Cameron backs Wheels to Work Scheme

Shropshire Community Council, pioneers of the industry’s Wheels To Work scheme, has been recognised with a Prime Minister’s Big Society award. Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Wheels To Work has helped over 2500 people get to work since it began loaning mopeds 16 years ago and was the catalyst for the national scheme since adopted by 35 other local authorities. 

Wheels to Work: Scheme gets award

Commenting on the award, David Cameron said: “Wheels To Work does a great job of tackling the basic issue of making sure everyone who needs to travel to a job is able to do so. This is an invaluable service, without which many of these young people would have to move away from their friends and families. It also helps young people to find employment and stay in the rural villages where they have grown up, which is important in maintaining these diverse and vibrant local communities.”

Cameron: 'You're doing a great job'

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SEAGRAVE TROPHY FOR SURTEES

John Surtees, the only man to have won world championships on two and four wheels, has been awarded the Segrave Trophy by the Royal Automobile Club. 

Surtees commenced his two wheel career at Vincent Motorcycles as an apprentice and went on to run the family motorcycle business in Forest Hill, London, before winning seven world motorcycle championships and the 1964 Formula One World Championship for Ferrari. He is seen (below) with Ben Cussons (left) chairman of the Segrave nominations committee.

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JOB: Area Sales Manager

AREA SALES MANAGER NEEDED:

Clements Moto- looking for an Area Sales Manager

CONTACT DETAILS: DEAN CLEMENTS, DEAN.CLEMENTS@CLEMENTSMOTO.CO.UK , 01227 720700

ClementsMoto are distributors of Baotian scooters and Zontes Motorcycles, both targeted at the healthy entry level scooter & commuter market.

Servicing the North of England, the ideal applicant will have previous experience in a similar role and be capable of maintaining and developing business within our current network of dealers, whilst expanding into new territories.

A strong level of self motivation and a professional method of operation will be required.
The successful applicant will receive a competitive salary and company vehicle.
Applications will be treated in the strictest of confidence.

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HOSPITALITY OPPORTUNITY AT BRANDS BSB

Due to a last-minute cancellation, Straight Talking Events has a hospitality suite available for exclusive hire for the first round of the MCE British Superbikes Championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday 7 April.

Start the season off in style

The suite is on the start-finish straight with views across the circuit and into the pits. It can accommodate up to 30 people and included in the hospitality package are entrance tickets to the circuit and suite, breakfast, buffet lunch and afternoon tea, plus a bar including beer and soft or hot drinks.

Great racing to be seen- 600s, 1000s, Superbikes, 848s...

As the previous client has already paid the deposit, Straight Talking Events is able to offer this package for £2980, only available until close of business on Thursday 28 March. Call Kirstin Green on 01474 550 550 to secure the hire. Full payment will be required at time of booking.

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Cigs back in bike racing

Despite the sports sponsorship tobacco ban in place since 2005, fags are back on the track after E-Lites — the UK’s biggest e-cigarette brand — unveiled a ground-breaking partnership with the MCE British Superbike series.

E-lites - fags back on the track

The E-Lites sponsorship package will include trackside and event branding throughout the 2013 season, as well as a range of other on-site rights and hospitality activities. Distinctive red and white E-Lites branding will be displayed prominently at all races and will be reminiscent of iconic ciggie brand support for bike sport throughout the 1980s.

E-Lites has also agreed personal sponsorship deals with BSB rider Pete Hickman and Pirelli Superstock 600 rider Tim Hastings. Light ‘em up, boys!


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JOB: EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN

Wanted: EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLE TECHNICIAN

SW Superbikes- recruiting!

CONTACT DETAILS: BRIAN JONES, 01633-277970 , BRIAN@SW-SUPERBIKES.CO.UK

Wanted for service & repair of high performance motorcycles in a premier Yamaha dealership in South Wales.

A high-level of diagnostic skills required along with high quality workmanship.

The position is full time/permanent & salary will be commensurate with experience.


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JOB: EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLE WORKSHOP TECHNICIAN

EXPERIENCED MOTORCYCLE WORKSHOP TECHNICIAN

Pennine Marine - looking for a Workshop Technician

CONTACT DETAILS: PETER - PENNINE MARINE, PETER@PENNINEMARINE.COM, 01756 792 335

Experienced motorcycle workshop technician wanted for service / repair of marine powerboat engines. Permanent role at leading centre, interesting work. Based in Skipton, Yorkshire.



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JOB: Area Sales Manager wanted

 AREA SALES MANAGER WANTED*

CONTACT DETAILS: CHRIS DOCKERTY, , 07717 478 656

East Midlands Region Humbs, S. Yorks, Derbys, Notts, Lincs, Leics/Staffs
An opportunity has arisen to join one of the country's leading motorcycle
helmet, clothing and accessories wholesalers.

