Trevor Swann
Aftersales Manager
Having worked in the motor trade since 1965, Trevor joined Southdowns at
the beginning of July. We asked him why he decided to swop cars for motorhomes…
Q Where were you working before joining Southdowns?
A My background is in the motor trade. I started ‘on the spanners’ in 1965 and
worked my way up from mechanic to management. I’ve worked in aftersales since
the 1980s for a whole range of dealers including Ford, Vauxhall and Seat.
Q What initially attracted you to the company?
A I’d done my time in the car industry. I was looking for something different
and closer to home, when I got a phone call from
Jeannette, the Southdowns
financial controller who knew me from a previous job. She told me the Aftersales
Manager’s position was vacant and here I am.
Q What are your key responsibilities?
A I manage the workshop team of four technicians, two trainees and two valetters.
We are responsible for preparing vehicles for handover to customers once they
have been sold. We fit all the accessories and little extras that customers
specify, like reversing cameras and awnings, and make sure the motorhomes are
clean inside and out. We also carry out vehicle servicing, habitation checks and
repairs. My key role is to manage the workshop on a daily basis, programming-in
the work and progress chasing. It’s very much a customer-facing job.
Q What is the best thing about working for the company
A So far, the best thing has been the difference in the atmosphere in the
workshop and the attitude of our customers. There is a world of difference
between someone who has brought their car in for a service and needs it back in
two hours to pick up the children from school and our customers, who are
generally pretty relaxed about timescales. They are happy to stand and chat to
you about their travels and the little idiosyncrasies of their motorhome.
Q Does working with motorhomes hold an appeal for you?
A I have owned a caravan for years and love the freedom of the lifestyle, so the
idea of working with motorhomes does appeal to me. I’d love to buy one. I think
that’s quite important when you’re dealing with customers – it really helps if
you have a little personal knowledge and are interested in the vehicles you are
working on.
Q If you could take a motorhome anywhere in the world, where would you go?
A One of my ambitions is to follow the Tour de France from start to finish one
year, and a motorhome would be the perfect way to do it. I’ve got a feeling my
wife would give you a different answer though!
Q Finally, what is your personal philosophy?
A I believe in always putting a positive spin on life: you can do anything if
you put your mind to it.
Trevor lives in Liphook with his wife. He used to drive minis in Rallycross
events in the late 1960s but now he takes photographs of other people racing
instead. If you look closely at the Chichester Observer’s coverage of the 2007
Goodwood Revival, you might just spot one of Trevor’s shots.
Trevor was interviewed in July 2008
Trevor can be contacted on :
Southdowns Switchboard Number: +44 (0)2392 674820
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