FAMILY business Chippenham Motor Company has picked up the Apprenticeship and Training Employer of the Year accolade at this year’s Wiltshire Business Awards.

The firm, which has been a car dealer in the town for 20 years, is well-known for its grounded roots in providing a great service and value which they believe has remained at the heart of all their sites in Wiltshire.

The company sells new and approved used cars and vans from five of the industry’s most respected brands including SEAT, Peugeot, Kia, Ford and Citroën. They also provide services and accident repairs to motorists.

Chippenham Motor Company has also claimed the title of being the area’s Motability Scheme specialists.

As a family-run business, they pride themselves on helping their staff grow and progress in the company by providing training opportunities, workshops and regular feedback sessions to provide them with the inspiration to make them strive to achieve more.

Jackie Bailey, director of Chippenham Motor Company, said: “We’re absolutely overwhelmed that we’ve won this apprenticeship award.

“It’s a very difficult programme that the apprentices do, with it being a three year course, and they will be very proud of this win too. We pride ourselves on home-growing our own apprentices and that’s one of the reasons we’ve been recognised.

“We have five apprentices in total at the moment and they have proper, manufactured training. We are a very busy dealership and the work is very full on, which gives the youngsters, as I like to call them, a chance to learn and develop on the job.”

Based in Bumpers Way on Bumper's Farm Industrial Estate and London Road, the company held off strong competition from Marlborough training provider Haddon Training and Melksham-based sports coaching company PH Sports for the prize.

Claire Thorogood, deputy director for work based learning at Wiltshire College, who sponsored the award, said: “Chippenham Motor Company was selected due to their passion and commitment to providing an outstanding apprenticeship experience.

“Apprentices are valued and supported through their apprenticeship programme with clear progression routes to managed level and and all have secured full time permanent roles within the company.”