From Policing to Posting: How Two Retired Officers Mastered Social Media and Revved Up Their Car Sales Business

After serving for 50-years between them in the police, Clifford Tompkinson and Darren Williams took the plunge into setting up a car sales business in the beautiful South Staffordshire village of Wombourne. 

The duo, recognising that there was huge opportunity to drive business growth through social media but there were some gaps in their knowledge, contacted South Staffordshire Council who were able to refer them to Staffordshire County Council’s Get Started and Grow Scheme.

Clifford explained “Between us within policing we have seen and experienced some of the most horrific and daunting things in life anybody would expect… that was until we were faced with the challenges of social media! I could only describe us as social media dinosaurs and within policing social media was always that monster that we swayed away from through fear of getting in trouble. 

“For months we struggled by posting, deleting and we were almost ready to throw in the towel until we came across an article from the local Council looking to support new and local businesses. 

“We were successful in our application, and after some 1-2-1 mentoring support sessions and contact we were set on a path much more prepared and focused. 

“Six months later we are currently thriving in a market that is struggling. Slowly we are embracing a whole new World. Can we get better? Of course we can! However, it will not be long before one of us is let loose with the gimbal we have purchased to help us create better video content for our reels! Then who knows what next? All thanks to Kathryn Hyde at The NextGen and Staffordshire County Council.”

The Get Started and Grow Scheme is available to all businesses 0-5 years old, including pre-starts. The following support can be accessed to help your business to grow and flourish – HR, Accounting, Legal, Social Media, Logos and Branding, Websites. This scheme is available for all Staffordshire based companies, excluding Stoke on Trent.

For more information about the scheme and to complete an Expression of Interest, visit Staffordshire County Council website here.