose become the sole agent for the district for the Coventry Motor Company, selling some of the first ‘horseless carriages’ to the wealthy public, particularly doctors who found it helped respond to urgent calls immensely.
Meanwhile in 1903 in the USA, Henry Ford had founded the Ford Motor Company and within months, had exported the first Ford cars to England. He established the first British Ford dealer, through a company based in Long Acre, inLondon. TheUKquickly became the most important market for Ford cars, outside theUnited States.
By 1911, Henry had decided to start building cars inBritain. Ford Motor Company (England) Limited was incorporated inLondonon 8 March 1911 - the first Ford company to be established outsideNorth America.
At the same time in the UK, the Grose empire was going from strength to strength constructing their own coachworks for vehicle chassis by many different manufacturers including Ford.
Later in 1911, Trafford Park, a suburb of Manchester, played host to Ford's first UK factory with a disused tram works converted to Model T assembly opening in October. Four-man teams built individual vehicles until Henry Ford's revolutionary introduction of the moving assembly line in 1913. By 1914 Ford sales of nearly 10,000 cars were equal to the output of the next six biggest British manufacturers combined.
A few years later, in 1928, Henry Ford oversaw the construction of the “Detroit of Europe” – a new British plant on the banks of the Thames, at Dagenham. Its first vehicle rolled off production lines in October 1931 – a Ford AA truck.
In 1980, Grose Holdings was split in two, with founder Josephs son Bill taking control of the Northampton portion and the Bedford and Vauxhall franchises, and his other son, John, establishing John Grose Group Ltd in Ipswich, placing its full weight behind Ford Motor Company. Since then the strong relationship between Ford Motor Company and John Grose has remained, John Grose now also operate Ford franchises in Lowestoft, Framlingham, Diss and Woodbridge.
Celebrations
Ford-related events are being held around the country including the National Motor Museum at Beaulieu, Hampshire and the Heritage Motor Centre at Gaydon, Warwickshire. This year's Goodwood Revival, the country's premier historic motoring event, will see a significant number of classic Ford cars take to the circuit, in September. Plus a Ford of Britain centenary logo has been created, which delivers its message as text on a keyless Ford Power starter button.
John Grose has just completed a significant investment in the Lowestoft community, building a brand new showroom on the existing site on Whapload Road.
This development shows the dedication the family owned company has to the local community, and the intent to continue serving the people of Lowestoft and the surrounding area for very many years to come.
To find out more about the history and bright future of Ford Motor Company and John Grose, and experience our award winning customer service, visit us on Whapload Road in Lowestoft, Park Road in Diss, Ransomes Europark in Ipswich, Ipswich Road in Woodbridge or Station Road in Framlingham. Alternatively please complete the form below:
