Making a difference to our industry
We constantly look at ways we can make a positive contribution to our industries; whether that’s developing the next generation of talent, sharing best practice advice with our retailer customers through masterclasses and industry events, or encouraging our teams and partners to operate in a transparent, progressive and diverse manner.
Developing talent
One of the most critical challenges for both the technology and automotive industries is ensuring we develop diverse teams of young people with the right skills to lead us into the future.
To encourage the next generation of technology and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) talent, we partner with a wide range of local education organisations from primary schools to universities:
- We work with Manchester Digital on their Apprenticeship Scheme and have welcomed apprentices into the business for the last two years.
- We work with local universities and schools to host experience days in our offices, running mock interviews and giving talks to introduce students to careers in digital.
- We run ‘Code Clubs’ in local primary schools to teach young children how to code.
- We continue to offer a Phd scholarship and two summer project grants for Data Science students from the University of Manchester.
- A number of our colleagues are training to become STEM ambassadors, and will lead our involvement with initiatives like the nationwide “People Like Me” campaign to encourage girls into STEM careers.
The technology industry, as well as the automotive sector, has a significant challenge with diversity and Auto Trader is pleased to support and actively create initiatives that will attract women and minorities to enter the industries, as diversity is a key part of business success.
The automotive industry, much like the wider technology sector, has a significant challenge with diversity and Auto Trader is working actively with key media partners, recruitment businesses, and major retailer groups to address this. This year we hosted an industry-wide event, in partnership with automotive retailer Ennis & Co and media title ARN, to develop actionable plans to address diversity issues.
We also work to ensure our editorial content engages with, and fully represents, the UK car-buying public. We recently launched The REV Test, a new web TV series led by an all-female editorial review team.
Sharing insight
Leading the industry, sharing ideas, and inspiring change and action, is at the heart of our work with our retailer customers.
Through masterclasses, conferences, webinars, discovery days and awards events we share the latest consumer trends, best practice advice and insights to help shape the future of the industry. Over 4,000 retailer customers or industry figures joined us for one of these sessions in 2018.
We want to make a difference to our customers by rewarding their efforts, and we do this annually at our Auto Trader Retailer Awards. The awards, now in their 11th year, recognise those at the forefront of digital automotive retailing who really do put the consumer at the heart of their business.
Ways of working
As a customer focused business we are committed to findings ways to improve the process of buying and selling vehicles for consumers and retailers alike. We have changed our sales approach, removing commissions, and our packages; both of which enable us to promote best practice and equip our sales teams to create strong business partnerships with our customers helping add value to their businesses.