A SCOTS motor group have been praised for his or her devoted, industry-leading IT division in the course of the fast technological modifications of their sector.
John Clark Motor Group are assembly this problem not solely with a devoted, industry-leading IT division however with an ongoing IT apprenticeship scheme which frequently feeds contemporary expertise into the talents pool.
The fast digitalisation of the sector has made IT expertise essential to each facet of the best way automobiles are designed, constructed, improved, distributed, bought and consumed.
The agency, established 45 years in the past by Chairman John Clark, OBE, with a single sports activities automotive dealership, has grown into a bunch of 38 companies with an annual turnover of greater than £914 million, and greater than 1,300 colleagues, 127 of whom are apprentices.
It really works in tandem with Glasgow-based Elite Coaching and Consultancy, which provides the group with carefully-selected IT apprentice candidates whom it additionally shepherds by way of the complexities of their apprenticeship journey.
Stewart Herd, Group IT Supervisor on the John Clark Motor Group, stated: “Automobiles are not simply automobiles, however are complicated software program packages.
“IT information is key not solely to gross sales and after-sales however to understanding and appreciating the product.
“Since lockdown, the entire course of has migrated on-line, linking producers’ methods with automated processes and synthetic intelligence, which is more and more being employed in advertising and marketing methods.
“Whereas beforehand clients would come into the showroom for recommendation and steering, now some 80% conduct intensive analysis on-line and have a good suggestion of the automotive they need and the worth they’re taking a look at earlier than coming in to see us.
“We began working with them round two years in the past and it has been a really optimistic expertise. Elite is absolutely engaged with the method and gives a great matching service of candidate to function.
“In contrast to some coaching suppliers, which appear extra serious about numbers and ticking containers, Elite works with the apprentices and tailors every particular person’s programme not solely across the function to which she or he aspires but additionally to future profession ambitions.
“It implies that, from day one, apprentices are given a correct function inside the division –organising methods, performing installations and occurring web site visits – which hyperlinks them to the job and gives a beneficial help function for the Group.
“There’s a enormous expertise hole in our {industry} and we’ve to develop our personal expertise. We work carefully with our companions to make sure that we’ve a great mixture of on-line studying, sensible studying, classroom studying and sensible assessments.
“We tailor the content material to the present and future wants of our enterprise. Expertise is advancing quickly and we want our apprentices to be absolutely versed within the very newest know-how obtainable.
“Apprentices are the lifeblood of our future enterprise. We’re bringing younger, contemporary expertise in and offering the chance of a lifelong profession.”
Stephen McDade, Operations Supervisor at Elite Coaching and Consultancy, stated: “Elite Coaching has been delivering IT options for the previous 17 years and has a singular suite of in-house sources which permit it to create bespoke options for corporations and organisations.
“It has been a pleasure to work with the John Clark Motor Group, which is ready to commit time and sources to fashionable apprenticeships .
“A programme which lets folks acquire an industry-recognised qualification similtaneously they’re incomes a great wage.
“In contrast to different suppliers, Elite provides quite a lot of added worth contributions freed from cost, reminiscent of Microsoft or cybersecurity certification.
“We do that in addition to common half-day slots with trainers in topics reminiscent of communication expertise, all as a part of the training programme.”