Suzuki News

Nine delegates from Suzuki’s automobile dealer network have been awarded a Certificate of Management in the Suzuki GB Aftersales Management Development Programme (AMDP), with Paul Castle from James & Jenkins, Cardiff, named as Delegate of the Year.

The Institute of the Motor Industry accredited training programme is designed to develop aftersales managers and supervisors within the Suzuki GB dealerships and combines workplace and classroom-based training over 12 months with all course content relating to real work issues.

All participants are judged on their competency in a number of key areas including leadership; personal drive and resilience; decision making; organisational skills; and customer and commercial focus.

“We launched AMDP in 2004 and we are now on the fourth intake,” explained Denis Houston General Manager Aftersales at Suzuki GB. “Comprehensive and consistent training is a key element of our dealership operations and it helps us to develop professional management teams to the benefit of improved business performance, increased staff retention and, above all, enhanced customer service.

“It is one of the reasons why a number of key surveys over the past five years have consistently confirmed that Suzuki dealers provide the very highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry.”

The nine delegates are:

Paul Castle (James & Jenkins, Cardiff)
Paul Marshall (Seward Cars, Havant)
Andy Wilmont (Maxmatt Brighton Suzuki)
Graham Nicholls (Epsom Suzuki)
Mark Walker-Thorpe (Colin Appleyard Cars, Huddersfield)
Tony Graffin (John Wilkins Cars, Cheltenham)
Robbie Gibson (Verve Kilmarnock)
Nicola Bolton (John Banks Ltd, Ipswich)
Graham Care (Walldonway, Maidstone)

Delegates awarded with a Certificate of Management in the Suzuki GB Aftersales Management Development programme: L-R back row: Paul Castle James & Jenkins (Cardiff), Nic Garwood (Course Tutor), Paul Marshall (Seward Cars), Andy Wilmont (Maxmatt Brighton Suzuki), Graham Nicholls (Epsom Suzuki); front row: John Brambley (training co-ordinator Suzuki GB), Mark Walker-Thorpe (Colin Appleyard Cars Huddersfield), Tony Graffin (John Wilkins Cars), Robbie Gibson (Verve Kilmarnock). Nicola Bolton (John Banks Ltd, Ipswich) and Graham Care (Walldonway, Maidstone) were unable to attend the ceremony).

Suzuki GB has been presented with the Manufacturer of the Year title in the prestigious AM Awards 2007. The accolade from one of Europe’s leading automotive trade titles is a ringing endorsement of Suzuki’s strategy of delivering products with strong customer appeal at competitive prices.

“Suzuki was up against tough opposition, including Audi, Fiat, Honda, Lexus and Toyota,” commented AM editor Stephen Briers. “However, the popularity of Swift, Grand Vitara and SX4, together with strong transaction prices and profitability, have all kept this car maker in the top ranks for dealer value.”

“We are extremely delighted with this award which recognises the growing strength of the Suzuki brand in the marketplace,” said David Seward, Suzuki Sales and Marketing director. “The Grand Vitara, SX4 and Swift have all been well-received and our growth is set to continue with the launch of another exciting new model later in the year, together with further product introductions between 2008 and 2010.

“Our success also demonstrates the vital part played by our dealers; key surveys over the past five years have consistently confirmed that they provide some of the very highest levels of customer satisfaction in the industry.”

Worldwide, Suzuki has been enjoying buoyant sales and in the last financial year production output totalled 2.2 million vehicles. Plants have been operating flat out to meet the demand and this has prompted substantial new investments in production capacity worldwide, including almost doubling potential output at the Magyar Suzuki plant in Hungary.