Package includes a generous basic uncapped commission and fully expensed,
quality car.

*Agents applications will be considered

Please send your CV in fullest confidence to:
Chris Dockerty, UK Sales Manager
Pallet Hill, Penrith, Cumbria, CA11 0BY, UK
Tel: 07717 478 656  email: chris@lloydlifestyle.com

JOB: Sales agents wanted - RK Sports

Sales Agents required

An RK Sports jacket

Sales Agents Wanted – RK Sports. Vacancies across the Midlands, East Anglia, South West/East, Ireland and Wales.

RK SPORTS is a dynamic & expanding motorcycle clothing & accessories company looking to increase sales into the UK market. We currently have 25 accounts in the UK and are looking to increase this number. We have our own factory in the far east and can provide dealers with great products at factory prices, cutting out the middleman and giving the dealer minimum margins of 50%. We hold large stocks here in our UK warehouse.
Candidates should have field sales experience in the motorcycle industry. Role will require new business development and account management.

Excellent remuneration package. Send CV to:
rajanvedhara77@yahoo.co.uk TEL 07973 628851

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JOB: Sales Agents required

Sparkx: recruiting

To cover South East, Midlands, North, Scotland & Wales.

SPARX racing is an exciting new brand launching trendy motorcycle clothing
developed in the UK. Small but growing product range would suit an existing sales agent who can add our products to their current portfolio of products. Sales experience and passion for motorcycles is essential. Role requires new business development and account management.

Send your CV to sales@sparxracing.eu

“THINK” CAMPAIGN RETURNS

Think Campaign returns

A new £1.3m “Think” motorcycle safety campaign has been launched by road safety minister Stephen Hammond. Timed to coincide with the spring when more bikers are using the roads, the campaign will run until May using radio and advertising on petrol station forecourts to urge drivers to think about the biker, not just the bike. According to research by the Department for Transport, drivers are more likely to notice motorcyclists if they know a biker themselves. It also shows that 30 bikers are killed or injured at junctions every day and a half of these accidents are as a direct result of drivers failing to look properly..

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NEW FEATURES FOR BMF SHOW

Around 40,000 bikers are expected to visit this year’s BMF Show to be held at the Peterborough Showground venue over the weekend of 18-19 May. To ensure that they do, Mulberry Group, the show’s organisers, is introducing a series of new features and, to increase trade interest in one of Europe’s biggest shows, is again freezing stand prices - for the fourth consecutive year.

BMF Show in Peterborough - new features for 2013

Footfall in the popular undercover traders area is to be helped with the introduction of a Bikers Café right in the centre of the area, while companies exhibiting in the new feature areas are being offered plots “at very reasonable rates”. The new features include a  free entry Adventure and Overland Touring area hosted by Graham Hoskins, whose recently completed 7,000 mile and 15 countries tour in 16 days with Red Dwarf’s Danny John-Jules, has been featured on the Extreme Sports TV channel. Also new to the show are classic and vintage areas. For exhibitor enquiries tel 01869 277077.

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SUZUKI CELEBRATES DEALER ACHIEVMENTS

Suzuki GB has presented a group of its dealers with long-service awards, all having represented Suzuki motorcycles in the UK for more than 30 years.

Suzuki GB senior management set out to personally visit each dealer to present the awards, while also awarding dealers who made notable achievements during 2012.

Suzuki GB national sales manager Jonathan Martin commented: “All of us at Suzuki GB feel extremely proud and honoured to be able to recognise so much commitment to the Suzuki brand from our dealer network. We have 28 dealers who have served their customers and partnered Suzuki GB for between 30 and 50 years. But regardless of partnership time, I'd like to personally thank each and every dealer for their support and commitment to Suzuki. Without this great team of passionate professionals we would not be celebrating 50 years of Suzuki in the UK, so a very big thank you to all of our dealer network.”

Key achievers were Crescent Motorcycles, Crooks Suzuki and Padgetts Motorcycles, each celebrating 50 years as Suzuki dealers. Long-service awards also went to: John W Groombridge, North East Motorcycles, Single Tracker, Anton Parris, Fowlers Motorcycles, Robinsons Foundry, Tilstons Motorcycles, Alpha Motorcycles, Frettons, Johns of Romford, Bridge Exeter, Shirlaws Aberdeen, Castledine, Redcar Motorcycles, Colin Appleyard, Alford Brothers, B and B Motorcycles, Isle of Wight Motorcycles, Ford & Ellis, St Neots Motorcycles, Wylie & Holland Motorcycles, York Suzuki, GS Motorcycles, David Jones, Haslemere Motorcycles and Orwells Motorcycles.

