Category: Mini News

Bowker MINI staff have volunteered with the Ribble Rivers Trust planting trees as part of the MINI UK Big Love campaign. The tree planting took place off Spring Lane in Samlesbury as part of the trust’s ongoing conservation efforts to improve the River Ribble and its tributaries.

Prepared with sturdy footwear, waterproofs, and a packed lunch, seven staff planted over 400 saplings. The planting focused on an area near Nabs Head in Samlesbury. The trees will help to reduce flood risk of the River Darwen, a River Ribble tributary, and aid carbon capture.

Bowker MINI’s volunteering commitment is part of a national initiative launched by MINI UK last year called Big Love. This ongoing campaign encourages MINI retailers nationwide to establish strong connections with their local communities by creating unique Big Love pledges. This initiative motivates centres to collaborate with local organisations like The Ribble Rivers Trust to provide help and support.

Jonathan Rogan, Head of Business, commented, “Thank you to everyone who turned up for a fantastic tree planting day. Since last year, our collaboration with the Ribble Rivers Trust has become a volunteering highlight. Despite the weather, this latest event is another example of how our volunteering and charity partnerships make life at Bowker MINI so unique.”

The collaboration between Bowker MINI and The Ribble Rivers Trust began last year when Bowker MINI centres on Preston Docks and Trident Park, Blackburn, dedicated staff time to volunteer for the local charity. The centres also encouraged MINI owners to participate in volunteering activities.

Bowker MINI staff volunteers have been actively involved in several conservation tasks within the Ribble catchment area, including tree planting, clean-ups, fencing, and brash building using wood from fallen trees.

Amy Lancaster-Hall, Group Marketing Manager, added, “The Ribble Rivers Trust offers a wide range of activities for our staff to participate in, ensuring there’s something for everyone. We’ll continue promoting conservation efforts at our Centre and encourage our MINI owners to join us in volunteering too!”

The Ribble Rivers Trust is a Clitheroe-based charity working tirelessly to improve, protect, and promote the River Ribble for people and wildlife. The Trust collaborates with various public and private organisations to implement river improvement projects across the Ribble catchment area, benefiting local communities and the environment.

Jack Spees, CEO of The Ribble Rivers Trust, said: “Our volunteers are vital to the success of our conservation projects. Volunteering is an amazing way to enjoy the outdoors, meet new people, and learn new skills. We’re thrilled that Bowker MINI staff were able to help us with the tree planting in Samlesbury.”

If you’re interested in volunteering for The Ribble Rivers Trust can find more information by visiting ribbletrust.org.uk/volunteer/.

Our employees and customers spread Big Love for Santa’s little yelpers in 2022 by donating a bumper bundle of goodies for homeless dogs in the region. 

For several weeks, motorists in Lancashire had been Dachshund through the snow to drop off donations at our MINI centres in Blackburn and Preston. 

Donated items included tinned meats and treats as well as dog toys, towels and bedding. The gifts have now been delivered to the Dogs Trust in Denton near Manchester.

For Bowker MINI, Marketing Executive Jess O’Neill said: “Thank you to all our customers who have donated so generously.  The gift donation is part of an ongoing partnership between MINI and The Dogs Trust. It also reflects our Big Love commitment by each of our centres to make a difference in our local community. Thanks to MINI owners’ kindness, many dogs in need will be enjoying a happier Christmas this year.”

We are proud that MINI is the first Dogs Trust-supported, dog-friendly car retailer in the country. Training each centre is part of MINI UK’s mission to make showrooms as accessible as possible – including for devoted dog owners and their companions. 

Earlier this year, our Centres became the first MINI Centres in Lancashire to be certified dog friendly by the Dogs Trust. Our staff are trained for every aspect of engaging with dogs who visit, including greeting, health and safety, managing tricky situations, safe car travel and best car options for dog owners. 

Bowker MINI is spearheading an environmental drive to make all its processes paperless; and has already eliminated all but 95% of its paper transactions and communications.

Family-owned Bowker Motor Group’s paperless mission was pioneered by the group’s sales team in their centres in Blackburn and Preston. The company’s aftersales department has now followed their lead in going completely paperless. The remaining departments will soon follow suit.

The paper-free changes means that the customer experience at Bowker is now completely digital – using computer screens and tablets to share information. The information is then stored securely and digitally instead of as physical documents.

Stewart Rose, Bowker Group service manager, said: “With the introduction of paperless processes, we all learned to adapt the way we work. It didn’t take long for the benefits to all staff and customers to become clear. Digitised documents are much easier to search for and find. It’s speeding all our processes up, too. All our transactions are now completed on tablets.”

Bowker Motor Group has partnered with Keyloop to introduce new paperless processes. Keyloop provides dealer management systems in over 90 countries. Its technology connects over 250,000 product users and 18,000 retail sites. The secure open platform links retailers, manufacturers, partners, and customers to provide a seamless automotive retail and service experience.

In addition to the improved customer experience Bowker’s paperless drive is delivering other business benefits too. Digital storage saves space and time, boosts security and helps the environment.  Manufacturing paper products produce greenhouse gases, causing deforestation and global warming.

Stewart Rose adds: “Our new paperless processes help continue our company’s commitment to the environment. We also monitor how we recycle packaging and waste; conserve energy and use more electric vehicles – it all adds up! The energy crisis and Global climate emergency has encouraged us to focus on what all businesses need to do to make a difference.”

Bowker Motor Group’s long-held environmental focus began more than 15 years ago when they recycled glass, cardboard and even rubber tyres to be reconstituted for re-use including flooring for children’s playgrounds.

At Bowker MINI it’s no secret we’re crazy about dogs. Which is why, yesterday, we hosted our first Howl-Oween dog walk for our MINI Owners at Black Bull Inn – Old Langho. The morning saw a gathering of menacing MINI’s, ghoulish grown-ups, little monsters and fang-tastic fury friends.