Dorking Service Centre Tel: 01306 747050

James & Grant 21 todayDorking Service Centre has two of the team celebrating their 21st birthday on the same day. James Swaine and Grant Hutton were both born on the 4th February 1991, Steve Brockwell, Operations Manager commented “that in all the years I have been in the industry I have never known a coincidence like this, it’s quite remarkable. Both James and Grant are valuable colleagues, and part of our award winning team; we were all delighted to celebrate the occasion with them."

Grant joined us having completed his apprenticeship and qualified at Citroen UK; he now works alongside his uncle whom introduced him to Dorking Service Centre, he recently qualified to carry out MOT tests.

Grant who grew up and lives in Bramley, he was an active Motocross rider having started when he was just 2, he attended the Glebelands school in Cranleigh, and now commutes to Dorking daily, he said: “It was good to have dinner locally after work with all my colleagues, good company, good fun and above all great for team building. I am looking forward to celebrating with my family on my birthday and having the week off to visit my sister who lives in Salisbury."

James was born in Hillingdon Middlesex, and moved to Capel 1996 when his fathers employment required the family to relocate, former Weald pupil and school council representative James joined Brockham Badgers when he was just six, and changed direction at twelve favouring basketball playing in the national league, and was awarded a scholarship to study in the USA. A keen sportsman, he returned to the UK, travelling to France last summer to play in an international tournament. He started at Dorking Service Centre whilst still at school and now helps out when the need arises – he is a familiar face to many of DSC’s customers.

Dorking Service Centre opened in February 2004, and is part of the global Bosch Car Service network. Since opening the multi award winning team have attended to over 9,000 vehicles and have looked after more than 6,000 different customers. They have industry leading customer loyalty rates and are approved by the OFT in conjunction with the Bosch Car Service programme.

After the snow fall in Dorking and surrounding areas on Tuesday 30th November, some of the DSC team like so many started to make their way home, only to find the roads blocked with traffic. Some decided to return, clearly no one was getting through - so we all went off to eat locally.

As always, we were open again at 8.00am the following morning, thanks to all the customers and staff that made it in, and to the parts suppliers supporting us. Together we keep the “wheels in motion” and of course our customers on the road.

Dorking Service Centre multiple award winners a service built on reliability and trust.

Despite the severe weather conditions. Sid Swaine Managing Director paid tribute to those that made it to work, most of whom were on time - amazing!

Of particular note were the efforts of Steve Brockwell, who will have looked after most of our customers at some point. Steve had to turn back home as the A24 was blocked by immobile vehicles, most would have probably phoned in, not Steve. Armed with waterproofs and a bicycle he road the 15 miles to work, three hours in total and was here to support the team and our customers by 8.30am. What outstanding commitment – well done and thank you Steve.

By Thursday the roads cleared a little, we had a full team once again and I convey my thanks and gratitude to all the staff that came to work when the easy option would have been to stay at home! I also thank those colleagues that tried but through no fault of their own were unable to get in.

So how did the snow affect DSC?

We like most had much snow to clear; we were unable to park vehicles already in our workshop until we cleared some parking bays. Then we had to clear the snow off customers' cars before taking them into the workshop. The snow melts once inside, its not very pleasant working under a dripping car, and becomes dangerous walking on a very slippery floor!

Whilst some of our customers built snowmen, we prepared the site to receive those that had broken down and I am delighted that we were here, able and ready to help. By Thursday we started to return to a modicum of normality when disaster struck - we ran out of milk……….24hrs later all was well!

What about parts supply – you guessed it, the suppliers didn’t want to drive in the treacherous conditions – so we had customers’ cars to repair but no parts!!!!

By Wednesday we were able to begin reinstating customers’ cars making them mobile once again.

These conditions have caused severe disruption to many businesses, the cost probably will not be known for some time, without a dedicated team of staff and loyal customers we would not be in business. I take this opportunity of saying a big thank you to everybody for their understanding and continued loyalty during these testing conditions.

Click on the images below to see how we ensured that we were open on time and ready for our customers:

MD Sid Swaine receives award from Howard PriceDorking Service Centre Ltd on South Street in Dorking, a member of the Bosch Car Service network, is celebrating this week after gaining recognition of their superior quality performance

The firm has achieved a perfect score in their recent, independently conducted assessment of the garage's quality control systems and customer-handling practices. Participation in this rigorous assessment is one of the many mandatory measures required of the garage as a part of their membership of the Bosch car Service programme.

The award gives customers complete confidence that their vehicle will be attended to by a garage that has demonstrated excellence in both technical and customer service disciplines. Dorking Service Centre Ltd like all Bosch Car Service garages also adhere to a Code of Conduct which provides consumers with a level of care above that required by law. This code is also fully approved by the Office of Fair Trading.

Howard Price, Technical Services Manager at Bosch, said: "I am delighted that Dorking Service Centre Ltd garage has achieved the highest possible rating in their recent quality audit and qualify to receive a Bosch Quality Audit Certificate.

