EuroCanterbury Volkswagen, based at Broad Oak Road, has announced that customers snapped up more than 100 vehicles in January, generating a seven-figure sales revenue.

New vehicles amounted for 20 per cent of the sales with the remainder relating to used vehicles from Volkswagen’s Das Welt Auto programme – a new scheme which gives motorists the opportunity to modify its approved used vehicles, with all cars also benefitting from a full history check, a 12 month warranty and a 30 day exchange or return policy.

Chris Evans, general manager for EuroCanterbury Volkswagen, said:

“After the expense of Christmas, January is traditionally a quiet month for car retailers so naturally we are delighted to have started the year in such a buoyant way.

“2012 promises to be extremely exciting for us with the launch of two new vehicles in the next couple of months, including the new up! and Beetle.

“We are looking forward to continuing last month’s sales success for the remainder of the year for the benefit of the business and the local economy.”

For information on Volkswagen’s range of vehicles, please call EuroCanterbury Volkswagen on 01227 826 800 or visit www.volkswagen.co.uk

Hale C of E Primary School has received 50 fluorescent jackets to ensure the children are clearly visible when out walking to the local park and church for events.

The donation was made by Liverpool Volkswagen Van Centre and means the school no longer has to rely on borrowing high visibility jackets in future.

Marianne Mowatt, headteacher at Hale C of E Primary School, welcomed the delivery of the jackets.

She said: “Donations to the school are always welcome, but this one is important to keep the children together in a safe way while outside of the school’s premises.

“The children are very excited about the jackets and I can’t thank Liverpool Volkswagen Van Centre enough for them.

“We often take the children on walks around the village, including to the church and park, so having them clearly visibly, especially at this time of year, is vital.”

Liverpool Volkswagen Van Centre has been based in Speke for just over one year and the centre’s head of business, Dave Cowan, is always looking at ways of forging links with the local community.

He said: “The van centre is delighted to be able to provide the school’s children with the jackets as it reinforces one of the key criteria for Volkswagen, namely safety.

“As a relatively new business to the area it’s vital to integrate it with the local community and we’ll continue to find ways of doing so.

“It’s great to see young children making use of the jackets and we hope they are encouraged to wear safe clothing after leaving school.”

The duo from Trust Group UK, which has three Volkswagen sites in Redditch, Wolverhampton and Stourbridge, were rewarded with an Icelandic adventure after finishing within the top 50 performing Volkswagen sales managers.

Bill Alexander, who is based at Stourbridge Volkswagen was joined in Iceland by Wolverhampton Volkswagen’s general sales manager, Andrew Beach.

The pair has over three decades of managerial experience in the automotive industry. Bill (50) has 18 years motor experience and spent the last six with Trust Group UK. Whilst Andrew (36), who lives in Wolverhampton, has been in the industry since valeting cars aged 17.

Bill and Andrew made the top 50 performing sales managers from the national Volkswagen network during quarter three of 2011. They celebrated their success with the other sales managers, enjoying a stay in an exclusive hotel in the heart of Reykjavik.

Commenting on the trip Bill said: “I’m very grateful to Volkswagen for giving me the opportunity to visit this impressive country.

“The luxury three day break was a fantastic reward and we were lucky enough to experience the spectacular Northern Lights during our stay.

“We took part in some exhilarating adventure activities including snowmobiling, quad biking and driving customised super Jeeps across a glacier. We also had time to relax with a visit to Iceland’s most famous attractions, the blue lagoon geothermal spa.”

Trust Group UK’s managing director, Andrew Hockedy, said: “Bill and Andrew worked very hard to gain this recognition and it was fantastic to be able to reward them for their efforts.

“We are very lucky to have professionals of their calibre within our team.”

Jim Hobson marked 35 years in the automotive industry just a few days after being named the 2011 UK manager of the year for global automotive firm, Inchcape.

The head of business at Manchester Volkswagen Van Centre in Trafford Park, beat off competition from over 175 managers, from across Inchcape UK’s retailer car and van retailer network.

The 55-year-old started in 1977 as a sales executive, before progressing his career with roles including, sales manager and general manager.

Jim said: “The start of 2012 has been incredible and I’m thrilled to have won such a prestigious award, but for it to coincide with 35 years in the automotive industry is very special.

“The Inchcape award is humbling because without the support and hard work of all my colleagues at Manchester Volkswagen Van Centre, it wouldn’t have been possible.

“The industry has undergone many changes since I started and it’s been a privilege to have been part of the positive changes over the decades.”

Jim is now looking forward to adding to the awards and celebrations by driving the van centre to reach new goals in this special year.

He added: “I may have been given this Inchcape award but the job I do needs a team to carry it out.

“Everyone who works at Manchester Volkswagen Van Centre plays a key role in delivering a service that customers deserve from such a prestigious brand.

“I know the team will continue to provide Greater Manchester with one of the UK’s best automotive retailers with and it potentially winning more awards for the van centre.”

