Automotive retail managers will be urged to meet new standards and adopt best practices to encourage even higher professional standards in the industry when the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) chief executive Steve Nash speaks at this year’s People Conference.

The AM conference, which is being run for the second year in succession with the IMI, takes place on June 11 at The Park Plaza Riverbank in London, before the prestigious AM100 Dinner and aims to help the industry maximise its greatest asset, its people. Exploring topics from employee engagement to agile working as well as insights from automotive retail colleagues, the conference remains unique in the sector.

As parts of its drive to raise professionalism in the industry and develop universally acknowledged and accepted accreditation, the IMI will be launching its 10 Principles of People Management at the event. Intended as an easy reference and a way to benchmark best practice, the guide will help managers focus on key elements of leadership and teamwork to create an improved working environment for greater productivity and profitability.

Commented Nash: “Employees who are engaged, rewarded and appreciated are enthusiastic and passionate ambassadors for your brand and your business which in turn encourages customers to purchase, return and recommend. We believe our ’10 Principles of People Management’ are the cornerstone of a harmonious workplace where everyone’s contribution is recognised and employees have the opportunity to develop and progress whilst delivering the best service to customers which will inevitably lead to higher returns for the business itself.”

The IMI launched its Professional Register in 2013 to differentiate properly trained professionals in an unregulated automotive sector. Also to encourage the sector’s managers to further develop their leadership skills and achieve accreditation through its newly launched IMI Sales Accreditation, its professional standard for vehicle sales, which sits alongside its existing Customer Service Accreditation,  Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) and Automotive Management Accreditation (AMA) collectively referred to as ‘IMI Accreditation’ for consistency with its extensive suite of automotive qualifications, collectively known as ‘IMI Awards’.

Those who achieve IMI Accreditation receive automatic entry to the IMI Professional Register which is now fast gathering pace with in excess of 40,000 members to date.

Added Nash: “We are working, rightly so, in an era of close scrutiny, transparency and high standards. Consumers are fully informed and their expectations have never been more demanding. They expect to be able to hold businesses to account across the board and we are no exception. As such it is down to us as an industry to put the structure in place and step up to the plate. The response to our new sales accreditation has been extremely encouraging with manufacturers such as Vauxhall and Mercedes-Benz already backing the scheme and we are in talks with many other manufacturers and dealership groups.”

Tickets are available to dealers and manufacturers, with a limited number of supplier tickets on sale. To book, please contact Emma-Louise Kinnaird on 01733 395133, email emma-louise.kinnaird@bauermedia.co.uk or visit www.ampeopleconference.co.uk