Staff Reap Benefits Of College Training Course

Chester-based ACF Car Finance Limited is helping to ensure its staff have a bright future ahead of them after launching a training and development programme with West Cheshire College.

The employees, who are working towards their Level 2 NVQ qualifications in Business and Administration and Contact Centre Operations, are undertaking the programmes as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to staff training and development.

Assessors from West Cheshire College deliver the NVQ programmes directly in the workplace, with assessment based around the employee’s job role to help demonstrate competence within a work situation.

Units covered in the Contact Centre Operations qualification include: customer care, contact centre systems and technology, direct selling and customer acquisition.

The Business and Administration NVQ is aimed at staff working in administration across all areas of the company and includes a range of activities from managing customer relations, managing diary systems, organising business travel and accommodation, organising and supporting meetings, as well as using different software.

Norman Beaumont, Sales and Marketing Director for ACF Car Finance, commented: "We are delighted to be working directly with West Cheshire College to deliver the NVQ courses. Having the qualifications delivered in the workplace, specific to individual job roles, will help to improve the confidence, skills and aspirations of our employees."

West Cheshire College Commercial Services Assistant Manager, Rachael Beasley, said: "The most successful businesses are those committed to ongoing staff development and training.

"During a recession training budgets are often the first to be cut, but when the upturn comes businesses with well trained and motivated staff have the competitive edge."

ACF Car Finance employs over 125 people throughout its network of used car dealerships and recently reported its busiest day ever in loan applications to date.