Darren Wright, sales executive at Imperial Commercials Volkswagen Van Centre Derby, has been named Elite Customer Champion by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

The award puts Wright, from Swadlincote, as one of the top VW van salesmen in the UK, an accolade he described as ‘fantastic’.

He said: “I was nominated by the sales manager, Mark Hilton, and the service manager, Elliot Austin, and I had no idea. One day I received a call from our head office saying that I had been given the award as Customer Champion and I was truly shocked.

“They praised me for going above and beyond and noted positive feedback that the branch and I had received from customers. It’s fantastic for me and something I now have with me as I look to progress through the business.”

The award looks at employees from van centres and authorised repairers around the UK and judges their work with customers, taking into account customer comments.