Twenty-two executives graduate from BMW Group's Sales Certification programme

Initiated in 2002, the Middle East region was the first worldwide to implement the Certified BMW Sales Executives programme, consisting of a range of product and selling skills courses. Successful graduates are rewarded with the title of Certified BMW or MINI Sales Executive.

"Ninety per cent of our sales executives are now qualified and certified by BMW Group Middle East. The aim is to unify the product knowledge and representation of the brand across the region so that no matter which showroom customers enter they will receive the same premium ownership experience that is synonymous with the BMW & MINI brands," said Guenther Seemann, Managing Director, BMW Group Middle East.

"The Sales Certification programme is a sustainable, long term training scheme that ensures we have the best people that best represent our brands, equipped with excellent knowledge about the products they deal with day in and day out. It demonstrates how BMW Group's premium strategy is implemented throughout the company."

All BMW Group Middle East sales executives are required to go through the certification programme. And, once certified, the training process never stops. Performance and achievements are monitored to ensure theories learned in the classroom are applied in the showroom.

The Sales Certification programme runs whether or not BMW Group Middle East has introduced new models. And, for the first time, in 2005, the Dubai-based BMW Group Middle East Training Academy has extended the Sales Certification programme to its BMW Pre-Owned cars sales executives.

"The Sales Certificate programme highlights BMW Group's approach to maintaining a premium, standardised business, through its contribution to the ongoing improvement of the people representing the brand," said Seemann.

"It also underscores how BMW Group constantly offers new, innovative programmes and training schemes that focus on the long term future of the business, not just the short term."