Youth: Unforgettable in more ways than one!

Today the youth academy were welcomed by Colin McGeogh, Team Training Manager with the Phoenix Car Company in Linwood to find out more about working within the Motor trade Industry.

Prior to the visit, the youth team did their preparation; researching the Car Company to find out as much as possible about them and in doing so gave themselves a platform for asking more relevant questions about the company and the role that Colin carries out.

During the visit, Colin had prepared a short presentation about the history of the company and how it had grown over the years. The young people were impressive in their ability to ask questions about the presentation as it was being delivered. This generated some quite interesting discussion after the presentation had been completed. Colin was joined by Tom, the after-sales manager, who talked about the different roles and skill sets required to make the company a success and was interested in finding out more about the progress the young people had made while participating in the Youth Academy.

The young people were very impressed by the ethos of the company and their slogan of “Welcome to the family”, which encourages all employees to provide an exceptional level of customer service. This struck a chord with the young people as it reminded them of the KDS values. When they spoke about Stevie Kidd to Colin and Tom and how Stevie has pictures of his role models, Sir Alex Ferguson and Muhammad Ali throughout the office, Colin immediately arranged for the Youth Team to go into the Board Room of the Phoenix Car Company. The Board room is full of framed pictures of the rolemodels of the Managing Director –and some impressive role models they are too!

Colin gave the Youth team a tour of some different areas within the complex, including the servicing areas, the sales floor and the parts department. For each of these areas he spoke about the different requirements for the roles and also how they support each other to achieve the company goals.

As we drew the visit to a close the young people presented Colin with the gift of a pen. This is an anchor and will remind Colin of the Youth Academy visit each time he uses it. On our return, the team composed an email to send to Colin, thanking him for taking the time to prepare and facilitate their visit.

For the Youth Academy, this was an invaluable opportunity to experience a workplace that depends on a wide ranging group of people with diverse skills all working towards a common goal. Thanks again Colin and everyone at Phoenix Car Company for an unforgettable visit!

Joe Wilson

Posted by Kate Sutherland on 13 April 2011 in : KDS Training, KDS Youth Training, Personal Enhancement, Training employability

8 Comments

Posted by Edmund on 15 April 2011

What a change in you guys. The learning and growing just keeps going on

Posted by Katie on 14 April 2011

Am extremely proud of how well you guys are all doing, how far you have come and how far you will go!! Bowling people over with the impressions you are leaving - for all the right reasons!! FANTASTIC!! K

Posted by Steven Hunter on 14 April 2011

Really well done guys. Sounds like a great visit you should be very proud, you''ve come a long way. Thanks also to the team at Phoenix. Stevie Hunter Training Manager

Posted by Lynsey Mackay on 14 April 2011

Well done guys on another excellent opportunity for you both! Sounds like you had a very productive day. Well done to Joe as well!

Posted by June McDonald on 14 April 2011

Well done guys, just what you want to achieve lasting impressions. Once again nice to see you all grow not just in height but most of all in Confidence and new skills gained in dealing with potential employers and making the most of all opportunities given.

Posted by tim fenton on 14 April 2011

Hi Guys, I spoke to Colin McGeogh today and he was very impressed with the KDS visit yesterday. Colin was delighted to see so many positive minded young people who were confident and eager to impress. certainly left a very good impression on Phoenix car co. I reminded Colin that i was a product of the KDS training course. Phoenix have just announced a Management Development Programme to be run in conjuction with Santander and i have been picked to attend. Only 10 employees from a workforce of 480. Think about it...bring about it. Well done yesterday guys.

Posted by ColinMcGeoch on 14 April 2011

It was Tom and I`s pleasure to have you along as our guests. You were a credit to youselves and your peers. We are both very pleased that you learned some interesting facts about Phoenix and the Motertrade in general. Thank you for my beautiful gift, it was a very kind gesture. Remember you are always welcome to visit us anytime All the best in your future careers. Colin McGeoch

Posted by stephen kidd on 13 April 2011

proud of you guys, what an experience for you guys, thanks to the team at phoenix or the family at phoenix. what did you see, think about it, go inside and replay it, pick out the key learnings for you today stevie kidd

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