CELEBRATIONS are in full swing at Nissan dealership Alex F. Noble & Son as the business marks its 85th anniversary.
The family-owned firm, which has a Nissan dealership in Straiton near Edinburgh and another franchise in Penicuik, has more than 100 full time staff making it one of the biggest employers in the area.
Its story began in August 1932 when Alex F Noble left an engineering job at Parsons Peebles to establish his own business at Milton Bridge near Penicuik.
Combining petrol retailing with vehicle sales and repairs, the company began life representing the Austin brand.
Alex’s son, William, joined the business in 1956 and the family dynasty was maintained in the late 1970s when William’s three sons, David, Colin and Michael became third-generation employees.
When their father semi-retired in the mid 1980s, the brothers took over the running of the firm and their ambition and drive would subsequently elevate the Noble brand to heights their grandfather would have been truly proud of.
The family connection has been maintained with a fourth generation of the Noble family now involved in the business with Colin Noble Jnr (21) employed as a technician at the Nissan dealership at Straiton.
In 2002, the firm sold its original Milton Bridge site and relocated to its current three-acre headquarters at Straiton by Loanhead and four years later added Nissan to its portfolio.
By 2008, the burgeoning Straiton dealership had become Scotland’s sole Nissan High Performance Centre, after meeting a rigorous set of manufacturer-led criteria and in 2011, Alex F Noble & Son Nissan proudly became the first car dealership in Scotland to sell an all-electric family vehicle, the multiple award-winning LEAF.
Last year, the firm celebrated a ten year partnership with Nissan by unveiling its new-look showroom, embracing Nissan’s innovative retail concept, and this year the dealership has expanded its outside space to 2,000m2 — providing additional display space for around 100 used and ex-demonstrator vehicles.
Over 85 illustrious years, the company founded by Alex F Noble has also become a cornerstone of the Midlothian community.
The firm has developed close connections with a number of well-known local organisations including a seven-year association with the Edinburgh Marathon Festival as official transport partner, a 31-year main sponsorship of Lasswade Rugby Club and an innovative partnership with Edinburgh College and its engineering department.
David Noble, Dealer Principal at Alex F Noble & Son Nissan said: “There’s not many firms can celebrate 85 years in business, so we’re obviously proud to have reached this significant milestone in our history. We’ve great plans to develop the business even further over the next few years and are looking forward to our 100th anniversary in 2032”.
Leon Brannan, Director of Network development and Quality at Nissan Motor (GB), said: “Nissan has enjoyed a successful and valued relationship with Alex F Noble & Son for many years now and David and his team have done a fabulous job in representing our brand and giving customers the best possible experience. We congratulate the whole team for reaching this milestone and look forward to working with them for many more years to come.”