Claire Jarvis, sales director of Persimmon Homes West Midlands, said: “We know there are a lot of people who are desperate to move house, but many are unsure how to buy their first property or feel they are trapped in their current home. We brought together independent financial advisors, a rental specialist and our sales team to offer practical solutions and advice to anyone who needs help to get moving.

“Our experts advised on part exchange schemes, how to rent out your current house while you buy a new home and, of course, the incentives available to those who are looking for their very first property.”

As part of its event, the team made a video for people not able to attend on the day. Click here to view it.

The donation to Hunterfield BC 94’s will help fund essential training equipment for the team.

The under 19’s football team, who are on track to win the Edinburgh League, train at Arniston Park, just a few metres from Persimmon’s Dewar Park housing development.

Head coach, Colin Quinn, said: “We are very grateful to Persimmon Homes for supporting the team.

“We are a self funded club and it’s donations like this that help to keep the club going.”

Persimmon Homes East Scotland’s sales director, Lorraine Clelland, said: “As a company we strive to support local talent and community projects where we can.

“We would like to wish the team the very best of luck on achieving the top spot at the end of the season.”

The guides are part of a national consumer campaign, launching in March, which will direct first time buyers and people looking to move up the property ladder to the company’s websites for further information.

Steve Roche, group communications director, said: “The very first videos will cover basic topics including FirstBuy, PX Plus, how to improve your credit rating, energy efficiency and first time investor opportunities. Our aim is to share our knowledge with customers to educate and help them make the right choice. We know that video is playing an increasing role in the customer purchase journey and we’re pleased that so many regions have embraced video so early on in 2012.”

Further information about the consumer campaign will be shared soon. Click here to link to the Persimmon Homes YouTube channel to view videos already made in 2012.

Persimmon Homes Wessex marked the official launch of its Chapel Court show home by inviting children and their families to meet Jonathan and his jungle critters.

Held in the show home’s themed jungle bedroom, wildlife enthusiast Jonathan introduced his collection of snakes, spiders and insects with everyone taking great delight in learning about the creatures and their habitats.

“A big thanks to Persimmon Homes for putting on such a wonderful show home opening,” said, Jonathan. “I’m always looking for new and exciting ways to educate children and it was great to see the local community come together to see the animals up close and learn about them in a fun environment.”

Persimmon Homes Wessex, field sales manager, Tracey Gallacher, said: “The event was a great success. In addition to photography, we also used the event to make a video.”

The company is moving nearly all of its promotion of the HiQ fast fit network away from traditional newspapers, radio and trade press to more online exposure.

Having worked with HiQ since 2003, Connect has now been given the new brief of switching 80 per cent of HiQ’s future campaign, Brand and promotional work to digital media.

Connect plans to drive its client’s business forward with more emphasis on blogs as well as using other social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube and Facebook to the full.

The move follows a dramatic re-vamp of HiQ’s website to give the brand a totally new look and engagement strategy. It also pre-empts a category breaking social media platform on the brand’s website which will introduce a multi-media blogging channel from end-March.

Whilst Connect will maintain a focus on HiQ’s heritage PR, the company aims to lead the industry in consumer engagement, searching for new ways to open a conversation and talk to the UK audience.

HiQ’s Marketing Manager, Geraldine McGovern, said: “The rise of social media in the last few years has been staggering and it has become part of a wider business strategy for many brands.

“While we appreciate traditional PR and the value it brings to HiQ, we want to focus on digital media and brand awareness in the online marketplace.”

Hazel Crawford-Upton, MD of Connect PR, said: “All of our clients have an online presence and varying levels of social media engagement, with campaigns working at several levels. HiQ, with a six figure budget, is the first to turn off the majority of traditional heritage PR and focus on digital PR and social media engagement.

“It’s a fantastic brief and we look forward to identifying new opportunities for HiQ as a result.”

‘The Wizard’ won all of the first seven legs before Wade launched a mini-revival, winning four on the spin but his charge was halted by Whitlock, who eventually won 8-4 in Aberdeen.

Whitlock hit a 180 and then double 16 to take the first leg before checking out 90 against the throw to double his lead. ‘The Wizard’ hit another maximum before taking out 80 to open up a three nil lead after Wade had just missed the bull for a 128 finish.

The Australian broke Wade’s throw again to race four legs clear and it quickly became five when he took out 66. ‘The Machine’ hit his first maximum in the sixth leg but Whitlock responded with his third before hitting double top to increase his lead to six legs going into the break.

The world number five hit double eight to make it seven nil before Wade finally got a leg on the board. He then took out 64 to break Whitlock’s throw before hitting double ten to reduce the deficit to four legs.

Both players hit maximums in what could have been the final leg. Wade hit double ten to break the throw though, keeping the match alive.

‘The Wizard’ wrapped up the win in the next leg by hitting tops to go top of the table.

Whitlock will be looking to continue his good form in Belfast next week when he takes on Kevin Painter. Wade faces defending champion Gary Anderson.