Our branches have changed a fair bit in 25 years...
Our branches have changed a fair bit in 25 years...
The car industry has changed a lot over the past 25 years, with improvements to in-car technology and the advent of electric vehicles – but some things don’t change. Four members of the rental division are celebrating 25 years service in 2013, so we take a look back at the car industry 25 years ago while we get to know these loyal staff members a little better.
With a recent poll declaring that Ford’s Focus model was voted the top car in the last quarter of a century, we thought we would take a look back to see what cars were popular the year our branch staff started. Lets cast our minds back to 1988, when the top 3 most popular cars were:
No surprises there, then – the Ford brand was going strong in 1988. Times haven’t changed that much, with figures from RAC suggesting that the Ford Focus and Ford Fiesta still top the charts for 2013’s most popular cars. The Ford Focus replaced the Ford Escort in 1998 and has now sold over 9.8 million units since its launch.
The car industry has changed significantly in 25 years, and the automotive landscape of the 1980s was a very different place.
Prices at the pumps
Average cost per litre of petrol:
That’s a whopping 264% increase.
Number of licence holders in the UK
Today, there are 35.2 million fully-licensed drivers in the UK, representing a 27% increase in the number of drivers since 1989. (The population has only increased by around 11% in the same time, so a larger proportion of adults must be taking – and passing! – their driving test.)
Stats: RAC Report on Motoring 2013
Improvements to in-car technologies
Research shows that 33% of drivers are more reliant on in-car technologies such as Sat Navs and parking sensors than they are on traditional driving methods. A staggering 35% of drivers no longer carry a paper map for directions, relying solely on their in-car satellite navigation equipment. (What will they do when their Sat Nav sends them down a dead-end street or up someone’s driveway by accident?!)
This year we are celebrating the anniversaries of four members of Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental staff who have each worked with Arnold Clark for 25 years. With 100 years of experience between them, these members of staff – along with our 400 other employees – are part of what makes the company so trusted, admired and respected across the UK.
Margaret Speirs, Operations Manager
Margaret started with Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental as a part-time member of staff at the Lochrin Place (Edinburgh) branch whilst studying Biological Sciences at university. Knowing she was destined for a career with Arnold Clark, Margaret became a full-time member of staff and quickly progressed into a supervisor position at the branch. Moving her way around a few Edinburgh branches as a branch manager, Margaret took a keen interest in rental systems and software development, and helped with the computerisation of the systems in 1999. She also took over the fleet management of the vehicle fleet for all branches – more than 1000 cars strong.
Margaret is now Operations Manager for Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental, overseeing the running and operational elements of 35 UK rental branches, from Inverness to Wolverhampton.
Eileen McDonagh, Scotland West Regional Manager
Eileen started her career in the rental industry back in 1988 with a small company on the South Side of Glasgow, before moving to Kilmarnock in Ayrshire and joining the Arnold Clark Rental Team shortly afterwards as a part-time member of the team. After just 6 months of fast-paced life at Arnold Clark Rental, Eileen was asked to open and run the new Prestwick branch – and says life within the folds of Arnold Clark Rental has flown by.
Eileen is now the Area Manager for the region of Glasgow and the West, overseeing the running of 10 branches. She credits her fellow colleagues and the customers for helping her to gain the vital experience and skills needed to do the job.
Eileen continues to enjoy her job and continually strives to make her region a success. She says she is both privileged and proud to be part of this family company.
Stuart Mason, Corporate Reservations
Stuart has worked his way through the Arnold Clark Rental ranks, starting as a part-time driver/valeter in 1988, before becoming a Valet Bay/Compound Manager within the sales division for 9 years. Following his time in the valet bay, Stuart moved into various management roles with Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental, in Bishopbriggs, Kilmarnock, Linwood and Paisley East Lane.
Stuart moved towards corporate rental 8 years ago, when he joined the Corporate Reservations team as manager – and the division has gone from strength to strength. Stuart now deals with all corporate rental invoicing and booking procedures, ensuring that all business customers are catered for.
Cathy Furness, Branch Manager Edinburgh Sighthill
Cathy worked at the petrol kiosk at our Armadale car dealership for a number of years before joining the Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental team in Livingston when the new branch opened. This year, Cathy moved to a new and exciting position as Branch Manager at the busy Edinburgh Sighthill branch, where we hope she has many more successful years with Arnold Clark.
Maureen McConnachie, Customer Relations Manager
Maureen joined Arnold Clark Car & Van Rental as a part-time receptionist in 1986, before progressing to full-time receptionist and then Branch Manager until 1995. Maureen then worked closely with the Corporate and Public Sector administration team, and she joined the team full time in 2009.
Maureen now assists the UK sales team with all aspects of corporate rental administration on a national basis. She is celebrating 27 years at Arnold Clark!
The photo above shows a rental branch 25 years ago. The photo below shows you what we look like now:
Visit the Arnold Clark Rental website for more information on car and van hire (available from just £25 per day).
