Dealers will gain valuable insight into staff retention, recruitment best practice and how service advisors are the lifeblood of a dealership at the AM Aftersales Conference 2011.

The event will be held at the Quandrangle Conference Centre in Oxford (location map) on April 6 and staffing is just one area which will be studied and discussed with delegates in detail.

Rod Castle, director, Remit Resourcing, will be discussing how staff turnover has been a major issue in the automotive sector.

He will identify poor recruitment practices and poor management support and identify best practice that can lead to improvement in retention and performance within the service department.

Pete Turner, chairman Automotive Advantage, will talk to delegates about the importance of the service advisor and how the success of the aftersales department and the dealership rests on them being recognised.

Turner said: “They must change their mindset to that of a sales person. Treat them like sales people, incentivise them like sales people.

“Service advisors have a greater responsibility for dealer profit than any other area of the business.”

Turner will share key research on the psychology of today's service advisor. He will also explore key areas of personal development in the aftersales department.

Attend this one-day conference and gain a unique insight into the aftersales arena, helping you to:

• Understand the potential in the aftersales business
• Recruit and retain the right staff, in the right role
• Explore ways to change consumer perception of the franchised dealer
• Manage data to increase penetration
• Change the mindset of service advisors - they too can up sell products and services

An early bird discount is available for delegates that book before March 4. Group discounts are also available. For more information or to book your ticket see www.am-online.com/am-aftersales-conference

The conference is sponsored by Continental Tyres, Total Lubricants and Akzo Nobel Coatings.