People are your most important asset – they make your business stand out from the competition.

It’s an irrefutable fact, one that is acknowledged by the majority of employers.

But with many companies experiencing staff turnover of a third, and some suffering more than 50% churn each year, the cost to business is huge.

Retailers and repairers with the worst staff retention levels often suffer from the lowest levels of customer satisfaction and loyalty – people really do make all the difference.

How do you attract and retain the best people?

How do you get access to the thousands of pounds of funding available for training?

And what role does the Government have to play in raising the profile of the automotive industry and ensuring it has relevant qualifications?

The answers to these questions – and more – will be provided at the AM People Skills conference Investing in people, investing in your future.

Supported by headline sponsor the Institute of the Motor Industry, the conference is split into three key sessions looking at qualifications, funding and staff loyalty and features training experts and leading motor industry employers.

Session 1 - qualifications

Speakers will look at the skills vision and Government overview and the strategy for qualifications that meet the needs of employers.

Session 2 – funding

The Learning and Skills Council will outline the funding support available to your business while the IMI will reveal how you can get access to that funding.

This session will include a case study of a retail group that has successful drawn funding – they will reveals the issues and solutions to speed up the process.

Session 3 – attracting and retaining staff

Sarah Sillars, IMI chief executive, will outline the key people challenges in the sector while IMI head of professional development Lesley Woolley will explain how employers can work with schools and other stakeholders to promote careers.

Four heads of industry, including Duncan Wilkes, chief executive of Nationwide Autocentres, Neil Fletcher, head of the Honda Institute, and Melvin Rogers, head of HR at AM employer of the year Sytner Group, will share best practice and reveal the secrets to their success.

To close the conference, delegates will hear from a leading organisation from another industry sector about the challenges facing their business and how they attract and retain the best people.

The AM People Skills conference will be held on September 17, 2008, at Sopwell House Hotel in St Albans, Hertfordshire.

For more information, contact Kate Howard on 01733 468146 or email by clicking here. For full details go to www.ampeopleskills.co.uk.