IMI and NFDA back search for best UK dealerships

Dealerships can now register for the AM Best UK Dealerships To Work For 2018 programme.

Following the success of the inaugural initiative last year, in which 15 dealerships achieved Best Dealership status, AM has again teamed up with Best Companies Group to identify those dealers working hard to look after their staff.

Employee engagement is an essential ingredient for a successful and profitable business. No company can succeed without a motivated, well-led workforce that believes in the company mission.

The main objective of AM Best UK Dealerships To Work For is to raise the bar among the industry’s employers, creating excellence and employee engagement in the workplace that will attract talented people for years to come.

It enables retailers to benchmark their performance and identify shortcomings in their employee policies so they can make improvements that boost their staff retention and recruitment.

The dealerships which achieved the accolade in 2017 gained valuable media exposure.

Now we’re launching the 2018 programme, and the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) and the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) are both giving it their backing.

Steve Nash, IMI chief executive, said: “Happy, motivated and engaged staff are essential for long-term business success and the consistent delivery of a company’s values and standards.

“Initiatives like AM Best UK Dealerships To Work For empower staff and managers, enabling them to work together to achieve the best results for their company, those that work in it and, of course, their customers. Harnessing the power of people through the highest professional standards is what the IMI is all about and that’s why we support AM Best UK Dealerships to Work For.”

Sue Robinson, director, NFDA, said: "Having motivated and passionate people working for you is crucial, especially in a period when the industry is evolving at a fast pace and there is an increasing need for new ideas and solutions. Franchised dealer groups work hard to provide their employees with a supportive environment and to build a positive working culture and AM’s Best UK Dealerships To Work For initiative will highlight the efforts that are being made."

It costs nothing to participate in the programme and become a Best UK Dealership To Work For. Employers will be offered the opportunity to buy a comprehensive report detailings their strengths and weaknesses in their staff engagement policies.

Full reports on the 2017 AM Best UK Dealerships to Work For: Peter Vardy Vauxhall Edinburgh; Peter Vardy BMW/Mini Edinburgh; Peter Vardy CarStore Glasgow; Peter Vardy Vauxhall Aberdeen; Peter Vardy Vauxhall Kirkcaldy – Luscombe Motors – Clive Brook Volvo Bradford – Premier Ford – Chorley Nissan – Crewe Audi; Crewe Volkswagen; Volkswagen Van Centre Liverpool – Drayton Motors Kia Boston – Roadside Garages (Kia) – Southend Audi

Retailers can register their dealerships’ interest now at: www.bestukdealerships.com

>> How the AM Best UK Dealerships programme works

AM Best UK Dealerships To Work For is a two-part process designed to gather information about each participating dealership.

Part one: the employer completes the employer questionnaire, which details company policies, practices, benefits and demographics. This can be completed at group level for all the participating dealerships where applicable.

Part two: employees complete the employee engagement and satisfaction survey, an in-depth set of 76 statements based on a 1-5 scale of ‘disagree strongly’ to ‘agree strongly’. The survey also includes two open-ended questions and seven demographic questions.

Both surveys are completed online, although a paper option is available if email and internet technology are not available for use by employees.

Best Companies Group will combine the results of the two surveys to determine which companies make the list of the Best UK Dealerships To Work For.

Participating is free, and dealerships will have the opportunity of purchasing an employee feedback report from Best Companies Group, which will provide comprehensive details of the surveys, including employee comments and benchmarking against peers.

>> What are the benefits?

There are a number of benefits to the companies that choose to take part in AM’s Best UK Dealerships To Work For programme. They include:

1. Recognition as a top employer, including use of the AM Best UK Dealerships To Work For logo

2. A promotional aid for recruitment and staff retention

3. Promotion to potential customers; raising your profile in your local area

4. The ability to benchmark performance against peers

5. Understanding of employees’ views and areas to improve

>> Are you eligible?

To be eligible for consideration, companies must:
– Have a minimum of 15 employees working in the UK
– Be a franchised dealership
– Be a publicly or privately held business
– Have been in business for a minimum of one year

A 40% employee response rate is required (80% for dealerships with 15-24 employees). Temporary or seasonal workers, contractors, consultants, interns and volunteers are not counted as employees or included in the survey.