Word Worker press release:

Leading learning and development agency RTS Group is driving up its headcount and taking on four new staff.

The new recruits at the Chippenham-based company, which specialises in developing automotive dealership staff, will be working in the teams supporting Mazda, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz.

Simon Snowdon has been appointed programme and development consultant, working primarily on the Mercedes-Benz Van Talent programme. Simon joined RTS Group after a 20 year career in automotive, which started when he left school and took a five-year technicians’ apprenticeship.

The Mazda Academy, run by RTS Group, has been strengthened with the appointments of Clare Campbell and Debra Pitchford.

Clare has joined as learning and development lead consultant, running the learning and development team. Clare has worked in automotive almost exclusively during her career, with her first role as a dealership service receptionist. She progressed to service manager, then her career took her into administration, then onto training.

Debra has become network leadership consultant, helping deliver Mazda Motors UK’s Challengers@Retail global cultural change programme in dealerships. Debra’s career started in business development, supporting The Body Shop International franchisees, before she switched to financial services and then commercial underwriters. For both sectors she designed and delivered bespoke sales and behaviours training, with performance coaching support.

The fourth new team member is Shaun Targett. Shaun is a long-time associate of RTS Group, who has joined the company fulltime as a training consultant, working with Nissan and delivering learning and development programmes both in the classroom and in the workplace for the brand’s dealerships. Shaun replaces Jeff Barnard, who has retired after a long career in automotive, which included running two dealerships, one of which he set up himself. Jeff will remain as associate with RTS Group.

Managing director Malcolm Miller said: “We’re delighted to welcome Simon, Clare and Debra, and also to have Shaun on board in a permanent role capacity. Automotive manufacturers understand the benefits of having staff in the dealerships who are passionate about their brands and who know how to enthuse their customers, and so drive up sales. At RTS Group, we are the specialists in developing frontline staff and our new recruits will help strengthen our offering.”