People are a business’ best asset; they can give the company the advantage it needs to leave the competition standing and can be a game changer. That’s the message at this year’s AM and Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI) People Conference which launches today.

AM has once again teamed up with the IMI to explore how automotive retailers can further harness the talent of their employees to ensure the sector’s impressive success continues.

The conference, which once again takes place ahead of the prestigious AM100 Dinner, runs from 10.00-16.00 at London’s Park Plaza Riverbank where delegates will hear from a variety of speakers including dealer colleagues covering a range of issues such as salary structure, retention and innovative ways of working in an increasingly complex environment which demands flexibility to meet consumer expectations.

Now in its third year, AM and IMI’s People Conference has established itself as the event which provides employee insights, new thinking, latest ideas and examples of best practice in the automotive sector.

“There still is nothing else like it in our sector,” commented editor Stephen Briers. “Having the best people in place is perhaps the most important aspect to ensuring your business’ success and our event explores how to best attract and retain the talent we need to keep our sector performing at its optimum.

“With such strong representation in the recently published Sunday Times ‘Best 100 Companies to work for’, including the top two slots occupied by automotive groups, it illustrates dealers and dealer groups are doing many things right. Our conference forms an essential part in helping dealers plan their people strategy and understand the influences which can affect recruitment, retention and company culture whilst still keeping profitability at the top of dealer agendas.

“We are currently gathering together some of the trade's top employee specialists, motivators and trainers as well as automotive retailer colleagues and industry leaders whose views and experience will help delegates shape a people strategy where profitability, productivity and personal development go hand-in-hand.”

Topics the conference will explore include the salary structure of sales executives including current average packages and how the traditional commission model is likely to evolve over the coming years. The conference will help dealers understand what to expect and how to manage the transition.

Working in conjunction with the IMI and its CEO Steve Nash, who will also take to the stage, AM will deliver a winning conference incorporating legislation, the role of technology and the changing nature of the sector to a customer-centric and digitally led retail environment.

As well as a wide range of main stage speakers who will be experts in their field, AM is planning to host a panel debate between a group of dealer representatives who will discuss diversity in the workplace including how to attract more women to the sector. The panel debate will also discuss why the sector has traditionally shied away from recruiting graduates and whether that should change.

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.