We took some time out of Service Station Manager Bert Jordine’s day to hear about the JET site that sits at the heart of the local Ware community...

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How long have you managed your dealership?

We’ve been with JET for six years and I’ve been working in this field for over 35 years in total. Previously, I owned a site in Edmonton before moving to Ware. We love it here. It’s a lovely village.

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What was it like when you first arrived at the High Cross service station?

When I first took on the site, it was in disrepair. Broken refrigerators, the drinks were lukewarm, and all the shop front and windows were wooden. So, we did a complete refurb (this was pre JET days). The locals were delighted! Suddenly, they had a local shop that properly served their needs. In a small village like Ware - the local shops play an important role.

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What do you think of the new JET refit?

It looks incredible! It takes our modest refurb to a whole new level. We particularly like the neon signs that really makes a statement - especially at night. We now also have hot and cold food served from our shop, an off licence, a new JET car wash and an MOT centre. And the new refit has had an impact on profit with fuel sales going up by 20-30%. Customers can come in for the full service!

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Tell us about your relationship with JET

Working with JET was like a breath of fresh air. I can’t praise Naina Patel (Retail Account Manager) enough. She’s so responsive and always sorts out any issues we have. Even during the fuel shortage - JET made sure we had everything we needed and were always around to support us.

What’s an average day like for you?

I come in early, check that our staff are happy, inspect the shop to see that it’s looking nice and tidy. I’ll look out for any issues, try to solve them and then get on with stock checks and the rest of the day generally speeds away.

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What role does JET High Cross serve for the community?

We provide a much-needed service to the community. Beyond the sales side, we really care about the people in our neighbourhood. Lots of our locals come in, share their day with us, grab a coffee and a paper… It's a part of their daily routine and for some people, it might be their only interaction that they’ve had all day.

My son, Robert, works for the business too. He befriended a man battling cancer - who would come in all the time to do his shopping. They would have regular chats. The man really appreciated their interactions and would bring in veg from his allotment. It was really heart-warming to see.

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Sum up your job in three words.

Rewarding, fulfilling, community-serving

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