YOU MAY not think to associate the global automobile manufacturer Mercedez-Benz with Westbury, but when it comes to dealer group Rygor, the two are inextricably linked.

Rygor is the largest dedicated dealer group for Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles in the UK, with branches throughout Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Somerset, West London, Wiltshire and Worcestershire.

Rewind 56 years, and the picture was quite different. Ted Rygor formed the company, which was more of a family business back then as a haulage company, Rygor become a service agent for Mercedez-Benz in 1986 before a management buyout took place in 2008.

On their Westbury site today, there are 140 employees, ranging in age from 20 to 70.

The longest serving employee at the Westbury branch, service manager Steve Evans, said: “I get a buzz from working here, even after 35 years. I worked my way up from the shop floor, an apprenticeship, a charge hand and now this and I still love it.

"I walked into this place in 1981 and asked the boss Barry Rygor for a job, and he replied ‘when do you want to start?’ ​​

“It was as simple as that. It has changed quite a lot since I have been here but we still pride ourselves on offering that same level of customer service.”

Rygor has a network of 12 authorised Mercedes-Benz sales and aftersales branches spread across the country, with its headquarters in Westbury.

Managing director Tim Stacey said: “It is a very exciting time as we continue to invest in the expertise of our team and the quality of our branches.”

The business has this year been listed in the Sunday Time’s Top Track 250.

Late shift supervisor Ian Mead said: “I work from 1.30 to 10pm if I am lucky. I handle the delivery of vehicles, MOTs, tachographs among others and I have a great team behind me.

“The team morale is good, helping each other out and using each other’s expertise. We also offer a Mercedez-Benz apprenticeship here and this is a great way to get them started.”

Kirsty Gyllenspetz, Van Sales Executive, said: “I look after new sales and occasionally used vehicles whilst trying to help us hit our target as a branch.

“What is very important also is not just bringing in new customers, it is retaining them, that is half the battle.”