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Acquisition accelerates Halliwell Jones Group’s drive into North
Wales
SOUTHPORT
based car retailer Halliwell Jones Group has acquired Premier Cars
Limited, a BMW and MINI car dealership in Llandudno in a £6.7m deal
funded by The Co-operative Bank’s Corporate Banking Centre in
Manchester. With the purchase of Premier’s share capital, the
acquisition has secured the jobs of over 40 employees at the luxury
car facility at Llandudno Junction.
The Halliwell Jones Group is an independent car retailer with other
dealerships located in Chester, The Wirral and Warrington -
Southport being home to the group’s first site in 1987. The
company is ranked 3rd in the industry in terms of profit per
employee according to a survey of the UK’s 100 biggest retailers by
Automotive Magazine. This latest acquisition is part of Halliwell
Jones Group’s ongoing expansion and growth strategy plans.
Cheryl Gillings,
Senior Corporate Manager at The Co-operative Bank said:- “This
acquisition has major benefits for both parties concerned and the
Premier dealership will receive increased investment in its
employees and sales processes.
Premier will certainly be a valuable
addition to the Halliwell Jones Group portfolio.”
Jim Houghton, sales director at Halliwell Jones Group said:-
“Since opening our first dealership in Southport 20 years ago, the
group has grown significantly. Initial first year turnover of £20m
increased to a turnover last year in excess of over £130m, with
staff levels at inception of 20 now at over 300.
Our success lies in
our commitment to our people and level of service offered to our
customers and suppliers. We are looking forward to implementing our
business model and working with the existing team at Premier.
Our
thanks also go out to The Co-operative Bank whom we have worked
closely with over the last three years, during which time they have
assisted us in not only the acquisition of Premier but also in the
acquisition and development of our new MINI franchise on The Wirral” |
Lime Street Station ready for 800th birthday celebrations
IMPROVEMENTS
inside Lime Street Station have been completed in time for
Liverpool’s 800th birthday celebrations. The £2million works,
fully funded by Merseytravel, have given the station a much-needed
facelift as the city gears up for its birthday festivities and its
year as European Capital of Culture in 2008.
The final elements of the internal works, which involved replacing
tiles dating back to the pre-Beatles era on the southern concourse
(near platforms 7 to 10) of the station and improvements to the car
park, have now been completed. Merseytravel has also hung
banners in the southern concourse of the station promoting European
Capital of Culture to millions of people throughout the rest of 2007
and 2008.
Councillor Mark Dowd, Chair of Merseytravel, said:- “Our
investment was necessary; some of the station has remained untouched
since before Beatlemania. We are committed to the people of
Liverpool and Merseyside. They deserve a 1st class rail service –
with stations to match.”
Councillor Chris Blakeley, Chair of the Rail Services Committee,
said:- “Lime Street Station is the 1st impression of Liverpool
for millions of visitors and it is of paramount importance that
those visitors, from all over the world, leave the city with fond
memories of a world famous station.”
The works include new flooring to the south concourse of the
station, new information screens, a relocated taxi rank, pick
up/drop off point, extra cycle parking and seating and a new short
stay car park with spaces dedicated for disabled people.
Neil Scales, Chief Executive and Director General of Merseytravel,
added:- “These works are important if Lime Street Station is
to reflect the changing, growing face of Liverpool and the wider
region. Liverpool is a gateway not a cul-de-sac and Lime
Street Station is key if we are to send that message to the millions
of visitors over the next few years.”
New 20” data display screens provide clearer, more defined
information for passengers. The taxi pick up/drop off point for the
station has been relocated from Lord Nelson Street to the Skelhorne
Street. 7 new dedicated drop off and pick up points have been
created.
The short stay
parking area within the station has been improved and made fully
accessible. It now includes 29 spaces including four blue badge
spaces.
Cycle parking on the
Skelhorne Street side of the station has also been improved, with
heavy-duty stands for motorcycles.
A Help Point and new
seating has been installed.
Minor snagging works may be taking place over the next couple of
weeks.
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