We have come up with an innovative marketing campaign, where ultimately we give back money back to all participating schools.  By asking the schools to use their potential platforms for marketing ie parent mail, newsletters etc to promote our services we in turn would donate £5.00 every time a vehicle is booked in for an MOT, service or indeed any repair work (minimum 1 hour chargeable). When our customer quotes their preferred school we will donate £5.00 to that school.

We are committed to running this special promotion for a 3-month period, (May, June and July 2010).  So why not use your local, friendly company and help our local schools at the same time.

Listed below are all the participating schools that have signed up to the scheme.

•    Crosshall Infant School
•    Great Staughton Primary School
•    Samuel Pepys School

Whilst we continued to trade successfully from other units we were so pleased to move back to our original site.  We had a re-launch open family fun day to celebrate.

Ricky Groves aka Gary Hobbs the mechanic from Eastenders opened the festivities, the Fire Brigade mad a scheduled stop this time, a bouncy castle, face painting and a giant Scalextric were on sight along with refreshments for everyone.

A free visual safety check was offered on all vehicles along with lots of prize give always.

After a horrendous year for Tackwoods we were so proud of our achievements in getting back on our feet so quickly.  We entered for the Hunts Post Business Awards; we were truly thrilled to get “The Judges Award”

It was stated that for the second consecutive year, the judges chaired by John Bridge, Chief Executive of Huntingdon Chamber of Commerce made the Judges Award for a company that deserved special recognition.  The Judges said Tackwood Services demonstrated an incredible strength and desire to rebuild the business after disaster struck in February this year when its building all its contents were destroyed by fire.

The Judges added “The success Tackwood Services has achieved is testament to the dedicated and motivated team of staff, suppliers and customers who have kept the business moving forward through 2008”

A proud night for us all. The founders Dave & Ann with Sean & Dionne and Stewart White who compered the evening.

Time to celebrate

Reward for all our hard work, after all we have been through it was really special to win this award in our first full week back in the premises, the timing couldn't have been better.

The successful team and special recognition to all our staff that didn't attend too, a great motivation to take us into the next year.

We did it, we have moved back and now fully operational from our pristine site!  We are all so pleased with the end result, well worth waiting for.  An excellent refurbishment of new equipment and comfortable waiting facilities.  So much has happened in this last month, it has been a hard slog but staff morale and motivation is at an all time high.  We have also entered The prestigious Hunts Post Business Awards as we are so proud of our accomplishment over the last 8 months.

• Internal decoration completed
• Office furniture fitted
• IT equipment fitted and configured
• Workshop floor painted
• All plant and equipment moved into unit 2 including fitters tool boxes
• MOT computer installed and activated
• Found out we have made it as finalists for Business Awards 08
• Started advertising campaign – check out Hunts Post on regular basis
• Started re-launch offers – check out offers page
• More work on open day (date to be verified soon)

Personal message from Sean and Dionne

Now we have concluded the rebuild and moved back to our original site, we feel it only appropriate to do a few thank you’s.  It has obviously been an emotional, stressful and naturally very busy 8 months but we can now look back with an immense sense of pride of what has been achieved.

They say without challenge there is no achievement, and we would just like to say a huge thank you to all our staff who stepped up to that challenge back in February and have seen it through to this remarkable achievement now.  A dedicated and remarkable team, we couldn’t of done it without you!! Thanks everyone.

We would also like to say a huge thank you to the ongoing support of all our customers and our suppliers alike.   From day one we were overwhelmed by the amount of support we were offered, whether it be offers of office space and practical help to phone calls, letters, texts and emails with comforting and supportive sentiments, it has been very humbling and truly touching.  Also the loyalty of all our customers throughout this tricky time when we have not been able to offer our “full array of services” has also been very much appreciated.  Whilst we have always tried to maintain our dedication to customer services, we know we have not been able to offer the quantity of bookings and such a quick turnaround as usual due to our scaled down facilities, naturally we are now back in full steam and will be doing our upmost to cater for your every need.  So again thank you for bearing with us and we will aim to reward your loyalty with even better customer service and incentives, check out our re-launch offers.

