Woolfe Racing
Based in Bedford, the Woolfe Race Group is the
leading UK supplier of specialist automotive parts from
America. They have brought the West Coast automotive
lifestyle to UK motorists and a visit to their Bedford Head Office
will be closest you get to visiting an American supplier this side
of New York. That goes for the culture as well as the
products.
The idea for Woolfe Race Group came from a
meeting of minds in the 1960s when US serviceman Dave Riswick met
circuit racer John Woolfe and motor racing partner Arnold
Burton. Today Dave Riswick, Managing Director, knows the
culture and contacts on both sides of the Atlantic that give the
business a unique standing in the automotive world.
Twelve people are employed in sales and
distribution in Bedford, with a customer network across the UK and
stretching to France, Australia, the Middle East and USA.
Nick Simmonds, Senior Sales Person,
explained:
“Customers can ring or place orders on-line
for a wide range of accessories including chemicals, tyres, wheels
and exhausts to fit American vehicles of all makes and ages.
In the 1970s customising included invention of Woolfe Race Wheels
and today parts make their way to regular road cars and trucks such
as Chrysler, Ford, General Motors and with iconic names such as
Jeep, Buick, Plymouth, Chevrolet and Cadillac.”
“At Woolfe Race Group we see our role as a
bridge, using systems, contacts and expertise to link UK
distributors and buying groups to US companies with products that
fit. It is essential that we have computer systems and
knowledge to support that bridge.”
“To develop our computer expertise and find
out about training, I visited Bedford College’s open day.
After that things moved quickly. They visited us on site and
put together a simulated system based on our own computer system,
incorporating faults and troubleshooting. This was the basis
for bespoke training that has given me the knowledge and
understanding needed to run our operation successfully.”
What were your training objectives?
“We needed to gain more information about our
own computer systems and how to look after them rather than relying
on external IT people. That included looking at networking,
fault finding, installing software and access and privacy
security.”
“I have always been interested in technology
and wanted to increase my knowledge further. Specialist one
to one training at Bedford College helped me achieve my goals and I
will look to the College for further training opportunities.”
Were they achieved?
“We have achieved what we set out to do - a
better understanding of how the computers work and how they should
be set up on a network. We now have more input when talking
to IT providers and the knowledge to make informed decisions on
their recommendations. We now speak the same language.”
What has been the impact on your
performance?
“A better idea of how the systems work,
combined with knowledge and understanding to sort out problems
in-house if they occur.”
What has been the impact on the organisation’s
performance?
“We do not have to wait if IT problems crop up
as we can sort them on the inside rather than rely on external
sources.”
“This is a successful, well established
business that has moved with the times over the last 30
years. Computer systems that work to our needs are an
essential part of the tools we use to keep our business racing
head.”