Our assessment process is very thorough and is aimed at ensuring that people who take their vehicle to Dorking Service Centre Ltd will receive high quality of service at an affordable cost. The OFT approval of our Consumer Code of Practice further demonstrates the commitment of Dorking Service Centre Ltd to providing its customers with the highest level of care and transparency."

Sid Swaine Managing Director said, " I was delighted and privileged to receive this award on behalf of my colleagues. This award is further testimony that our team continue to be recognised and rewarded for, honest reporting, high quality work, and excellence in customer care. I believe our culture of value for money based on sound unbiased advice builds a high level of trust culminating in industry leading customer loyalty. This is why our team are amongst the highest award winning people in the industry. They have every reason to feel very proud"

On Monday 2nd February the worst snow for 18 years arrived and caused chaos across the London and the South East but despite this, the team that has made Dorking Service Centre Independent Garage of the year for two consecutive years ensured that we were open at 8.00am as normal.
With cars like the Volvo XC70 4x4 (in the foreground) and the Mercedes CLK Convertible in the showroom we can supply the right car for all seasons!Just a little bit of snow to clear !

We are proud to announce that we are again this year’s winner of one of the most prestigious awards in the UK motor industry – the ‘Independent Garage of the Year’ award – for the second year running!

Beating off stiff competition from garages across the UK to win the title in the Motor Trader Industry Awards 2008; the second year in a row that we have won the accolade, putting us in the perfect position to attempt a hat trick in 2009.

Sid Swaine receiving the Award from host Jon CulshawManaging director, Sid Swaine, received the award in front of over 1,300 industry professionals at a prestigious ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday 16 July 2008.

A judging panel of industry experts found that Dorking Service Centre has put in place measures to improve its business over the past year, and that the garage consistently achieved outstanding levels of business performance and customer care.

Since the business opened in February 2004 we have:

• Achieved a Bosch Quality Award;
• Attended to more than 8,000 vehicles;
• Looked after over 5,200 customers;
• Reached an 93 per cent repeat business level;
• Given back to local customers more than £30,000 in loyalty discount;
• Won ‘Independent Garage of the Year’ award 2007 and again in 2008.

The DSC Team on stage at the Grosvenor HotelSid Swaine said of winning the award for the second year running: “It is a great honour for us to have won this important national award again. It shows that we have been consistent in our company ethos of putting the customer first and in providing the highest possible standard of service at the most competitive rates. This award is clear recognition of our culture and the tremendous effort put in by every member of our team, each one of whom goes the extra mile to deliver an exceptional performance.”

Dorking Service Centre is a member of the Bosch Car Service network, which consists of some 400 independent garages across the UK. Each must meet high standards of equipment, staff training and customer care, which are constantly monitored and vigorously assessed by Bosch.

The UK’s ‘Independent Garage of the Year 2007’ – Dorking Service Centre on South Street – has put an iconic London black cab on the road to transport its customers in style.

Dorking Service Centre is part of the Bosch Car Service network – the UK’s leading group of independent garages with over 400 members.

The highly distinctive Fairway cab has been fully refurbished and carries eye-catching all-over advertising for the company. It’s being used to take customers to their homes, workplace or even to the railway station after they’ve dropped off their cars for servicing or repair and to collect them again when the work is completed.

“With this London black cab we’ve brought a classic piece of British culture to the streets of Dorking and it’s certainly making heads turn,” says Sid Swaine, Managing Director of Dorking Service Centre.

“It’s quite a novelty to see one of these cabs in the leafy suburbs of Surrey and our customers really appreciate the comfort and convenience of travelling in it, saying it makes them feel special.

“An added bonus is that it gives us free advertising whether outside the railway station picking up a customer, collecting them from their place of business, or simply parked outside our own premises. We’ll also put it on display at local fetes, school events and other public events.”

Putting the cab on the road is typical of the innovative approach that Dorking Service Centre takes to customer care and which won it the title ‘Independent Garage of the Year’. Since opening in February 2004 the company has introduced numerous imaginative ideas to make it easier for customers to get their cars serviced or repaired and to reward them for their loyalty.

As a result it has attended to more than 7,000 vehicles in just three and a half years and given back to customers more than £20,000 in loyalty discounts since January 2007. It has targeted local businesses, schools and other organisations offering free vehicle collection and return so that the customers suffer little or no disruption to their working day, and it sends all customers a Christmas card with vouchers they can redeem during the year to help meet their car servicing costs.

“Now that EU rules allow car owners to get their cars serviced at a place of their choosing without compromising their warranty, they can come to us and save money, compared to a franchised dealer,” says Sid. “The Bosch sign over the door means they can be sure of quality work and value-for-money prices.”

Over 1,200 people from the UK automotive industry attended the annual Motor Trader Industry Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel on Wednesday 11th July 2007.
Competing against other UK garages, Dorking Service Centre made it to the final four and was delighted to win and receive the coveted Independent Garage of the Year Award. Sid Swaine commented: 'this award re-affirms our commitment to excellence in customer service and the team is justifiably proud of this recognition.'