OVERCOMING challenges was the theme at an event to mark the 70th anniversary of a Bradford-based business which has become the region's largest privately owned company.

Nearly 2,000 employees, suppliers and business contacts gathered at the annual conference of family-owned car retailer JCT600, which was launched by current chairman Jack Tordoff as Brooklands Garage on Sticker Lane in 1946.

The business has grown to a group with 50 dealerships across the North selling 18 makes of car from Minis to Maseratis.

JCT600, whose turnover exceeded £1 billion for the first time last year, now employs nearly 2,000 staff, including more than 100 apprentices. It is currently recruiting for roles ranging from sales staff to service and technical people, including at its Bradford dealerships.

Falklands veteran Simon Weston was guest speaker at the conference at the Leeds Arena, along with JCT 600 chief executive John Tordoff.

John Tordoff said: “Our annual conference is a great opportunity to thank everyone we work with for their continued support – it is only by working closely with our trusted partners that we have been able to build such a successful company and we wanted them to join us as we celebrate how far we have come over the last 70 years.

“Overcoming challenges is certainly an appropriate theme – it has not been an easy journey, to have survived so long in business is an achievement in itself. We attribute our success to hard work, Yorkshire thrift and a straight forward approach to doing business - we are immensely proud of the JCT600 family we have created. "

The conference included a display of some of classic and vintage cars from the past seven decades, including a Bradford-built 1948 Jowett Javelin.

The first vehicle sold by JCT600 was a Jowett van priced at £175. Since then, the company has sold more than a one million vehicles and currently sells around 825 vehicles every week.

Chairman Jack Tordoff said: “Having spent 65 years working, I’ve seen some huge changes in the motor industry, but it still all comes down to people. We’ve worked hard to maintain our strong family values as we’ve grown, recruiting and training like-minded people who want to put the customer first.

“As a result, we’ve established a loyal following with satisfied customers coming back to us time and time again over the years. I have thoroughly enjoyed building the business and as a proud Yorkshireman, I’m particularly delighted that it is the largest family company in the region.”