Kia have won the award for ‘Best Training Programme’ at the 2013 AM Awards at a ceremony held on Wednesday night at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
The award recognised Kia’s network training scheme – the ‘DNA’ programme – that seeks to instill ‘Family-like Care’ across the Kia network by delivering in-dealer training on coaching, leadership, competencies and skills and complements the courses available at the Kia Academy, Kia’s recently-opened dedicated training facility in Nottinghamshire.
Paul Philpott, President & CEO, Kia Motors (UK) Limited commented: “In just over a year and a half we have rolled out the ‘DNA’ in-dealer training programme and opened a dedicated training facility. Both of these are vital to us developing our network’s capabilities as we move towards our aim of being a top five volume car brand in the UK. We’re delighted that our focus, commitment and investment to deliver exceptional customer service across the Kia network have been recognised with this prestigious award.”
Commenting on their decision to award the top prize to Kia, the AM Awards judges said: “Kia Motors (UK)’s training scheme was comprehensive, progressive and demonstrating positive results in terms of customer handling, staff turnover and CSI. Kia should be given the ultimate accolade for taking a long-term commitment to its dealer network pushing standards with definable outcomes.”
The ‘DNA’ scheme (standing for Develop, eNgage, Apply) was initially rolled out to Kia’s UK network in July 2011. Since then performance improvement coaches have worked with 700 individuals at 90 Kia dealerships to improve customer satisfaction ratings by up to 15.7 per cent and reduce staff turnover at participating dealers to 11 per cent from 16 per cent. The curriculum is brought to staff via visits, coaching meetings and video podcasts.
Whilst the ‘DNA’ programme is delivered on-site across the Kia network, the scheme is complemented by the courses and apprenticeship programmes available at Kia’s dedicated training facility in Ruddington, Nottinghamshire – the Kia Academy. The Kia Academy opened in January 2012 to offer a variety of after-sales, technical, sales and service courses as well as Kia’s IMI-accredited Apprenticeship Programme and runs up to 2,500 delegate days a year serving Kia’s 183 dealerships.