On top of the long serving dealer recognition, Suzuki also honoured three dealers for specific excellence. Saltire Suzuki in Edinburgh was recognised for achievements in local marketing, while B and B Motorcycles in Lincoln won the best overall customer service award (pictured) and Fowlers of Bristol scooped the parts & accessory growth award.

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OXFORD PODIUMS IN BUSINESS AWARDS

Oxford Products has for the third year running taken a top three position in the large business category at this year’s West Oxfordshire Business Awards, beating tough competition to be voted one of the region’s most dynamic and entrepreneurial businesses.

Oxford Products: third consecutive Business Awards Podium

“We’re delighted to be recognised as one of the region’s leading businesses,” said Andrew Hammond, managing director. “Congratulations to our fabulous team, who really deserve this accolade for their dedication, creativity and hard work.”

Surprise guest speaker, Prime Minister David Cameron flew in for the awards presentation at Heythrop Park on 8 March to add his congratulations and provided a brief but amusing insight into the current news headlines. Discussing the economic climate, he jested: “I have three points to cover… no, I’m not talking about Chris Huhne!”

Dave: pencilled in to open Oxford's new warehouse facilities

Oxford, whose headquarters is in the Prime Minister’s Witney constituency, are hopeful that later this year he will open the company's new warehouse facilities, which are currently being doubled in size.

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SKY NEWS REPORT ON POTHOLES

Interesting feature on shabby roads and potholes on Sky News this morning! Here it is in case you missed it:

The road survey carried out by the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) has found one in five local roads is in "poor condition", which is defined as having five years or less life remaining.

Potholes- getting worse?

Lack of funding for road repair work is blamed by the group, with local authorities in England reporting a shortfall in their annual budgets of £829m.

Rosemarie Dutton broke her leg after tripping up on a pothole while crossing the road in Middlewich, Cheshire, last month.

She told Sky News: "I was checking on the lights that they weren't going to change on me and before I knew it I was down on the floor due to one of the large potholes on the pedestrian crossing. "Obviously I was in excruciating pain and no-one came to help me - I was amazed."

Mark Morris' son wrote off his car after he hit a pothole and lost control of the vehicle. He told Sky News: "He hit a pothole which appears to have disconnected the steering of the car. "As he came down the hill and turned into the bend his steering just hasn't been engaged with the wheel - and the wheel's turned left straight into a lamp post."

The Local Government Association (LGA) is calling on Whitehall to free up money and invest it in resurfacing roads.

Councillor Peter Box, the chairman of the LGA, said: "Keeping roads safe is one of the most important jobs councils do and over the past two years they have fixed almost four million potholes - one every 16 seconds.

Potholes: not good for bikers

"Almost half a billion pounds is being taken away from us and our general fund is being reduced by some 30%. "Now something has to give. It's no good anyone saying 'well, actually, you should be doing this despite the fact that your budget's being cut'."

But the AIA report says there is a mounting cost to councils of not repairing roads. Last year £32m was paid out in road user compensation claims.

It is estimated that poorly maintained roads are costing small and medium-sized businesses £5bn a year in reduced productivity, increased fuel consumption, damage to vehicles and delayed deliveries. 

Andy Jennings runs a taxi firm in Sandbach and has recently had to spend £400 repairing the suspension on two of his vehicles.

He told Sky News: "Obviously we can't afford to do this at the moment. In times of recession every penny counts."

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said: "We are providing councils with more than £3bn between 2011 and 2015 to maintain their roads and pavements.

"In December 2012 we announced an extra £215m to help councils get the best out of their road network.  This is on top of the additional £200m we gave to councils in March 2011 to repair local roads damaged by the severe winter weather in 2010.

"It is ultimately up to local highway authorities to determine how they prioritise their funding, but we want to help them get the best value for money.

"That is why we are funding the Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme, which helps councils work together to deliver a first-class service to their residents, at the same time as saving money." 

I'm sure we all agree that potholes are a growing problem and need addressing!

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PEAK DISTRICT ACCESS BATTLE ROLLS ON

The ongoing battle to keep roads in the Peak District National Park open to bikers and motorists rolls on with a major demonstration outside the Peak District National Park Authority headquarters in Bakewell, Derbyshire, when it meets on 22 March to resume discussions on banning vehicles from some of the Park’s roads.

Peak District National Park- keep it open to bikers!

Organisers of the demonstration, the Peak and Derbyshire Vehicle Users Group, have already run four separate slow-driving protests in the park. Group member, the Trail Riders Fellowship, scored a major victory in the battle to keep green lanes open in the Park when the High Court declared an earlier attempt by the Park Authority to ban vehicles was unlawful.

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