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Carplus is delighted to announce the launch of the Carplus Academy, an innovative training programme designed to equip new recruits with a comprehensive understanding of car finance. Led by industry expert Graeme Mitchell, the academy addresses the crucial need for an effective induction process in the motor trade. Combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience, this programme ensures that every new recruit is well-prepared to excel in the competitive world of car sales.
Following a successful sales career in various industries, Graeme Mitchell entered the Motor Trade around eight years ago.
Having experienced the onboarding processes for both a Main Dealer and a Large Car Supermarket, it became evident that there was an opportunity to create an induction process that would benefit both the business and the new recruits.
Car Finance can be a daunting body of knowledge to learn initially. All too often, new recruits are thrown in at the deep end and quickly churned out when they fail to meet the required standards in a short period. This sometimes results in great talent entering the industry and leaving before they have had a chance to shine.
Carplus has created “The Carplus Academy”, designed to give new recruits a fast-track understanding of the most crucial aspects of Car Finance. This core understanding forms the foundation upon which our recruits launch their success.
The Academy begins with a review of the Carplus History, our origins, highlights and visions for the future. Understanding where we have come from helps in understanding where we are heading and, most importantly, why.
Next, we examine our Core Values and what it means to work for Carplus. We see ourselves as a collaborative community where success is shared and celebrated. It is only at this point that we start to delve into the Customer Journey and the accompanying Sales Processes.
Training continues with product knowledge, overcoming customer objections and the platforms of our lender partners.
We also allocate time in the induction for Industry Compliance, which includes SAF testing, as well as subjects such as recognising vulnerable customers and how to treat them fairly during the sales process.
Upon completion of the theory training, we test our trainees with a 50-question Carplus quiz, where 80% or above is considered a pass.
The Induction training concludes with our trainees creating a presentation, based on their feedback from our call listening exercise. This presentation is carried out in the boardroom with our Head of Sales and CEO present!
After the induction, the trainees move to the sales floor, where they begin to handle live calls with customers. This is where our collaborative community truly starts to kick in. If a manager is unable to assist with a trainee’s enquiry, any available colleague will be happy to share their knowledge and assist with their success!
Once the first two milestones are reached within the academy, the successful trainee is transferred into the fully-fledged Sales Team.