Press Release

PORTSMOUTH DEALER RAISES THE STANDARD

29 October 2007

The Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) is delighted to announce the first motor dealer employee to gain the Specialist Automotive Finance (SAF) Certificate of Competence. 

Launched earlier this month, the SAF Competence Test was developed by the FLA in conjunction with motor dealers to raise standards and improve skills for those involved in the sale of motor finance.

The first dealer employee to gain his SAF Certificate of SAF Competence is Andy Fenner, Group Business Manager at Solent Motor Group, Portsmouth. He said:

“I’m delighted to be the first person in a dealership to have passed the SAF Competence Test. SAF is good news for my professional development and is good news for my employer, Solent Motor Group, who ultimately benefit from this initiative.

I hope that all motor dealers can commit to SAF as it will help to address the two biggest issues facing our industry – increasing competition and declining customer loyalty.”

Andrew Grey of Daimler Financial Services AG has the honour of being the 1000th successful candidate. He stated:

“I am proud to become the 1000th person to earn my Certificate of SAF Competence. It will undoubtedly reassure customers that they are receiving bespoke, reliable advice on how best to finance their next car. This is a fantastic initiative which can only help dealer and finance houses grow their businesses together.”

Dealers can learn more about SAF, and sign up for the test, at www.SpecialistAutomotiveFinance.org.uk. To date, 46 motor retailers have registered for SAF and close to 2,000 individual users have signed up.