The Future of Automotive

KIA MOTORS (UK) Recognising that management is key to the success of their dealers, KIA UK wanted to offer an impactful programme of development for managers aspiring to progress in the sector and with the KMUK franchise. The Leadership Development Programme’s stated purpose is to provide nominated individuals with a process of development, building the skills needed to run a dealership effectively to the standards required by KMUK and demanded by a rapidly developing marketplace. Primeast brought an in-depth knowledge of automotive retailing and multi-sector experience enabling development of an innovative programme accurately focused on the needs of KMUK and their dealers. The Leadership Development programme is delivered over 15 months providing a unique KMUK focused journey of increasing challenge as the course progresses. • Phase one covers management and leadership basics using Blue Water ‘trademark’ methodologies i.e., interactive workshops with monitored action plans to transfer from classroom to workplace activity.

• Phase two uses the same methods to challenge participants at a higher level with a focus on how managers can enable management teams to deliver high performance during constant, often disruptive change within the sector. Everyone from President and CEO, Paul Philpott, to operational directors all engaged with participants and the programme. Those who meet the required completion standards graduate with certificates from the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) – confirming industry wide recognition of a high-quality initiative in management and leadership development. Assessment of growing management capability amongst participants is achieved by the targeting and subsequent measure of KPIs within each participating business. Measures are chosen to reflect the developing ability of participants to gain enhanced performance from their team members and typically show substantial improvement in departmental profitability and customer satisfaction. From the outset these results have been impressive and consequently in 2022 the programme entered its ninth year.

“In partnership with Primeast, we have created a market leading programme of development for Kia managers. Of most importance is that we are able to track tangible results and demonstrate significant business improvement as a direct outcome of our leadership development.” Stephen Dorman, General Manager - Customer Quality, KIA MOTORS (UK) LTD