Operations Relaunch

RNS Number : 5354N

Motorpoint Group plc

21 May 2020

 

21 May 2020

Motorpoint Group PLC

("Motorpoint" or the "Group")

Operations Relaunch

Motorpoint Group PLC, the UK's largest independent vehicle retailer, is pleased to announce that it has launched an entirely contactless purchase process, with customers able to choose between free nationwide home delivery or contactless collection at any of its 13 branches. 

Operations Relaunch

Following recent clarification from National Health England and from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Group has recommenced customer Home Delivery and Click & Collect services.

The Board has ensured that all operational measures are in place to allow the Group to operate safely and to ensure that employees and customers are protected throughout the contactless sales, collections and home delivery processes. These measures include additional team training, mandated use of PPE and significant enhancements to vehicle valet & preparation.  Across the Group's sites, each of which are typically around five acres, mandatory personal distancing protocols have also been put in place.

Both Home Delivery and Click & Collect allow our customers to complete an entirely contactless purchase process, including choosing their new car, agreeing part exchange valuation, arranging finance and either collecting their new vehicle from any of our 13 retail locations or taking delivery at home, with collection of any part exchange.

To support customers further during this unprecedented period, the Group is offering its home delivery free of charge within mainland UK.  Furthermore, the Group is offering a £300 discount to all NHS staff and social care workers to go some way to show our appreciation for their continued efforts in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Given the extensive and robust new operational measures which have been put in place, the Group is confident that it is well placed to recommence full operations as soon as UK Government advice allows.

Board and senior management remuneration

All members of Motorpoint's Board have taken voluntary salary and fee reductions of at least 50% for the duration of lockdown.  Savings from these reductions are being used to top up the salaries of the Group's wider employee base to ensure that none of the staff currently placed on the Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme earn less than the Real Living Wage.

Mark Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer of Motorpoint Group PLC commented:

"The safety and welfare of our team and customers remains at the forefront of everything we do, so I am pleased that we are now able to resume a fully contactless sales and handover process.  The senior team have worked tirelessly to ensure we have all appropriate training, equipment and support available ahead of our site teams returning.

"The Board remains confident in the Group's robust and resilient business model during this difficult time."

Enquiries:

Motorpoint Group PLC Mark Carpenter, Chief Executive Officer James Gilmour, Chief Financial Officer	via FTI Consulting
FTI Consulting (Financial PR) Alex Beagley James Styles Sam Macpherson	020 3727 1000

Notes to editors

Motorpoint is the largest independent vehicle retailer in the United Kingdom. The Group's principal business is the sale of nearly-new vehicles, the majority of which are up to two years old and which have covered less than 15,000 miles. Motorpoint sells vehicles from brands representing over 95 per cent of new vehicle sales in the United Kingdom, with models from Ford, Vauxhall, Volkswagen, Nissan, Hyundai, Audi and BMW being amongst the top sellers. The Group operates from 13 retail sites across the United Kingdom: Birmingham, Birtley, Burnley, Castleford, Chingford, Derby, Glasgow, Newport, Oldbury, Peterborough, Sheffield, Swansea and Widnes, of which five have opened in the last five years; together with a national contact-centre dealing with online enquiries.

More information is available at www.motorpointplc.com and www.motorpoint.co.uk .

 

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