Developing talent at Toyota by Marie Barry

Marie Barry, Manager Academy Strategic Projects details the great work Toyota are doing to attract, retain and develop talent by building a diverse workforce in it’s network.

The aim is to attract the next generation of automotive employees into the industry, whilst also reigniting the spark with current employees, in order to retain and develop existing talent. The Trainee Customer Consultant programme is designed to attract young people into the automotive industry, aiming to recruit a combination of both graduates and non-graduates. To date, 40% of Toyota’s Customer Consultant applicants have been female, representing a higher average than traditional sales roles. 

In addition to this, retention levels for the programme are exceedingly higher than the industry average, a factor of which may be dependent upon each trainee receiving a mentor, who acts as a role model whilst supporting individuals to reach their full potential. 

Alongside this mentorship, the programme includes full on-boarding at Toyota’s Head Office in Epsom, which is supported by a structured development framework containing 2 weeks of block training at the Burnaston factory in Derby, the heart of Toyota in the UK.

Throughout this period, trainees and their managers have a unique opportunity to share their journeys with the senior Toyota team, in order to recognise achievement and help to build confidence, which was carried out at a recent recognition event for Trainee Customer Consultants.

Article by Marie Barry, Manager Academy Strategic Projects, Toyota