JW Goddard

Garage of the Month this time around is JW Goddard, in Painswick Gloucestershire, which has been nominated by Paul Weston at independent motor factor APD Cotswold for its commitment to putting customers first for nearly 100 years.

Now being run by Robert Goddard, representing the fourth generation of the Goddard family to be involved in the business, JW Goddard occupies a rural location and has a thriving business with private motorists from within an eight mile radius - and has also embraced the challenge provided by a large slice of locally-based, large fleet business, which it is able to service as part of the myFavouriteGarage.com network, which is an approved supplier to a number of large vehicle fleets.

Robert says: “We have been members of the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMI) for nearly 100 years. We have also been members of the myFavouriteGarage.com network since it was launched, having been approached by APD Cotswold to join up to provide support to business customers in this part of Gloucestershire.

“We may be a long-established business but we are committed to moving on with new developments, so we have committed to ongoing training and we now have two technicians who have received the Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA).”

The business also has a further apprentice technician, and administrative support.

Robert says: “One thing has not changed over the years. We believe it is important to take the time to listen to the customer who brings their car or van in to us. They need to talk to a technician who is willing to go out with them for a test drive, and will take the time to get to the root of a problem, especially if it is something hard to locate, such as an intermittent noise.

“Communication really is the key.”