Hello Team,

We’re launching this monthly memo – put together by me, Simon, and Greg – to keep you in the loop about what’s happening across the business. Our goal is to shed light on the ‘what & why’ behind our operations. Clear communication and transparency are key components of a well-functioning team, so let’s get started. We’ve had a cracking month filled with new faces, exciting achievements, and a few tasty surprises (hope you enjoyed that pizza!). As we push forward, it’s brilliant to see everyone pulling together to make this business shine. Let’s dive into the highlights this March. - Jamie 

Anchor Group Monthly Memo – March 2025

Release: 28th March 2025

STOCK!

Management and Buyers have been flat out securing over 900 units across the group, making us one of the UK’s biggest independent dealers. These stock levels are critical for profitability and a real positive for the business. We know the pressure this brings, but once we’ve got it running smoothly in a few months, things will ease up on-site. Big thanks to Service for keeping pace and prepping vehicles at this rate, and to Seb and the transport team for their efforts. This wouldn’t work without everyone’s relentless hard graft – great job all round!

New Faces!

For any business it’s a luxury to be able to welcome new talent to the team. We’re chuffed to bits to expand the group with some fantastic new faces. Please give a warm welcome to the following team members – and if you’re nearby, pop over, say hello, and help them feel at home:

• • Jason Balley – Joining as a Tech in Ewok, bringing his know-how to the table.
• • Rupert Burcham – Our new Main Workshop Technician, keeping everything ticking over nicely.
• • Jay Hawker – Starting as a Sales Executive at Anchor Cars and casually selling a McLaren 570s in his first few hours – talk about a flying start!
• • Pawel Kubik – Boosting the Driver/Transport team with heaps of passion and energy on the forecourt. Keep it up, Pawel!
• • Zach Long – Levelling up our Tech team at Anchor Cars Tadley.
• • Mark Palethorpe – Back for round two as Service Manager at Anchor Cars Tadley – welcome back, Mark!
• • Mike Baker – Another Tech smashing it down at Tadley.
• • Craig Woodhouse – Leading the charge at Vanlux as Sales Manager, gearing up for a busy spring and summer.
• • Dave Young – Our first official Anchor Cars Buyer, spending hundreds of thousands of pounds a month like it’s no big deal – and doing it with expertise!
• • Mark West – Strengthening the Tech team at Anchor Cars Tadley.
• • Steven Norris – Kicking things off as Sales Executive at Anchor EV.
• • Stephen Barleycorn – Switching over to cars for a fresh challenge.

We’re thrilled to have you all aboard and can’t wait to see the brilliant contributions you’ll bring to the team!

A Big Congratulations!

Huge shoutout to Fardy, our magical apprentice over in Ewok, who’s just passed his driving test! If you spot him zooming around the site, give him a cheer – and maybe chuck a few quid his way for that insurance fund. Well done, mate – drive safe!

What’s New Around the Site?

• • Anchor Service Sign – It’s finally up – thanks Seb, proudly perched above Anna’s desk. Looking sharp!
• • Kitchen Upgrade – Fresh glasses and cups have landed in the kitchen. Watch this space for more exciting kitchen updates in the coming months!
• • Staffology Launch – Big thanks to Alicia, who’s overseen the launch of Staffology, dragging our employee management systems into the 21st century! Any questions about it? Give her a shout. If you’re struggling with setup or how to use the system, she’s got all the answers you’ll need.
• • Topgolf Team Outing – We’re in the process of planning a cracking evening at Topgolf for the end of May. If you fancy joining us, keep Friday, 9th May evening free! We’ll be sending out an RSVP guest list form shortly to gather numbers, so we can lock in the details.
• • Family Fun Day – Mark your diaries for 2nd August 2025! Location to be confirmed, but it’s set to be a belter of a day for everyone.

A Fond Farewell

Sadly, we’re saying goodbye to Ollie Vass, part of the marketing team, who’s off to new adventures. His last day is 11th April, and his larger-than-life personality will be sorely missed. Ollie, thanks for all your hard work, we wish you all the best in your next chapter!

Awards

Anchor Vans is proud to announce that we have been shortlisted for three prestigious awards this year: Commercial Dealer Website of the Year, Digital Initiative of the Year, and, naturally, Van Dealer of the Year. This recognition highlights our commitment to excellence in the automotive industry and our continuous efforts to innovate and lead in digital engagement.

Drivers’ Leaderboard – The Race is On!

The drivers are battling it out for the top spot, and Nick Plumridge is currently tearing up the leaderboard, nabbing £100 in Amazon vouchers for first place this month. Fancy knocking him off that podium? Keep pushing – it’s £50 in Amazon vouchers for every monthly first-place finish and £25 in John Lewis vouchers for second. If there’s a tie, we’ll settle it with the number of Google reviews collected that month. Game on!

Looking Ahead

It’s been a busy month, and we’re only getting started. Your hard work, enthusiasm, and teamwork are what make Anchor Group special. Let’s keep the momentum going, stay connected, and lift each other up as we head into April.

Got ideas, feedback, or just fancy a chat? The doors (and inboxes) are open. Here’s to another smashing month ahead! Speak soon.