‘I believe this scheme will go a long way in improving local business profiles in North East Lincolnshire’ says Allan McCartney, managing director of Great Coates Motors – one of the first businesses in North East Lincolnshire to sign up to the Buy With Confidence trusted trader scheme.
Great Coates Motors, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2022, has joined North East Lincolnshire Council’s trusted trader scheme, approved and run by Trading Standards officers.
Founded by Bill and Jean McCartney in 1972, the business has grown from a small garage in Great Coates village to a large, modern facility on the South Humberside Industrial Estate in Grimsby.
The business is now run by their son Allan who took over as managing director in 2003 and has continued to develop and expand the services available to Great Coates Motors customers.
Allan has been with the company since leaving school where he started out as an apprentice.
“Our primary focus has and always will be to serve the local community and surrounding businesses,” said Allan.
“We very much believe in using local suppliers as and where we can and do our very best to put as much business back into the local economy as possible.”
He added: “After looking into the Trading Standards Approved scheme, what really attracted us to it was the level of detail in the audit process. It was comforting to know that they won’t just accept any business and you receive a badge to put above the door to prove you’re approved.
“They really do go the extra mile to audit every member to make sure that all of your business’s processes and accreditations are in place.
“I would certainly be happy to use the services of any local business that has Trading Standards approval knowing how strict the process is of getting the approval.”
Allan explains the secret to the company’s success (although he admits, it isn’t really a secret as many customers and suppliers will vouch for), is the team of people that work within the business.
“Most of us have been here for a very long time,” he said. “And we all have the same customer focused ethos, which is simply to deliver the very best service we can.”
Great Coates Motors has four main departments, which include: contract hire and daily rental, service department, parts department, and car and van sales department.
It is an RAC approved garage, Bosch Car Service approved and now most recently, Trading Standards Approved.
You can find Great Coates Motors at Unit 4 Estate Road 5, South Humberside Industrial Estate, Grimsby, DN31 2TG or find out more at www.greatcoatesmotors.com.
Are you a business that wants customers to know they can trust you by being Trading Standards Approved? You can follow in Great Coates Motors footsteps and sign-up to the scheme and enjoy half price membership for an entire year when you sign up.
If you want to be part of the Buy With Confidence database which shows potential customers that you’re a trusted trader, you can apply or find out more information at www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/business/home/
Businesses get their first year of membership half price. Please note, the application fee still applies. This starts from £125 depending on the size of your business. For more information, visit www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk/business/costs/
Buy With Confidence is a scheme run entirely by Trading Standards teams across the country.
The scheme gives local businesses a platform to promote their trade, while also helping to protect residents from rogue traders.
If you join the scheme, you’ll be able to:
- Use the Buy With Confidence logo and say you’re ‘Trading Standards Approved’
- Set yourself apart from competitors
- Reassure customers you’re trustworthy
- Get information about changes to the law that could affect your business
- Access to advice direct from local authority employed Trading Standards professionals
- Be showcased on the Buy With Confidence directory – a national website
Councillor Ron Shepherd, portfolio holder for safer and stronger communities, said: “I’m thrilled we have another business that has joined the trusted trader scheme. It’s so important for customers to know who they can trust and this is a great way to do that.
“We’d encourage businesses to get onboard and join the scheme to reassure any new potential customers.
“A thorough check of the business is carried out by Trading Standards to make sure they’re legally compliant, so customers can be safe in the knowledge that a business can be trusted.
“As we continue to see victims of doorstep crime, it’s so important that legitimate and reputable traders can uphold their good name.”
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