February 2022

FEBRUARY 2022 AFTERMARKET 57 www.aftermarketonline.net yard. That’s why we have so much space.” Eventually, Ron became the sole leader of Jackson & Phillips: “Dave Jackson left the business through ill health, shortly before he passed away in October 2003 at the age of 59. He was greatly missed as he was the driving force behind the development of our business.” The business he co-founded continued to thrive, partly as a result of their lucky location: “The workshops were built big enough to get those tankers in, so we are able to deal with motor homes, as well as large vans. This is part of the reason why we invested in a new MOT ramp, as the Class 7 vans and the motor homes are so big we were struggling to fit them on the old ramp. The installation was finished on the same day I went down for the Top Garage 2021 final. I had to rush back from my interview with the judges to let the electrician in to finish wiring up the ramp so we could actually use it on the Monday morning. It was a bit hectic.” Goals As the son of one of the founders, Aaron eventually took his place at his father’s side, but he came up the long way: “I did bits and bobs at the weekend, then officially started working here when I was 16. I’ve been here 26 years now. That was starting at the bottom, and working my way up. I had to sweep the yard, clean the toilets and make the tea. I went through the full apprenticeship, and at times it was harder being the boss’s son. I certainly didn’t get any preferential treatment. “I think that is why we do things the way we do now with regards to training. I realised that I needed to prove myself and I needed to gain as much experience along the way as I could. My dad taught me a lot in that respect, and I put my hand up for every training course and every opportunity that came up. I’m still a qualified First Aider for the company, and I have done all the Bosch technical training that I can do. I still try to stay as up to date as I can with that sort of thing. “Eventually I was Workshop Manager, and then moved into the office, working in reception between the office and the workshop, and then I became a Director. Then, at the beginning of 2021 my dad decided to retire. His goal was to get to 50 years, and if he was happy with how things were running, he would retire. He was, so I am now Managing Director.” Top Garage As we observed, in the same year Aaron became Managing Director, Jackson & Phillips was a winner in Top Garage 2021. That’s quite a cap to a first year in the big chair: “It was overwhelming,” agreed Aaron. “There was a lot going on. It was a big thing for dad to decide to leave the company, for him personally but also for everyone here, as he was always so involved. He still pops in to make sure everyone is doing what they are meant to be doing, and I’m glad he does. “With Top Garage, I wanted to see where we are in comparison to other garages. Apart from some other Bosch garages I have met through the network, and the local garages we get on with, we were alone in our little bubble. We were not aware of what other people were doing and how they were doing it. That is why the Awards Evening was brilliant, as I got to speak to so many different people in so many different situations and I was able to talk to them about what we are doing, and what they are doing.” Opportunity Looking to the future, we asked Aaron what is likely to be next for Jackson & Phillips: “I would like to expand the site we have, with a couple of extra bays, and perhaps a second site, moving into Milton Keynes, Dunstable or Luton. There seems to be some opportunity out that way.” He concluded: “However, the main thing after everything we have all been through in 2020 and 2021 is to consolidate our position. We are a long-standing company that has run for 50 years, and I want to make sure we are in a position to run for another 50 years.” We are a long- standing company that has run for 50 years, and I want to make sure we are in a position to run for another 50 years ”