Dean Hadden looks back on an incredible 30 years with Lloyd Motor Group.
On the 1st of June, Lloyd Jaguar Land Rover Carlisle’s Dean Hadden celebrated an incredible 30 years working for Lloyd Motor Group.
Throughout his career with us, Dean has gained a wealth of knowledge in the Jaguar Land Rover brand and Workshop operations.
Starting as a vehicle Technician at just 19 and now overseeing all of our workshop operations, Dean has dedicated his career to ensuring our customers' experiences exceed expectations, and their vehicles continue to perform at their best, establishing himself as an integral member of our Carlisle team.
At Lloyd Motor Group, we have always taken pride in our employees, who are the beating heart of our business. Their hard work and devotion contribute to our successes, and we are always delighted to see them reach these incredible milestones with us.
We caught up with Dean as he looked back at the highlights from his time with Lloyd Land Rover so far ….
Congratulations on 30 years at Lloyd, an incredible achievement, can you tell us a bit about your career so far?
“My official start date was 1st June 1994, meaning I have officially worked at Lloyd longer than some of our staff have been alive!"
"I started my career at 19 as a Land Rover technician at our Carlisle site, eventually later progressing to be a level 4 Master Technician. I have always had a love for cars and look back on those years repairing these incredible vehicles with fondness. In 2012, I was unfortunately involved in a serious motorcycle accident, and due to injuries, I can no longer bend, stretch, or lift, so I had to move off the tools to run the workshop from workshop control”.
What are your standout moments from your 30 years working with Lloyd?
“Over the last 30 years, there have been so many stand-out moments, from taking part in Dealer of the Year at Gleneagles and in Portugal, pushing a Land Rover Defender from Dalston the Carlisle for Children in Need, and all the little perks like being chauffeur driven in a brand new Range Rover to my wedding!"
What advice would you give your younger self when starting off in the motor industry?
“If I could give advice to a young me knowing what I know now, it would be, learn as much as you can from the older and more experienced staff and don't be afraid to make mistakes, it’s how you learn. Take all the opportunities presented to you and continue developing your skills wherever possible. Finally, be the best team player you can be. Working in a busy workshop will always have its challenges, but having a strong and dedicated team around you makes a world of difference, and you will be rewarded in the future.”
What is your favourite thing about working for Lloyd Motor Group?
“Without a doubt, the team. At Lloyd, it does not matter how skilled or experienced you are or even how old you are, there is a job to do. Everyone always pulls together to make the business the success it is today. We are a family business, which makes the difference. The company recognises the dedication from their teams and makes the effort to give back. We often get treats like a chippy or pizza van coming to serve our lunches and things like our upcoming party at the Halston hotel with a free bar and meal, a thank you for all of the great work put in over a very busy first quarter of the year. It’s those little touches of recognition which I feel help Lloyd to stand out from the rest.”
What is your favourite thing about the Jaguar Land Rover brand?
"There are so many things I admire about this brand, but the standout benefit is having the privilege to drive the cars. You need to experience it to know how it feels. Whether you are cruising in a Range Rover or muddy off-roading in a Defender, there is no feeling like it. They are outstanding vehicles, versatile, capable, and everything you would expect from such a powerhouse brand”.
What are the biggest changes in the motor industry you have noticed over the past 30 years?
"Technology is the biggest change in the industry I have seen in 30 years. We used to have windows that you had to wind up manually, and now the cars can park themselves with the push of a button. When you start working on and understanding these vehicles, you can see why people spend so much money on them".
The whole team at Land Rover Carlisle came together to celebrate the achievement.
Tell us Dean, what do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
"When I am not working, I like to go to or watch the football and play golf both in this country and abroad. I enjoy spending time with my friends, I have recently returned from a lad’s trip to Alicante for my good friend and work colleague's birthday, and of course Lloyd supplied a 7-seater car so we could all travel to the airport together in style".
If you could invite 5 people to a dinner party, dead or alive, who would it be?
If I had to pick, I would probably go for…
1. Neil Diamond- So he could sing to us.
2. Sir Alex Ferguson-I think he would have some good stories to tell.
3. Comedian Micky Flanagan- I think he is a very funny man, even when he is not trying to be.
4. My late uncle Billie- He used to take me to work with him when I was still at school to work on plant and heavy machinery and I would like to tell how much I appreciated his time as I don’t think you a really think that way when you’re young and it’s too late to tell him now.
5. Last but no means least, my ex Service Manager Ron Wilby- Ron saw something in me at an early age and gave me the start I needed. Thankfully it paid off, as 30 years later I am here and still going strong!
On behalf of everyone at Lloyd, we would like to congratulate Dean on this incredible achievement. Your devotion to the company and your trade is a testament to you, and we look forward to seeing where your next 30 years takes you.
At Lloyd Motor Group we are always looking for aspiring Motor Trade talent. If like Dean, Lloyd Motor Group sounds like the perfect company for you, you can browse our current vacancies here: Lloyd Motor Group Current Vacancies | Apply Here Today
