EIGHT car workers who were made redundant by a Vauxhall dealership earlier this year have been re- employed.
In January, Vauxhall dealership PNG went into administration, closing its branches in Baker Street, Enfield, Waltham Abbey and Waltham Cross, making 84 people redundant. Many of the staff had been at the company for decades after joining as apprentices.
Now, four of the 18 Enfield employees have been remployed by Bristol Street Motors, a former Peugeot dealership, while four staff at the former Waltham Cross branch have also been taken on.
The dealership, which now sells mainly Vauxhall models and services cars, has doubled its number of staff from ten to 20 since March.
According to Keith Sullivan, general manager of the former Eleanor Cross Road site, in Waltham Cross, more ex-PNG staff could also be taken on in the future.
He said: “A lot of people we took on had been long-termers there and were first in the pecking order.
“There were some good people who worked for the company and none of them deserved what happened to them. We are already seeing old customers saying, ‘We’re pleased to see Vauxhall back in the area’.”
He said the company was thinking about applying for another two or three technicians and would like to recruit locally if possible.
He also said Bristol Street Motors had spent £400,000 on redeveloping the site, creating a new room for vehicle servicing.
Michael Wilson, former sales manager at the Baker Street branch, and a PNG employee for 16 years, said he called the company when he heard it was expanding and was re-employed.
Mr Wilson, 45, said: “I rang up and spoke to Keith thinking there might be a chance.
“It is a big relief to all the staff who have been employed.”
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