Peter Vardy rolls out unique Apprentice-style Rookie Academy for 2011
In a bid to push motor trade customer service levels to new heights Peter Vardy Ltd has implemented a unique Apprentice-style training scheme to put its new recruits through their paces.
Over 400 people from across Scotland applied for the select 12 week intensive course, during which recruits are trained in every facet of the car selling trade and leave ready to take up sales positions at one of Peter Vardy Ltd’s seven dealerships across Scotland.
After the initial batch of applicants had been whittled down to just over 100, each one of the remaining recruits attended a series of rigorous assessment days consisting of taking part in presentations, role play and pitting their wits against each other in group work. Based on their performance during these tasks and a final interview with chief executive Peter Vardy, the final 11 (10 men and one woman) ranging in age from 19 to 35, were selected to attend The Rookie Academy - where they are currently taking part in a series of challenges inspired by the hit BBC TV show The Apprentice.
The most recent task saw the Rookies gain a more diverse view of the retail environment by working in pairs at charity shops in Edinburgh & Kirkcaldy. Each duo were assigned their own shop and tasked with raising takings by 20% over a five days period, using their own ideas to drive sales and increase turnover.
Some teams almost doubled their allocated shops’ daily takings, using a range of different marketing techniques including changing the shop layout, meeting and greeting every shopper, designing and printing new window posters, introducing incentives and holding prize draws for items donated by organisations such as Heart of Midlothian Football Club and Avis Car Rental.
Following their comprehensive training the Rookies will graduate, ready to hit the ground running, on March 1st – just in time for sale of the latest 11 plate cars.
Peter Vardy, Chief Executive of Peter Vardy Ltd, said:
“At Peter Vardy Ltd we are proud to only employ those who are the absolute best at what they do. By training these individuals in every area of the motor trade and pairing them up with their own mentors, who are the best performers at each of our dealerships, they are getting one–to-one advice and tuition. Not only will that ensure best practice is passed on, but we will have created an elite sales team with the knowledge and skills that no other car dealer can offer.”
Roddy McAllister, Group Trainer at Peter Vardy Ltd, who has been heavily involved in the implementation of the innovative scheme, said:
“The content of the course has been designed so that each person will have a full overview of each and every Peter Vardy Ltd dealership and the other key areas of the group, from our prep centre in Livingston right through to finance, auctions, systems training, manufacture and warranties.
“Each Rookie will have an in depth knowledge of the motor trade as a whole, meeting the needs of customers, responding to their each and every query and ultimately selling a car successfully. At Peter Vardy we go the extra mile for our customers and this extends to every area – including training.”
Laura Thorpe, one of the Peter Vardy Rookies, said:
“The process of getting into The Rookie Academy was incredibly tough. However, it was just a taste of things to come as the course itself has been highly demanding as we learn about such a wide variety of topics.
“Having the chance to actually put our skills and knowledge to the test has been invaluable as it means we can learn how to apply the knowledge we now have while developing our own style and most importantly find out what customers what - and how to give it to them.”