Conference Timetable

08:30

Registration opens

09:20

Welcome

Jeremy Bennett, editor, AM & Anthony Hilton, conference chair

09:40

A UK economy review

Anthony Hilton, financial editor, Evening Standard

Hilton will provide delegates with his analysis of the recovering UK economy, as well his views on the automotive retail market. Hilton states: “My take on the economic outlook is that there are good reasons to be optimistic and that widespread pessimism is overdone. As the UK recovers from recession it traditionally has several years of above average growth. It is often not appreciated at the time in the aftermath of a downturn how well things are going. In the 1990s politicians were ridiculed for seeing “green shoots” but with hindsight they were right.”

10:10

The new legal framework under the block exemption regulation

Andrew Borkowski, partner - corporate, Geldards
Jonathan Butler, partner, Geldards

Major changes to the EU block exemption rules will impact on dealer's commercial independence, investments and corporate transactions and it is vital that dealers operating in this challenging environment have a clear understanding of what lies ahead.

Andrew will be discussing the new legal framework under the amended block exemption regulations and Jon will be examining the options open to dealerships following network termination by manufacturers and strategies to protect their businesses.

10:40

Transactional activity up to the new block exemption and beyond

Paul Burrows, principal, Grant Thornton Automotive Services
Daniel Taylor, partner, Grant Thornton Automotive Services

Paul will consider what form transactional activity might take in the sector in the run up to the new block exemption and beyond. The freedom to sell a business to any current franchise holder is scheduled for change, so for family concerns looking to, or even considering, exit over the next few years, timing is now of more significant importance. Paul will consider the options available and offer some useful insights, both for sellers and those looking to grow by acquisition.

11:10

Q&A

11:25

Refreshments and networking

11:50

Increasing profit by reducing waste - the Lean Thinking approach

John Kiff, senior fellow, Lean Enterprise Academy

This session will show how dealers have, in a few years, achieved profits of twice the market average by learning how to implement Lean Thinking to reduce wasteful activity in their businesses.

12:20

Cost strategy; reducing overheads without compromising resource

David Powell, overhead management specialist, Auditel

Making sure you don’t waste money by paying more than you need to for your essential business overheads is the quickest and most direct way to put profit back onto your bottom line. How can you achieve this without diverting existing resources away from your core business and adding to the overall cost of your overheads?

12:50

Q&A

13:00

Lunch

14:00

Protecting profit margins; building incremental profits

Dennis Foley, Head of MAPFRE WARRANTY

This session focuses on the strategic and financial importance of dealers taking every available opportunity to maximise insurance product sales. At a time where profit margins are under threat, how could a dealership improve penetration of warranties and other insurance products to bolster their bottom line?

14:30

Funding; access

Keith Parry, relationship director, Barclays Corporate

Access to funding is crucial for businesses. Whether you’re looking to expand the current portfolio, purchase another business, or simply release capital in the current business you’ll need to be working with the best partner. This session will highlight the importance of funding your business appropriately, sources of funding available to your business and some of the areas a funder will look at when considering your application for finance.

15:00

Funding; property values

David Chittenden, head of automotive & roadside, Colliers International
Adrian Clery, director, Colliers International

Property values have a direct link with potentially generating working capital into your business. The more robust your land/property value, the easier it is to gain funding against your assets. In this session we review what determines worth, the pitfalls of sales and leaseback and how you can be pro-active in managing your property assets and improve your negotiating position.

15:30

Q&A

15:45

Chairman's closing remarks and conference close