‘Oscars’ double for CCE

A SUCCESSFUL vehicle repair business — owned and run by an Oldham family — has won a prestigious national award for the second successive year.

Contract Commercial Engineering, in Eagle Way on the Oldham-Rochdale border, collected the Individual Bodyshop Training title at the annual Bodyshop Awards, the Oscars of the vehicle repair industry.

Chairman Phil Ewbank, of Royton; and his managing director daughter Michelle Walker, of Shaw; received the trophy from Stuart James, of the Motor Vehicle Repair Association.

Michelle said: “The award is in recognition of all the team’s hard work and determination during what has proven to be a difficult 12 months.

“It is with great pride and honour that we accept the award for the second year running and I would personally like to thank the staff for their continued support and dedication.”

The award recognised the company’s Academy of Care, a training programme inspired by Michelle which charts the aspirations and self development of every employee and is widely recognised as setting an industry standard.

“There is clear evidence that this training academy has been of great benefit to the company,” said Mr Ewbank, adding: “Training is critical to the future of business in these recessionary times.

“We have to be ready to meet the challenges and with help from organisation likes Business Link, Sage Green and the Chamber of Commerce, companies like ourselves can make progress.”

CCE, which has 35 staff, is the first company to win awards in successive years.

And since 1998, CCE has either been a winner or finalist at the blue riband awards event aside from four years between 2002 and 2006 when the directors opted not to enter the competition in protest at judging standards.