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1st December 2003, Motor Trader magazine Dealers that fail to invest in management development will find themselves at a commercial disadvantage, according to Acorn Management Associates, the specialist motor trade trainers. The company said training in the sector focuses too heavily on the blue-collar side of the business when investment at the management level could equally reap rewards. Bryan Hartshorne, managing director, said “Everyone says the industry needs training but they always focus at the bottom end. We also need training at the top of the industry at the management level. “Investment in the top end of a business helps management set up systems and processes to benefit the whole company – very often these are missing, especially at the independent level.” He also warned that businesses that failed to invest in technical training would get left behind. “Most people are aware of what they should do to keep up but haven't got the means to do it. Training is the way to help them out,” he said. Hartshorne said that attitudes in the industry toward training were beginning to change and that more companies were embracing it. “Franchised dealers have always had to have training. But independents have had a change of heart and we've never had so many bookings with us. Businesses are now seeing training as an essential investment,” he said.
February 2004 issue, AM magazine Acorn Management Associates has launched a measuring tool to quickly and accurately measure brake disc, pad and shoe thickness. It was developed as part of a brake testing kit acorn designed to help mechanics presentations to their customers. The system is said to be unique as it offers accurate disc, pad and shoe lining measurement and can be calibrated in-house with the calibration block supplied, eliminating the need to send it away for recalibration. Acorn says the kit was designed with the average working garage in mind and can withstand a measure of abuse such as being dropped.
12th April issue, Motor Trader With franchised dealers increasingly targeting the older car park, independents are being forced to ramp up staff training to keep up. Traditionally the 3-10 year old market has been the domain of independent repairers but as modern cars become better – franchised outlets are switching. According to Bryan Hartshorne, chief executive of Acorn Management Consultants, the development is impacting heavily on the training sector as the independents try to regain the competitive edge. He said:” it used to be difficult to get independent businesses to release staff but since the beginning of the year it has turned on its head. “They're now recognising that training is the way to go. Independents are approaching us to put on courses because they realise that if they don't do something they will lose out to the franchised sector.” Hartshorne said the pressure on independent garages to become more professional was greater than ever – the emergence of good garage schemes both locally and nationally was testament to the fact. He warned that businesses now had to have systems and processes in place to help staff progress and move the business forward.
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