Kindest regards
Dionne & Sean

“Fire sweeps through family firm!”

“Inferno!”

“Seven crews tackle blaze!”

These were just some of the headlines in the local papers after the devastating fire on 27th February.

But testament to all staff, family and friends along with the help and support of many local business, many customers and suppliers another headline was “Family firm up and running after fire”.  It is very much business as usual, we are proud to say.  Vehicle servicing, repairs and MOT’s are all being catered for from our smaller unit on the same estate, Unit 11, Foundry Way, Eaton Socon as is our transport operations and our accounts, telephone & email contacts remain the same. Our commercial side is being serviced from Allum Plant, 8 Spencer Court, Howard Road, Eaton Socon, direct telephone number for this depot is 07748 638680.

Certainly February 27th, 2008 will remain one of those “anniversary” dates that will never be forgotten in the history of Tackwood Services, indeed Tackwoods worst hour.  However whilst this recent event is tragic we are all still committed in continuing to provide the quality of service we have always strived to achieve albeit on a smaller scale at the moment.

We will attempt to keep all our customers up-dated of progress on our website providing a monthly “blog” from Sean and myself.

Its really a case of watch this space!  We are only talking of a couple of weeks until handover (10th October), when builders finish.  Then we need to get our MOT station opened etc and gradually move down.  Really positive and excited now. Signs have been fitted; along with much-waited doors and windows so externally the building is complete and looking fab.  New fitters overalls ordered and the “tidy up” has begun of the surrounding site at unit 2, work continues rapidly with the internal fit out.  It just remains to be said keep logging on and look out for local press for our re-launch offers.

• Signs fitted
• Doors, windows fitted – Externally unit complete
• Floors, carpets and decorating started internally
• Promotional gifts received
• All cabling done for IT resources
• Electric connected
• Office furniture ordered
• More work on open day and promotional incentives
• Tidy up of site

Feeling really positive now, the site looks really busy, lots of people there working.  Office partitions done, stud walls, stairs in etc, can see it all taking shape.  MOT bay fitted, ramps fitted and commercial pit repaired.  Finishing line in sight and we have also been working on an advertising campaign, re-launch promotions, customer initiatives, and an open day.  The vision is becoming reality, motivation high.

• MOT bay fitted
• Ramps sited and fitted
• Vehicle extraction system fitted
• Lubrication system fitted in workshop
• Signs and promotional gifts ordered
• Internal fit out takes shape
• Electrician starts

Bit frustrating again, builders were supposed to handover by 20th of this month and it looks far from that.  Most of cladding done but problems with doors and windows. On the positive side lots of time spent this month on consultations with our IT Company, electricians and builders for internal fit out, all of which been resolved and appointed and lots of work started.

• Building shell near to completion
• Builders appointed for internal fit and work commenced
• Site surveys done for MOT station/ ramps and motor trade equipment
• IT equipment consultation and ordered

We have been encouraged and amazed by all our staff and obviously our loyal customer bank.  Working conditions have sometimes been fraught, less space to work in, fewer resources all add up to stressful working conditions, however we have been so proud of everyone’s effort and dedication to the cause.  We have continued to trade very successfully. On the build front have to say progress seems slow, or maybe just impatience setting in.  We are all so driven by the fact of everything being new and focusing how to take Tackwood into the next generation we are keen to make all the right decisions for planning and equipment. Internal office plans have all been amended lots of times as a result, but finally agreed and submitted.  Building work continues and plans for the workshop layout including state of the art equipment have been sourced and ordered.

• Building shell takes shape
• Workshop layout plans agreed and equipment ordered
• Office layout agreed and plans issued for tender

It’s been a good month, demolition complete, site cleared and builders appointed.  Lots of work has been done and lots of investment made of new tools and equipment.  The accounts office has now been moved back on site at Unit 11.  Loads of research done as to what new plant and equipment for the workshops as well as IT.  Things look promising.

Keys things achieved this month:

• Site cleared
• Builders appointed
• Accounts office set up at unit 11
• Continued investment in plant and equipment
• Receive full planning authority