Skoda is going back to basics for 2017 with a huge push on its accreditation programme for all retailer staff. At present, what the VW-owned brand describes as “a relatively low proportion” of the...

Eastbourne Motoring Centre had its best ever retail month in March this year, and managing director Mark Lambird attributed this largely to a six-month leadership development programme taken by...

The motor retail sector had its best ever year in the Sunday Times’ Best Companies to Work For 2014 league table, with Sytner group, Swansway, Citygate Automotive, Peter Vardy and Inchcape all...

The IMI is warning automotive employers not to disregard management training if they wish to reach their maximum potential. The warning comes on the back of a two-year ROI study completed by the IMI,...

I was talking to a pal who’s a consultant to a company making equipment for the armed forces. The sales force is all ex-military. He was describing the salespeople there as ‘shadow boxers’ because...

I had a conversation recently with a potential new funder for the UK motor market, and during the meeting he must have used the phrase ‘disruption’ a dozen times or more. But then, he is American....

Every year at the NADA Convention in the USA, auto retailers from all over the world gather to share best practice and exchange new ideas.   One of the most popular management workshops is the...

With the start of March just a few days away, all of your sales staff will be busy selling and processing orders ready for the 1st of the month. Sales departments, prep teams and workshops will have...

Average remuneration in the UK motor retail sector fell by over 5% last year, according to the third annual BDO motor salary survey. The average total remuneration package for dealership employees...

2013 was pretty good for the average franchised dealership. But reviewing ASE’s latest KPI figures, the net profit on sales of 1.38% looks poor compared with their 3% benchmark. One retailer...

The past 12 months have been an excellent year for new and used car sales with many plc and privately-owned groups announcing record results. Volumes and margins are up, point-of-sale finance is ahead...

Pulman SEAT has been the brand’s Dealer Of The Year for the past two years, despite having only held the franchise for three. With around 25 staff led by site manager Chris Slater, the...

Winning a top national award is a bit like winning an Oscar. Winning one once is a rare achievement, but winning one three years running is almost unheard of. So when I read that Swansway Garages had...

 2013 has been a pretty good year. Dealer principals I speak with are upbeat, the politicians tell us the UK is recovering nicely, and even the media no longer talk the economy...

When was the last time you caught somebody doing a great job in your dealership and publicly celebrated it.  It is part of the culture at Ford Retail, where the company has just named the...

The last four years have been tough for many Mazda retailers, but Lodge Garage of Buckinghamshire has managed to double sales and turnover in that time. Profits are “well on the way to doubling”...

Stewart Todd, 27, has become the first person – and the youngest – to gain a distinction in the Edinburgh Napier university-accredited qualification, which is offered by Peter Vardy to all its sales...

The atmosphere at NADA 2013 in Orlando, Florida, was very positive, reflecting a successful year for the American car industry where vehicle sales and profitability increased. The title of this...

How and where do you find great people? The obvious, but often overlooked, answer is to start with those you have. If you haven’t done what is necessary to develop the people already on your...

The first wave of 70 trainees has graduated from Volvo’s new Accredited Leadership Programme, a scheme designed to offer long-term professional training and development to sales management-level...