TWO huge car dealerships are closing sparking mass job losses.
Marshall Volkswagen Horsham and Aylesbury are expected to close at the end of March.
Staff were said to be in “total shock” after they were told that they could be out of work as a result of the closures.
An insider told Car Dealer: “No one knew anything about it, not even the managers, so it did come as a total shock.”
“There’s not been any offers made for people to stay on with Marshalls elsewhere but we have been told that a consultation period is going on.
“The hardest bit for me is moving on from all the staff. I love it here, it’s a great bunch and now we’re all just expected to disperse,” they added.
After the bombshell, some of the sales executives from the branches have jumped on LinkedIn to find new work.
Adrian Nastase, a senior sales executive at the Horsham site, wrote: “I’m saddened to announce that I’m now open to new opportunities and seeking a position in the sales department within the motor trade.
“Working at Volkswagen Horsham has been an unforgettable experience – not just professionally, but personally.
“We truly were a family there, and I have loved every moment spent with my colleagues. It’s a tough goodbye, but I’m excited to see what the future holds.
“If anyone knows of any roles or opportunities, I’d appreciate the connection and support.”
The Sun has approached Volkswagen Group UK for comment.
A spokesperson told Car Dealer magazine: “As we’ve said previously, we, along with the whole motor industry, are moving through a period of unprecedented change, prompted by new technologies and changing customer expectations.
“The necessary evolution of the Volkswagen Group UK retailer network, to ensure that we have appropriate representation to meet our customers’ future needs, is a process that has been under way for a couple of years already and will continue into the future.
“We can confirm in this case that Marshall Motor Group’s sites in Horsham and Aylesbury will be closing from the end of next month.
“Marshall Motor Group will be writing to its customers to advise them of alternative sales, service and parts facilities. Due to legal requirements and confidentiality agreements, we cannot provide further details.”
This comes after BCA revealed it is shuttering it’s branch in Banbury, Oxfordshire, with hundreds now set to lose their jobs.
The company , which dubs itself “Britain’s biggest” used vehicle business, is closing their Chipping Warden site.
It will relocate business to existing Bedforshire and Northamptonshire operations.
Employees were told of the unexpected move late January, and given 45 days to prepare.
The final working day will be March 14 before shutters are pulled down permanently.
Staff claimed the news hit “out of the blue” leaving them “shocked and angered”, as reported by Banbury Guardian.
One said: “There are now a lot of people at BCA very upset about the decision.
“We had no notice, the announcement about 200 redundancies and the centre relocating to Bedford just came completely out of the blue.
“Just before Christmas we were getting told to up production and we were smashing a lot more cars out than normal and this is the thanks we get for it!”
The staff member, who is in their 60s, shared fears they will be “too old” to find another job while being too young to retire.
They added how they’ve been “thrown into limbo” over the move.
The Chipping Warden site has been running for nine years.
A spokesperson for BCA said: “BCA confirmed that the Chipping Warden Remarketing Centre is set to relocate to other sites it operates in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire and has opened consultation with staff.
“Like all businesses, BCA needs to evolve its operational base in line with its growth journey and the changing external environment and needs of our customers to ensure we continue to provide market leading service and support.”
