Specialist learning and development agency RTS Group has launched an events division to work with international clients in the automotive sector.
The new brand, RTS Events, will provide a focus for the group’s rapidly expanding events division and will be built particularly around learning and development for car retail and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) teams.
RTS, based at Notton, near Chippenham, has a 30-year track record in the global automotive sector and works with some of the world’s largest car firms including Mercedes-Benz, Mazda and Nissan.
The company has always run automotive events but under the new RTS Events brand this offering was being strengthened and extended.
RTS account director Jonathan Buckley, who heads the Events business, said: “We really understand automotive, we understand the challenges and we understand how to put on a fantastic event which will meet and exceed expectations.
“We come at it from a different perspective from many event companies: we’re a specialist automotive sector agency who understands how to design and deliver events, rather than a general event company trying to get to grips with the particular characteristics, challenges and needs of the automotive sector. Our aim is to help our client’s teams deliver on the brand promises.”
Jonathan joined RTS in April from South Korean car maker Hyundai, where he managed its training academy. He said RTS group’s grounding and foundation in automotive learning and development gave the new RTS Events division the credibility that manufacturers would be looking for to stage product launches for their retail networks, conferences and events for their own staff, or customer-facing events.
Jonathan began his career in the 1990s in automotive events, organising everything from a customer ride and drive to large motor shows. During his career he has worked with agencies and also for manufacturers, which gives him an insight into what OEMs want and expect from events.
The new RTS Events team includes project managers and associated support staff. It will also be able to tap into the expertise of RTS Group’s learning and development, design and creative specialists.
RTS Events promises innovative and digital ways of delivering events. The in-house design team has created an app which builds excitement and engagement before, during and after an event.
Jonathan added: “All too often an event seems to be standalone and not integrated as part of a campaign. There has to be a clear learning journey, which isn’t chalk and talk but is experiential, which enthuses the participants so they will take that learning back and apply it in their place of work. A central part of the campaign has to be digital learning in the lead-up – which can be four months before the event – as well as during and afterwards.”
The launch of RTS Events comes hot on the heels of the creation of RTS Retail, a new service to fast-track performance and profitability of car retailers.
