A family car dealership has won a national award for its repair service.

Dobies Vauxhall, based at Lillyhall, was presented with a Customer Excellence Award by the car brand for the third time for being its number one authorised vehicle repair centre in the UK.

Based on the level of quality delivered to its clients, the accolades are awarded based on completed customer satisfaction surveys.

Emma Dobie, partner, said: “It’s great recognition of the team working here. We are proud of being a family firm and have several long-serving members of staff, who can build that relationship with our customers.

“Our team go the extra mile for our customers. Car garages have changed over the years. It is a very much a retail environment – it’s just that you are buying a big item, so customer care is very important to us.”

Dobies has worked with Vauxhall since 1979, initially at premises in Maryport and moved to its purpose-built premises at Lillyhall in 1993.

Ian Hall, Vauxhall regional manager, said: “At Vauxhall, we are really concentrating on our customer service and this award for Dobies can give the customer confidence that it can deliver on that.”

Mark Hodgson, aftersales manager, added: “Customer experience and needs are very important and we aim to deliver that.”

Around 12 people work in aftersales for the car firm and Emma added that the company was passionate about helping people develop.

She said: “People may not realise but we offer apprenticeships. At the moment we have a customer service apprentice and a couple of apprentices in the workshop.

“It is a good career, with great opportunities.

“A few years ago, working with cars meant working with engines. Now, in diagnostics, it means working with a laptop.

“Cars are much more involved nowadays.”

Dobies also owns the Washington Central Hotel in Workington and has a construction arm, and Emma said both employed apprentices.