Yorkshire-based dealer group JCT600 aims to have 10% of its workforce enrolled into its ‘Wired’ programme this year which prepares employees for managerial positions.
HR director Katie Saunders (pictured) will explain how making people its focus is crucial to the 50-strong dealership group’s success with its Wired programme proving to be a door opener for many of its ambitious staff when she takes to the stage at AM’s People Conference.
Hosted in conjunction with the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), the event, now in its third year, takes place ahead of the prestigious AM100 Dinner at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank on June 16.
Currently, there are around 160 employees on the Wired programme and the company is aiming to have 200 on board this year equating to 10% of its workforce. Employees can put themselves forward for the programme which provides them with training and development in preparation for a management role. Last year 40% of people on the programme received a promotion.
Saunders said: “The only exclusion is that it is not open to people already in managerial positions. Not everyone is accepted; sometimes it’s just not the right time for people to make the extra commitment and a person can be on the programme for any amount of time. We have a complete range of employees enrolled from an 18-year-old apprentice to a reception supervisor aged in their fifties.
“We recognised the importance of preparing people a few years ago, rather than simply promoting someone and expecting a switch to activate in their brain which enables them to suddenly start managing a team; we wanted to make sure they were completely prepared.
"We are looking for people who are ambitious and want to push themselves so we can retain and progress them.”
JCT600 entered the Sunday Times ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ for the first time this year at number 84 having seen their position nudge up the rankings gradually in the past few years. Saunders thinks employees’ high opinions stem from the likes of the Wired programme and the on-going personal development for its management staff.
“It was doubly significant for us,” said Saunders. “Unlike many other companies, we didn’t ask a cross section of our workforce to take part in the survey we provided the opportunity to everyone and we were extremely happy with the 87% response rate.”
Saunders also points to their charitable links as a crucial part of their employee engagement programme.
This year the group signed up as a patron of the Prince’s Trust for four years with staff fundraising and volunteering whilst last year the group and its employees raised £50,000 for the Alzheimers Society.
The conference will see a wide range of main stage expert speakers and a panel debate between dealer representatives who will discuss diversity in the workplace including how to attract more women to the sector.
Website
Tickets
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
Venue
London’s Park Plaza Riverbank SE1 7TJ
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